Different class - Cocker to receive honorary degree

13 July 2011 Last updated at 09:43 GMT The reformed Pulp are currently on a tour that takes in Europe and Australia Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker is to receive an honorary degree from University of the Arts London.

Cocker, whose reformed band played a surprise set at Glastonbury this year, studied fine art and film at Central Saint Martins, part of the university.

The university said he "immortalised" the college in his song Common People.

Guitarist Jeff Beck, artist Anthony Eyton and architect Zaha Hadid will also be honoured at eight graduation ceremonies across four days next week.

Pulp's 1995 hit Common People opens with the line: "She came from Greece she had a thirst for knowledge, she studied sculpture at Saint Martins College."

Whitechapel Art Gallery director Iwona Blazwick, BBC News director Helen Boaden and Cheek By Jowl theatre company founder Declan Donnellan will also be recognised.

Sculptor and former Royal Academy president Phillip King, Bafta-winning sound recordist Chris Watson, and cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle - who won an Oscar for Slumdog Millionaire - are also among those to receive honorary degrees.

Cocker will receive his honour before an audience of graduating students at the Royal Festival Hall on 20 July.

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Jarvis Cocker to publish book of lyrics

30 June 2011 Last updated at 15:35 GMT Pulp's hits included Common People and Mis-Shapes Lyrics written by Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker are to be published in a book, it has been announced.

The musician, who started writing aged 15, said he tried too hard when writing his earlier material.

"My breakthrough came when I stopped thinking, 'I've got to be profound' and started writing about everyday normal things," he said.

Publishing house Faber will release Mother, Brother, Lover: Selected Lyrics in October.

"I formed a group when I was 15 and we used to rehearse in my mum's living room when she was out," Cocker said.

"I can tell you my first ever lyrics that I ever wrote won't be in the collection, you'll be glad to hear. It's from a song called Shakespeare Roll.

"Got a Baby, only one thing's wrong, quote Shakespeare all day long. I said baby 'why're you ignoring me?' she said: 'To be or not to be'."

The star admitted that most of his writing is about "spontaneous little things" that occur in everyday life.

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