Jarvis Cocker recalls the David Lynch film that ‘changed his life’

Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker has recalled the one David Lynch film that “changed his life”.

Cocker, 61, made an appearance on the Criterion Closet series, where artists pick out their favourite films and explain what it means to them and what impact it had. For the songwriter behind hits like Common People, Disco 2000, and This is Hardcore, he turned to one of Lynch’s finest films and explained how it helped him understand movies more.

Lynch’s family confirmed the legendary filmmaker passed away at the age of 78 yesterday (January 16). Tributes to the veteran director have been made by Martin Scorsese, Kyle Maclachlan, Naomi Watts, and Steven Spielberg, to name a few.

A statement released yesterday from Lynch’s family reads: “It is with deep regret that we, his family, announce the passing of the man and the artist, David Lynch. We would appreciate some privacy at this time. There’s a big hole in the world now that he’s no longer with us. But, as he would say, ‘Keep your eye on the donut and not on the hole.’ It’s a beautiful day with golden sunshine and blue skies all the way.”

“But then you had this kind of violence and a sexuality in it that was really unusual, you know, not long after that I left Sheffield and went to film college. I studied film, fine art filmmaking, down in London at Saint Martins. I think I wrote an essay about this [Blue Velvet] as part of the entrance exam. It changed my view of films and it also changed my life.”

Cocker’s recollection comes as classic Lynch interview clips are shared on social media as members of the public remember the Twin Peaks creator. A well-remembered interview where Lynch refuses to elaborate on how Eraserhead is his “most spiritual” film made the rounds, but later in the interview the director says we “have everything” we need to understand why it is.

Those who collaborated with Lynch, as well as fans of his work, have paid tribute to the veteran filmmaker on social media, as has his close friend Kyle Maclachlan. His statement on Lynch’s passing can be found here.