top of page

Shirley Manson

Today its Shirley Manson's turn. Here are some facts about a Scottish musician and actress known as the lead singer of the Scottish-American rock band "Garbage":


(Photo: Fanart.TV)


= She was born in 26 August 1966 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Her full name is Shirley Ann Manson.


= Her father was a university lecturer and her mother was a big band singer.


= Shirley Manson was raised in Comely Bank and Stockbridge, Edinburgh. She attended Broughton High School and the City of Edinburgh Music School.


= Her first public performance was in 1970, at age four, singing "Never Smile at a Crocodile" with her older sister in an amateur show held at the local Church.


= From an early age, she learned to play on various instruments: Recorder, clarinet, fiddle, and piano. She also joined a choir and school orchestra and started learning ballet at age seven.


= Manson was bullied at school, causing her to suffer from depression and body dysmorphic disorder and engage in self-injury.


= She wanted to become an actress, but was rejected by the "Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama".


= Manson briefly modeled clothing for Jackie magazine.


= She joined the Scottish rock band "Goodbye Mr Mackenzie" in 1984 as a keyboardist and backing vocalist. Her first release with the band was "Death of a Salesman" released the same year.


= The band’s debut album "Good Deeds and Dirty Rags" was released in 1987 and the single "The Rattler" made the UK top 40.


= Although MCA record label had no desire to further their commitments to "Goodbye Mr. Mackenzie", they expressed interest in recording an album with Manson.


= Manson was signed to "Radioactive" as a solo artist, with the remaining "Goodbye Mr Mackenzie" members performing as her backing band, recording under the name "Angelfish".


= In 1994 "Angelfish" released their self-titled album and single "Suffocate Me".


= The music video for "Suffocate Me" was aired once on MTV's 120 Minutes. Producer and musician Steve Marker caught the broadcast and thought Manson would be a great singer for his band, "Garbage", which also featured producers Duke Erikson and Butch Vig, who produced bands like "Nirvana", "Sonic Youth", and "The Smashing Pumpkins".


= Manson joind "Garbage" in 1994 and the band released their debut album "Garbage" in 1995.


= The album went on to sell over 4 million copies with hit singles like: “Only Happy When It Rains”, "Queer", "Milk" and “Stupid Girl”.


= Manson quickly became the public face of the band with her contralto vocal range, which has been praised as versatile and capable of conveying a range of emotions without being melodramatic.


= In 1996 "Echo & the Bunnymen" had asked Manson to sing on their 1997 "Evergreen" comeback album.


= In 1998 "Garbage" released their second album "Version 2.0" which included successful singles like "Push It", "I Think I'm Paranoid", "Special" and more.



= During the two-year tour in support of "Version 2.0", Manson modelled for Calvin Klein.


= In 1999 "Garbage" recorded the theme song to the James Bond movie "The World Is Not Enough", and Manson became the third Scotswoman to sing a Bond theme after Lulu and Sheena Easton.



= In 2001 "Garbage" released their third album "Beautiful Garbage". The album featured Manson’s most personal lyrics.


= During this period, Manson struggled with vocal issues and had a vocal cyst surgically removed in 2003.


= In 2005 the band released "Bleed Like Me" which included the successful single “Why Do You Love Me”.


= "Garbage" went on hiatus in 2005, but reformed for a benefit show in 2007.


= In 2012 the band ended its 7 years hiatus with the album "Not Your Kind of People.


= The band released its sixth album "Strange Little Birds", in 2016. The album was "Garbage's" first studio album to miss the top 10 in the United Kingdom.


= In May 2016, Manson fell off stage into the pit during a performance at KROQ Weenie Roast, injuring her right hip, which required surgery in January 2023.


= In 2021 "Garbage" released their 7th studio album "No Gods No Masters", which was supported by a tour with Alanis Morissette'.


= From 2019–2021, Manson hosted the music podcast "The Jump with Shirley Manson", interviewing musicians and discussing career-defining moments.


= Manson has an acting carcareer. Among others she appeared in "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" in 2008 as Catherine Weaver.


= Manson also participated in the video game Guitar Hero in 2009.


= In 2019, Manson travelled to Santiago, Chile, to participate documentary telling stories of women who challenged armed conflicts - "Peace Peace Now Now".


= Manson is involved in charity Work, including AIDS awareness, supporting "The Pablove Foundation", and raising funds for earthquake victims in Haiti.


Follow us on Facebook or Subscribe to our website

"Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog & Podcast

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


Enjoying the Blog? Subscribe to get it right to your mail!

Thank you !!

bottom of page