Shirley Manson hints at Garbage retiring: “Time is running out”
Garbage vocalist Shirley Manson has questioned how much time the rock band have left. She understands that “time is running out” after more than 30 years of being active, and on the verge of her 58th birthday, the Edinburgh native has a realistic view of what lies ahead.
Formed in Madison, Wisconsin, in 1993, Garbage have sold over 17 million albums worldwide, topped the UK Albums Chart and even produced the theme tune for the 1999 James Bond outing, The World is Not Enough. The group consists of Manson, Duke Erikson, Steve Marker, and Nirvana producer, Butch Vig. With the founding line-up remaining in-tact since inception, each member contributes to the songwriting and production.
The group released their most recent album, No Gods No Masters, in 2021. A well-received effort, blending synth-pop, industrial and the group’s usual form of atmospheric rock, Manson described it as a critique of capitalism, racism, sexism and misogyny. It showed the group still have much to say.
However, in a new interview with the BBC, Manson has reflected on her and the band’s place in the world. She revealed that after every gig on their current tour, she says farewell to the city she’s in, as she doesn’t know if she’ll ever return. After over 30 years on the road and her 58th looming, she believes time is no longer so heavily on her side.
Things have changed for Manson after she had a “sobering” hip replacement operation last year, following injuries sustained when she fell from a stage back in 2016. It’s not all doom and gloom, though; the group plans on releasing a new album next year and are playing Glasgow’s TRNSMT festival with Liam Gallagher today, July 12th.
“Life is so precious,” she said. “The older I get the more I enjoy life, I understand time is running out on me and it has allowed me to enjoy a sense of urgency, to harness it and put into my work. I don’t know how much longer we can go on and do this.”
Manson added: “I’m the youngest member of the band and I’m turning 58 in a couple of weeks. So we are just enjoying every moment right now.”
Elsewhere, Manson maintained that despite moving to America many years ago, she’s “always believed Scotland to be my home.” The singer also reflected on the present state of America and feels the Republican Party is “waging a war on women” by using the 2022 overturn of the historic Roe v. Wade abortion protection ruling, as an example.
She said that in the 1990s, when her band broke out, it felt like things were changing, with there “a lot more opportunity for women”. There still is a lot in the music industry, Manson asserts, but only if they’re “willing to play the game.” She added: “That means if you’re pleasing, if you’re sexy and you’re willing to mind your mouth and your manners then you can flourish very well.”
Manson concluded: “But for any women that’s an alternative – it’s still very, very hard to be seen and supported, and that disappoints me.”
Recently, at Glastonbury 2024, former Sonic Youth member Kim Gordon echoed Manson’s point. She specifically took aim at the state of Texas for having a greater “hatred of women” than anywhere else in the country.
Following TRNSMT, Garbage’s UK tour is set to continue with headline dates in Edinburgh, Bridlington, Wolverhampton, Manchester, and London’s Wembley Arena.
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