Since their formation in 1993, the band rose to popularity after their debut self-titled album ‘Garbage’, which sold over 4 million copies worldwide. They have an impressive chart profile, with their hit song ‘Stupid girl’ which reached great heights, peaking at number 4 on the UK Singles Chart. Being in the public eye in the 90s, Manson has opened up about how she was perceived in the media at the time, stating that coverage was often “really degrading or sexual in nature, or just nasty shit”. 

The singer is still seemingly receiving this treatment in the media. The band have posted several promo pictures in the run-up to the album’s release, which has caught media attention. In a scathing article from The Daily Mail, Manson was described as “unrecognisable” in album promo. The singer clapped back unflinchingly in an Instagram post, screenshotting the headline and bringing glory to the beauty and natural process of aging. She proclaims “I will continue to age as I am. I will continue to wrinkle and flub”, ending the caption with the promise “I will always – and forever – rock HARDER than most”.

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    Manson’s response is not unexpected, being vocal about the image of older women in the music industry. Fans continue to share her past words of wisdom in interviews, praising her ability to speak out and inspire.

@femunity_collective Shirley Manson, born on August 26, 1966, in Edinburgh, Scotland, is best known as the lead singer of the rock band Garbage, which gained worldwide fame in the 1990s. Her powerful voice and rebellious persona quickly made her a standout in the music world. With Garbage, she released hits like “Stupid Girl” and “Only Happy When It Rains,” propelling the band to the top of the rock charts and establishing Shirley as a charismatic and unique artist. Beyond her music, Shirley Manson is a powerful role model for women of all ages. Known for her authenticity, she speaks her mind and resists societal norms, particularly in her fight against ageism—the prejudice against people based on age. Shirley is unafraid to talk openly about aging and sees it as a strength, not a weakness. She demonstrates that one can be bold and relevant beyond youth, inspiring not only younger but also older women. Shirley is also deeply committed to women’s rights and gender equality, which she reflects in her public statements and her art. She uses her platform to address issues affecting women and advocates for greater visibility and respect for women in the music industry and beyond. Her openness, courage, and determination make her a powerful role model for women worldwide who value authenticity, self-acceptance, and equality. #shirleymanson #garbage #uk #ageism #empowerment #femunitycollective ♬ Originalton – Femunity

The band are set to release their new album ‘Let All That We Imagine Be The Light’ on 30 May. Approaching this release date, the band have shared the album’s opening track ‘There’s No Future in Optimism’, inspired by George Floyd’s murder at the hands of a white policeman in 2020. The singer states in an interview with NME that the album as a whole is “about what it means to be alive, and about what it means to face your imminent destruction,”. 

Garbage’s new album will surely be accepted with open arms, and Manson’s vulnerability and empowerment will make for an exciting release. 

The band rose to fame in the 90s when Scottish singer Shirley Manson met guitarists Duke Erickson and Butch Vig. The trio quickly started making music, drawn by the alternative rock sounds. Their name stemmed from one of their friends who told them they “sounded like garbage” after hearing them live for the first time. The band went on to release famous tracks like ‘Stupid Girl’ and ‘#1 Crush’ later featured in Baz Lurhman’s famous movie Romeo + Juliet.

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Teasing the release, the front woman shared with Daily Mail: “Our last album was extremely forthright. Born out of frustration and outrage – it had a kind of scorched earth, p**sed off quality to it. With this new record however, I felt a compulsion to reach for a different kind of energy. A more constructive one. I had this vision of us coming up out of the underground with searchlights as we moved towards the future. Searching for life, searching for love, searching for all the good things in the world that seem so thin on the ground right now. That was the over-riding idea during the making of this record for me – that when things feel dark, its best to try to seek out that which is light, that which feels loving and good. When I was young, I tended towards the destruction of things. Now that I’m older I believe it’s vitally important to build and to create things instead.”

The track listing for ‘Let All That We Imagine Be The Light’ promises a dynamic experience, with titles such as ‘There’s No Future In Optimism’, ‘Chinese Fire Horse’, and ‘The Day That I Met God.’ The album will be ten tracks long, each contributing to the theme of searching for light and goodness amidst challenging times. Notably, the opening track, ‘There’s No Future In Optimism’ which sets a tone of collective empowerment. Manson describes it as a rallying cry inviting listeners who believe in meeting the world with love to join together in hope and empathy.

The singer, 58, worried fans last year when she shared photographs from hospital as she recovered from surgery – with her sudden health issue causing the band to cancel tour plans.

