Going into Meltdown

Jarvis Cocker, photographer Mattia Zoppellaro

“By combining things that shouldn’t be combined, by looking at things from a different angle, by the use of extreme volume and frequencies and by any means necessary we shall rouse you from your slumber. And, you’re going to love it”.

Thus spoke Jarvis Cocker, ex frontman of  Pulp and this year’s curator of the Meltdown Festival. This opening quote, written on the Meltdown home page, might sound a bit extreme from a pop musician.

But behind the façade a rebel heart is beating. Jarvis has a history in troublemaking, - remember the 1996 BRIT Awards, when he invaded the stage and dropped his trousers to protest against Michael Jackson’s “Christ-like” performance?
So it shouldn’t surprise that he’s gathered the likes of Motorhead, The Jesus And Mary Chain (together for the first time after their split  eight years ago) and Iggy And The Stooges for the Meltdown. These seminal hard rock bands are surely the right antidote against  “slumber”.

Jarvis participated in the Meltdown  2000 -  curated by singer-songwriter Scott Walker.

This time around,  he was chosen by Glenn Max, Artistic Director of the Southbank.
As Max explains, “Every year from 2001 I have chosen a curator, and this year it was Jarvis.
I’m a big fan of his. We discussed which locations to use (the Royal Festival Hall has just re-opened after a year and a half of refurbishment), very often I had to give him bad news, sometimes good news”.

But in the end the two seem to have organized not simply a string of concerts, but an event of epic proportions, full of thought-provoking happenings:

“We have set up a big party in order to activate the audience, not to let them be passive, as is usual,  anymore. It’s going to be a bubbly experience full of surprises.”

Indeed, the program presents some unexpected gems: one of the most original events in this Meltdown will be Forest Of No Return, a performance of classic songs from Walt Disney films. And Jarvis’ solo album released last year includes a track is called Disney Time - but its lyrics are bitter and disillusioned.

 Jarvis has had previous collaborations related with film scores: three songs of his were performed in the soundtrack to Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire (he also appeared on screen playing the leader of wizard band Weird Sisters).
He has also invited film composer John Barry – who wrote the James Bond theme -  to perform at the Meltdown: another pleasant surprise.

Maybe in the future we will watch a film with a soundtrack by Jarvis? The result would surely be stimulating.
But for now, let’s enjoy the Meltdown.

Glenn Max’s advice is: “Don’t be blinded by the big names on the program, you have to explore all that’s there, including workshops, sculptures, demonstrations, films and more”.

The Meltdown is on till 23 June; more info at http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/meltdown/.   

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