Shirley Manson
Shirley Manson
Shirley Ann Mansonis a Scottish singer, songwriter, musician and actress. She is the lead singer of the alternative rock band Garbage. For much of her international career Manson commuted between her home city of Edinburgh and the United States to record with Garbage; she now lives and works in Los Angeles. Manson gained media attention for her forthright style, rebellious attitude and distinctive voice...
NationalityScottish
ProfessionRock Singer
Date of Birth26 August 1966
CityEdinburgh, Scotland
We always felt like we've never specifically fitted in with anyone; there's never been a movement surrounding what we're doing.
Selling millions of albums is a sign you've infiltrated the culture.
I'm a loud person; I love noise and aggression. I crave contact.
I think a lot of people in their lives feel like they don't fit in, even if it looks like they do. People feel like outsiders even if others think we, the lives we live, have everything. If they are popular or they have everything they are supposed to have. Even then, people still don't feel quite included.
No, I'm not Shirley the girl, I'm the woman on MTV with the big boots.
I know lots of people who've never been lucky enough to get to this stage in their life. And I'm not gonna hide it for anybody.
In the '90s, the radio was still alive with all different kinds of points of view, and I think that's why people are longing for that time. It was the first time that alternative music broke through to the mainstream.
There's nothing I've done that I feel a lot of regret over because I stuck to my guns, even when it got uncomfortable - and it will get uncomfortable because you're going up against the wall.
I'd never imagined myself in a band. So the fact that I've had such a long career without really naturally pursuing it is really astounding. It's taken me a long time to accept what I do for a living and actually feel like I have anything of value to add to the equation.
I just am fascinated by other female artists, probably because I feel a kinship with them, no matter who they are and what they do.
We discussed it in an adult fashion over dinner one day and since then a burden has been lifted from everybody and our live shows have been incredible.
How you present yourself is nobody's business but your own. The stylists have an opinion. The hair people have an opinion. The fans and the management have opinions. Ultimately, you have to trust that you are the safe-keeper of yourself.
And then there's all these other creeps that surround your band and suck off you like leeches and try to manipulate you and your business. You have to watch like a hawk. I'm always ready to fight. I see it very much as a battle.
People in day-to-day life tend to skim the surface of things and be polite and careful, and that's not the language I speak. I like talking about feelings, fears and memories, anguish and joy, and I find it in music.