Book your seat for a once-in-a-lifetime night of Bond music with @shirleybassey, @garbage and more @RoyalAlbertHall for #TheSoundOf007InConcert. pic.twitter.com/aMw7tFkE1a

— James Bond (@007) July 28, 2022

The James Bond film series’ standout soundtrack will be showcased within the upcoming event; the concert has been curated by celebrated composer David Arnold. The English movie composer’s credits include five James Bond films along with such blockbusters as Independence Day, Hot Fuzz and the BBC tv show Little Britain. Set to headline the concert is Dame Shirley Bassey, the legendary singer best known for her work within the Bond films. Dame Bassey has a long association with the Bond franchise; the singer lent her vocal talents to the themes of Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever and Moonraker.

To celebrate 60 years of Bond, I will be joining some other wonderful artistes to perform, for one night only, at the Royal Albert Hall! The Sound of 007 In Concert is taking place on Tuesday, October 4th.https://t.co/yjbHBDWpaO — Dame Shirley Bassey (@shirleybassey) July 28, 2022

Also billed to perform at The Sound Of 007 are a host of special guests and artists featured in the Bond soundtracks. Also scheduled to take the London stage is rock group Garbage, fronted by Scottish singer Shirley Manson; the band performed the theme for the 19th Bond film The World Is Not Enough. Also included in the lineup is singer Celeste; the singer will join further acts to perform new renditions of the film’s classic theme songs. Backing Dame Bassey and the event’s star-studded lineup is the acclaimed Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, confirmed to conduct throughout the event is Nicholas Dodd.

Artistic Director of the Royal Albert Hall, Lucy Noble, has given the following statement concerning the upcoming event, “We could not be more honoured to host this landmark anniversary of one of the world’s greatest franchises. The Hall has forged an indelible association with 007 over many years and we are delighted to help them celebrate.“

He’s got a licence to kill. We’ve got a licence to thrill.

Introducing 60 years of Bond – a series of electrifying concerts including film screenings with a live orchestra, and even a special appearance from @shirleybassey herself

Find out more: https://t.co/2FmOx5yuWI pic.twitter.com/DPzfFA9iSI

— Royal Albert Hall (@RoyalAlbertHall) July 28, 2022

Also commenting on the upcoming concert, Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, James Bond producers, have stated, “Music has always played a vital role in the success of the 007 series. Over the sixty-year history, we have been blessed with the extraordinary talents of legendary composers and artists who have created the most powerful and moving musical contributions to our twenty five films. The Sound of 007 in Concert on October 4th will celebrate their tremendous achievements.“

The Royal Albert Hall will also be celebrating the James Bond film franchise in November with a string of screenings of the series’ most recent releases. The venue will host the screenings with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra providing a live rendition of the film’s soundtrack, instalments included within the series of in-concert screenings are Spectre, Skyfall and Casino Royale.

Further information concerning the concert and its billed performers are yet to be announced, along with the event’s partner charity. Tickets for The Sound Of 007 go on sale on 10 am on Monday August 1^st 2022, and pre-sale for Friends and Patrons of The Royal Albert Hall went on sale today.

Click here to purchase tickets.

‘The new songs just have that sort of darkness that Roxy Music did so well… I’ve always been obsessed with Roxy Music – it’s all I listen to actually. I don’t know why they’ve always been a favourite.’ Manson tole NME about work on their next album.

‘Of course Butch was once the president of the Roxy Music fan club in Madison, Wisconsin – so he’s also got this love and understanding of that kind of mood. It’s really the mood I’m after. We’ll see.’

She continued: ‘I always thought they were a very sort of modern-sounding band. Even now, you listen to these records and they’re really interesting sounds, there’s a sort of dangerous darkness about the sound that I really, really am aching for.’

Having sold over 17 million albums worldwide, Shirley Manson, Duke Erikson, Steve Marker and Butch Vig have been together for more than 25 years. After a seven year hiatus in 2005, the band released their fifth studio album ‘Not Your Kind of People’ in their own independently-run record label, STUNVOLUME. In 2015, Garbage celebrated their 20th anniversary of their debut album with their sold out ’20 Years Queer’ tour. Their most recent album ‘Strange Little Birds’ released in 2016 debuted at number one on Billboard’s Top Rock and Alternative Albums chart.

Earlier this year, Garbage reissued their sophomore album, ‘Version 2.0′ to celebrate its 20th anniversary, The band also marked the milestone with a series of full album performances back in September.Garbage will go on tour in the summer of 2019, and tickets will range from £30 for children and up to £50 for general admission. There is also an Orangery Summer BBQ Ticket available for £170 and you can purchase them here.

June 30, 2019 – Plovdiv, Bulgaria Hills Of Rock
July 2, 2019 – July 7 2019 – Albi, France Festival Pause Guitare
July 5, 2019 – Barcelona, Spain Festival Cruïlla
July 6, 2019 – Cognac, France Cognac Blues Passions Festival
July 11, 2019 – Aix-les-bains, France Musilac Festival
July 13, 2019 – London, Kew The Music
July 18, 2019 – Dublin, Iveagh Gardens