Russell Senior
Encyclopedia
Russell Senior is the guitarist and violinist of the band Pulp
.
Senior grew up in Sheffield. Whilst at University
in Bath, he formed the "Dada
Society" (also known as the New Wave Society) and appeared as the lead role (Josef K
) in a dramatic adaptation of Kafka's The Trial
. He also had a band called 'The Bath Bankers' and arranged for a gig at the University featuring his friends from Sheffield - Pulp. Although he obtained a third class honours degree in Business Administration, he went back to Sheffield to join Pulp. During the Miner's strike
of 1984 he acted as a Flying picket.
Senior first met Pulp in 1980 when he reviewed a show of theirs for his fanzine, also called The Bath Banker. He joined the third line-up of the band in 1983, the other members being Jarvis Cocker
(vocals/guitar), Magnus Doyle (drums) and Peter Mansell (bass). During the mid 1980s he was a central member of the group, often taking vocal duties. He also played the violin
on a number of tracks.
As the band changed direction in the mid-1990s, however, Senior's contribution became often less apparent, and on 20 January 1997 he left Pulp to work on other projects. He commented that he did not like the song "Something Changed
", and the release of this as a single made him consider his future. In an interview he said that "I was very proud of being in Pulp. I thought it was the best band in the world when I was in it, but I want to be able to move on from it at some point."
In 1999 he formed Venini
with Debbie Lime (vocals), Nick Eastwood (bass - later with Dolly TV and Hiem
), Bob Barton (drums - later with The Human League
), and Danny Hunt
(keyboards - later with Ladytron
). They released three singles before splitting in 2000.
Russell has also worked as a producer with Baby Birkin and more recently The Long Blondes
. In March 2006, British indie band Art Brut
invited Russell Senior to produce their second album.
In November 2010, it was announced that Pulp are to reform and play live in 2011, including Russell Senior in the line-up.
He continues to live in Sheffield with his girlfriend and has two children. Aside from the music world he is also a dealer in antique glassware.
Pulp (band)
Pulp are an English alternative rock band formed in Sheffield in 1978. Their lineup consists of Jarvis Cocker , Russell Senior , Candida Doyle , Mark Webber , Steve Mackey and Nick Banks ....
.
Senior grew up in Sheffield. Whilst at University
University of Bath
The University of Bath is a campus university located in Bath, United Kingdom. It received its Royal Charter in 1966....
in Bath, he formed the "Dada
Dada
Dada or Dadaism is a cultural movement that began in Zurich, Switzerland, during World War I and peaked from 1916 to 1922. The movement primarily involved visual arts, literature—poetry, art manifestoes, art theory—theatre, and graphic design, and concentrated its anti-war politics through a...
Society" (also known as the New Wave Society) and appeared as the lead role (Josef K
The Trial
The Trial is a novel by Franz Kafka, first published in 1925. One of Kafka's best-known works, it tells the story of a man arrested and prosecuted by a remote, inaccessible authority, with the nature of his crime revealed neither to him nor the reader.Like Kafka's other novels, The Trial was never...
) in a dramatic adaptation of Kafka's The Trial
The Trial
The Trial is a novel by Franz Kafka, first published in 1925. One of Kafka's best-known works, it tells the story of a man arrested and prosecuted by a remote, inaccessible authority, with the nature of his crime revealed neither to him nor the reader.Like Kafka's other novels, The Trial was never...
. He also had a band called 'The Bath Bankers' and arranged for a gig at the University featuring his friends from Sheffield - Pulp. Although he obtained a third class honours degree in Business Administration, he went back to Sheffield to join Pulp. During the Miner's strike
UK miners' strike (1984–1985)
The UK miners' strike was a major industrial action affecting the British coal industry. It was a defining moment in British industrial relations, and its defeat significantly weakened the British trades union movement...
of 1984 he acted as a Flying picket.
Senior first met Pulp in 1980 when he reviewed a show of theirs for his fanzine, also called The Bath Banker. He joined the third line-up of the band in 1983, the other members being Jarvis Cocker
Jarvis Cocker
Jarvis Branson Cocker is an English musician and frontman for the band Pulp. Through his work with the band, Cocker became a figurehead of the Britpop movement of the mid-1990s. Following Pulp's hiatus Cocker has led a successful solo career...
(vocals/guitar), Magnus Doyle (drums) and Peter Mansell (bass). During the mid 1980s he was a central member of the group, often taking vocal duties. He also played the violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
on a number of tracks.
As the band changed direction in the mid-1990s, however, Senior's contribution became often less apparent, and on 20 January 1997 he left Pulp to work on other projects. He commented that he did not like the song "Something Changed
Something Changed
"Something Changed" is the fourth and final single taken from the album Different Class by British pop band Pulp, released in 1996 with two different sleeves , but with identical tracklistings. It is also their fourth consecutive top ten single, peaking at #10 in the UK Singles Chart. The song was...
", and the release of this as a single made him consider his future. In an interview he said that "I was very proud of being in Pulp. I thought it was the best band in the world when I was in it, but I want to be able to move on from it at some point."
In 1999 he formed Venini
Venini
Venini were a British guitar band formed in late 1998. They were formed by guitarist and violinist Russell Senior after his departure from Pulp, and also featured Debbie Lime , Nick Eastwood , Rob Barton , as well as help from Danny Hunt . Charlie Collins of Clock DVA was a part time member on...
with Debbie Lime (vocals), Nick Eastwood (bass - later with Dolly TV and Hiem
Hiem
Hiem is an electronic dance duo from Sheffield, England. Consists of Nick "Nico" Eastwood and David "Bozz" Boswell.-Background:Nick Eastwood was a former member of Venini, the band that featured former Pulp guitarist Russell Senior, and ran the near-legendary Le Citrus night at Sheffield's Casbah...
), Bob Barton (drums - later with The Human League
The Human League
The Human League are an English electronic New Wave band formed in Sheffield in 1977. They achieved popularity after a key change in line-up in the early 1980s and have continued recording and performing with moderate commercial success throughout the 1980s up to the present day.The only constant...
), and Danny Hunt
Daniel Hunt
Daniel Hunt is the founder member, and principal songwriter/producer of the band Ladytron. He is a keyboardist, guitarist, songwriter and producer. He also DJ's around the world both solo and with other band members...
(keyboards - later with Ladytron
Ladytron
Ladytron are an English electronic band formed in 1999 in Liverpool, Merseyside. The group consists of Helen Marnie , Mira Aroyo , Daniel Hunt and Reuben Wu .Their sound blends electropop with New Wave and shoegazing elements. Ladytron described their sound as "electronic pop"...
). They released three singles before splitting in 2000.
Russell has also worked as a producer with Baby Birkin and more recently The Long Blondes
The Long Blondes
The Long Blondes were a five-piece English indie rock band formed in Sheffield, United Kingdom in 2003 by Dorian Cox , Reenie Hollis , Emma Chaplin , Kate Jackson and Screech Louder .After several critically...
. In March 2006, British indie band Art Brut
Art Brut (band)
Art Brut are a Berlin-based English and German indie rock band. Their debut album, Bang Bang Rock & Roll, was released on 30 May 2005, with its follow up, It's a Bit Complicated, released on 25 June 2007...
invited Russell Senior to produce their second album.
In November 2010, it was announced that Pulp are to reform and play live in 2011, including Russell Senior in the line-up.
He continues to live in Sheffield with his girlfriend and has two children. Aside from the music world he is also a dealer in antique glassware.