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Richard Hawley has defended the reunion of Britpop heroes Pulp, saying that it was a celebration of the band and that it was justice for how they were 'ripped off' in the 90s.
Hawley, who played guitar with the band between 1998 and 2002, joined Pulp on stage for a number of their reunion shows in recent years - including appearances at Reading and Leeds festivals 2011 and their huge homecoming show at Sheffield's Motorpoint Arena last December.
Speaking to Gigwise, the Sheffield star said Pulp were more relevant now than ever - and also took a pop at Tony Blair.
"I would not have done it if it felt like a nostalgia tip," said Hawley. "To me, Pulp are still relevant. ‘Common People’ is more relevant now than it was when it came out. That was the Britpop era when Blair was in power and everything was supposed to be fucking rosy and look where that got us. A megalomaniac nutter took us to war and that fucker gets to put his head on his pillow every night with a million deaths on his conscience."
Watch Pulp and Richard Hawley performing 'Sunrise' live at Reading festival 2011 below:
Hawley also said that he was fully behind the reunion as they got 'ripped off' in the 90s and said that it was better to do it now before they were all 'too old'.
"If the band didn’t get together soon, it wouldn’t have been ‘Disco 2000’ but Grecian 2000," he said. "It wouldn’t have been a gold disc, it would been a slipped disc."
He continued: "I endorsed it 100% and encouraged them to get back together. Let’s not pretend. There was definitely a financial incentive to Pulp getting back together, but in their defence they got so massively ripped off when they were fully active that they achieved so much and ended up with virtually fuck all. I felt that there was some justice in it, especially because it felt so celebratory."
In the same interview, Hawley also said that Glastonbury festival had become 'meaningless' and talked about collaboration with Manic Street Preachers on their upcoming album.
Read our full and candid interview with Richard Hawley discussing Glasto, Pulp, his addiction to pain killers and work with Manic Street Preachers here.
Richard Hawley will be playing at Graves Park in Sheffield on 13 July, Somerset House in London on 14 July and will be appearing at Camp Bestival between 1 - 4 August. For more information visit Gigwise Gig Tickets.
Below - Photos: Pulp Thrill Fans At London's Brixton Academy
