Twenty years ago, the alternative-rock band Garbage released its debut self-titled album and became an international sensation. The album spent more than a year on both the U.S. and U.K. charts and sold more than two million copies in the U.S. alone.
The album was also a hit with critics and was nominated for two Grammy awards. Now the band is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the album with a tour.
The Frame’s James Kim spoke with lead singer Shirley Manson about the album, and what it’s like performing those songs live for 20 years:
INTERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS:
Do you remember your first tour after releasing Garbage's self-titled album?
The first tour that we ever went on actually ended up lasting about two years. So we headed out and then never really went back home. So we did a smattering of our own headline shows — and by headline I mean playing tiny little clubs for about 200 people, and then we were lucky enough to score a support slot with The Smashing Pumpkins. Our record really took off, our first record, and when you have success as a musician for the first time ever it changes everything.
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How did you manage your personal life on that tour?
Our personal relationships suffered terribly. I mean, you have no personal life. If things are going really, really well in your career as a musician, you have no personal life. You can't be at home. You have to be out on the road and you really have to make connections with audiences all over the world, and that's very demanding and taxing on your personal life.
Do you enjoy touring?
I've never really related to all the complaining that goes on amongst musicians about touring. I mean, clearly, I was meant to do this with my life. I'm really good at it. I think I've only missed one or two shows in my entire career. I'm a beast and I've got a lot of hunger for it and I just find it really exciting and joyful. I mean, you meet your audience and they love you and you love them and it's like this love fest of gratitude and joy. What's to complain about that?
Have you reflected on the fact that you're celebrating the 20th anniversary of Garbage's debut album and singing songs that you wrote so long ago?
Well, to be celebrating a 20th anniversary as a musician is surreal at best. We've never imagined we'd ever be in the position where we're looking back and getting an opportunity to play our debut record for people 20 years on, and it is weird to look back on lyrics that were written 20 years ago. Luckily for us, when we first joined and came together as Garbage, we were all a lot older and a lot more experienced, and so a lot of the lyrical content is actually quite adult.
It's not like I'm having to go back and sing about being in high school and making out with boys behind the woodshed. So some of the themes we tackle in our debut record are actually pretty incredible in that they deal with topics that are as urgent and topical as they ever were.
Do you have a favorite song that you like to perform?
I have this peculiar ability to refuel and refill myself over and over and over again which, I think, makes me really good at my job. It also speaks to probably a lack of intellect [laughs]. But I look forward to singing all of my songs. I know that's really quite sad, but I think it's true. Every single one of these songs changed my life and put me on this insane adventure and I feel good about them all.
What I love most about being a musician is each song has a special connection with a different person in the audience every night, and they mean something to other people. That makes me feel like I've got contact in the world and I'm not so lonely [laughs]. Oh my god, I'm sounding so pathetic. I mean, I am pathetic. I think that anyone who does what I do for a living is kind of pathetic because we're seeking to fill holes. We're seeking contact and there's something inherently pathetic about that [laughs].
Garbage is currently on tour to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its debut album.