It Can’t Be- Yet it is. The Midlands Series (1/4)

7/27/2025

It Can’t Be- Yet it is. The Midlands Series (1/4)

[Ed. Note- There are a number of instances in this post where *** are used. That denotes a future post on a topic related thereto.]

I have said it before. Some logicians say there is no such thing as coincidence, just occurrences.

Having said that, many of my friends and some family are astounded at the frequency coincidences seem to happen to me. Some have come to expect it, and I am starting to wonder…

Here is the latest set up.

Whilst in the UK, Kimberly and I made arrangements to travel up and back from London to Sheffield on July 24.

The reason for the day trip was to visit with long-time friend and Group member Kristen.

Kristen is spending time living near Sheffield to pursue her love of Dressage under the tutelage of an Olympian. Dressage is described briefly as an equestrian sport where riders are judged on how they ride their horse in military style.

Anyway, we had never been to Sheffield and it seemed like a brilliant idea.

As for the activities planned, I exercised a rare bit of restraint and did NOT research the names of any Sheffield record stores.*** No siree, this day was not going to be about music- just friendship and sight- seeing.

Or so I thought.

Kristen met us at the station and off we went. She drove west out of Sheffield and showed us the Peak District in the Derbyshire countryside.

Next she suggested we visit the quaint village of Bakewell, home of the world famous Bakewell tarts.

We wandered the village and low and behold, there was a record store. [*** Ed. Note- More on that in Episode 3 of this little series.]

Next, knowing our passion for the architect and designer FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT, and design generally, Kristen wanted to show us the DAVID MELLOR DESIGN in the hamlet of Hathersage.

The entire Mellor Design campus was jaw- droppingly inspiring.***

[***Ed. Note- More on this world famous site in Episode 2 of this Midlands series.]

Kimberly and I were gobsmacked by this place, the design of the property and the amazing bespoke homeware and the like on display and for sale.

We collectively decided to have lunch right there in the inviting restaurant.

Yes, there is a reason for the working stoplight to be explained in Episode 2.

As we looked at the displays in the restaurant, my eye drifted to the corner where a person who looked familiar to me sat with a companion having a meal.

Could it be? Nah.

Surely it was just someone who looked like this globally known singer- songwriter who was wearing glasses similar to his trademark lenses?

Could it be that one of my musical heroes (and as good a lyricist as there ever has been) was there having lunch?

I knew that he was from the Sheffield area. Ironically, earlier at the record store in Bakewell, I was told by the owner that he often came in and bought records so it wasn’t out of the realm.

We ordered our lunch and sat down 3 tables over. I was like a little kid. I couldn’t believe my fortune as I tried and mostly failed to focus on my lunch.

And then I heard him speak and the tiny, tiny bit of uncertainty I had vanished. His voice is that distinctive.

JARVIS COCKER!

Yes, that Jarvis Cocker, the lead singer of the legendary post- punk band PULP!!!

Even if you didn’t recognize that name you have heard his voice in their song “Common People.”

[Ed. Note- currently 247 million SPOTIFY hits! Maybe you have heard the droll cover version recorded by none other than WILLIAM SHATNER! rex posted about that curiosity at song 639 on October 3, 2023 for you archivists.

rex also posted about the famous incident under the title “Mooning The Messiah (from Gary Indiana)” on April 9, 2023. In that post rex told about the night JARVIS mooned MICHAEL JACKSON at The Brit Awards on Feb 19, 1996.]

Anyway, back to the post. I was damn near apoplectic with my good fortune. Okay, I was apoplectic.

I waited until they were finished and had started to leave before I approached.

He (and his wife Kim) were amazingly gracious. They may have been somewhat perplexed by this senior citizen babbling on about how he thought his solo recording “RTW ” *** is the most prescient song anyone has written about the world today, my admiration for his work, my music collection, this site- gwilliamrexundergound365, a robot named Jarvis*** at a MUJI store in Vancouver and that I have tickets to see Pulp in Detroit on September 17, 2025!!! Whew.

[***Ed. Note- rex will be doing a request only post for the story behind that song. The refrain of that song contains a vulgar word on steroids. rex will not just send that out to the Group without prior consent. Feel free to request the bonus post any time.]

Jarvis happily granted my request for a photo. The result is going to be on a wall soon because it is beyond iconic.

Here it is: