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Jarvis Cocker appeared in Harry Potter to impress his sister’s children: ‘I became the best uncle ever’

Pulp frontman appeared in fourth film with members of Radiohead

Isobel Lewis
Thursday 09 July 2020 05:46 EDT
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Jarvis Cocker in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

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Jarvis Cocker has admitted to wearing his own clothes during his appearance in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

The Pulp frontman makes a surprise appearance in the film as a member of the fictional band The Weird Sisters, who perform at the Yule Ball.

Speaking to Stereogum, Cocker admitted that he only appeared in the fourth Harry Potter movie, which was released in 2005, to impress his stepson and sister’s children, joking: “I did it to be popular with the kids. I became the best uncle ever.”

He explained: “There’s the big Yule Ball scene so the word went out asking people to write songs so I submitted and they liked it. I thought they were just going to have the song playing in the film, then they asked me to be in it.

“We put a supergroup together – Jonny Greenwood, Phil Selway (both of Radiohead). Even though it’s a very short scene in the film, we were on the set for two or three days. We were paid to sing on stage with all these extras screaming at us as if we were the Beatles.”

Speaking about his outfit, Cocker said: “They showed me some costume designs and I wasn’t keen on them so I went to some shops in Paris that I knew and bought some outlandish clothes.

“My character in the film is called Myron Wagtail. Somebody told me they went to The Harry Potter Experience in London and there are drawers with wands for every character. I’m on there! I’m basically a wizard.”

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