Shirley Manson was “completely cut off” from Garbage following hip surgery
Shirley Manson has said she was “completely cut off” from Garbage during the writing process for their new album, following hip surgery she underwent in 2023.
In an interview with The Guardian, the Scottish singer revealed that the creation of the band’s upcoming album, Let All That We Imagine Be the Light, was blighted by a fall she took when performing on stage in 2016. In the injury she “smashed my hip pretty badly”, resulting in hip replacement surgery two years ago.
This forced the band to work remotely during Manson’s recovery, of which she recalled: “I felt really isolated. My band are not communicative at the best of times, and I was completely cut off from them. The only thing I would get would be these instrumentals with some zany titles.”
However, through the rest of Garbage – comprised of Butch Vig, Duke Erikson, and Steve Marker – sending the frontwoman only musical ideas, they did manage to formulate the album and get ready to perform it live – before Manson’s other hip collapsed last year and she required replacement surgery on it as well, forcing them to cancel their tour.
Speaking of her health troubles, the singer said: “It’s been very confronting. It makes you question everything, how you want to move forward in your life, particularly as I’m at this late stage in my career. It’s also been really fascinating, though, I’ve got to be honest with you – dark and depressing and soul-crushing, and also kind of wonderful.”
Garbage shot to fame in 1995 with the release of smash hit singles such as ‘Stupid Girl’ and ‘Only Happy When It Rains’.
The band’s eighth studio album, Let All That We Imagine Be the Light, will be released on May 30th, 2025.
Never Miss A Beat
The Far Out Music Newsletter
All the latest music news from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.