Shirley Manson Biography
Summary
"Shirley Ann Manson" (born August 26, 1966) is a Scottish musician and the lead vocalist of the band Garbage.
Early life
Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Manson is the second of three daughters. She has an older sister named Lindy-Jayne and a younger sister named Sarah. Her mother is a former big band singer and her father is a geneticist who was a part of the faculty that cloned Dolly the Sheep. At age seven, Shirley began learning the piano. Later on, she attended City of Edinburgh Music School where she joined the school's theatre group.
At school, she was regularly bullied because of her red hair and large green eyes. She sometimes returned home after school bloody and bruised from being beaten up. The incessant teasing and bullying led her into a deep depression and drove her to self-harm. Also as a result of the bullying, she dropped out of school and began working at Miss Selfridge in central Edinburgh..
Manson is anti-fur, and has participated in PETA's 'Here's the rest of your fur coat? ad campaign. (... more) (... more)
Music
Her first experience with music was with the bands Autumn 1904 and Wild Indians. When she was 16, Shirley joined Goodbye Mr. Mackenzie, with whom she sang backup vocals and played the keyboards. She remained in the band for a decade until they split in 1992. After the split, Shirley and two other members of the band formed Angelfish; this time she was the lead singer. Angelfish released a self-titled album and one single, 'Suffocate Me'.
Shirley has cited Siouxsie Sioux from the post-punk band Siouxsie & the Banshees as a main influence on her and wrote the foreword of the official Siouxsie and the Banshees biography in 2003.
Garbage
After seeing 'Suffocate Me' on MTV, Steve Marker was impressed and wanted Shirley to front his band Garbage. After two auditions, Shirley became the lead singer in 1994.
Manson immediately set about rewriting the lyrics to the band's already written songs. The resulting collaborative efforts became "Garbage", the band's debut album, which would go on to sell 5 million copies worldwide, earning double-platinum certifications in the United Kingdom, United States and Australia. The album produced hit singles and breakthrough hits such as 'Queer', 'Stupid Girl', 'Only Happy When It Rains' and 'Vow'.
By the time their second album, "Version 2.0", was being recorded in the band's own studio, Manson had become the band's primary lyricist. But she was still regarded by many as simply the face of Garbage. As a regular musical contributor and guitarist (her orange Fender Stratocaster is named 'Rita'), she felt great disappointment at the general perception of her role in the group.
After her brief role as a model for Calvin Klein and the confidence that composer David Arnold had shown her while co-producing the theme for James Bond film 'The World Is Not Enough', Shirley began to write more self-reflective lyrics, which ended up on the band's third album, "beautifulgarbage".
Garbage briefly dissolved in 2003 due to infighting. After resolving their problems, they reformed to record their fourth album, "Bleed Like Me", which was released in April 2005. The album reached the top 5 in the US, and overall sold well around the world.
As of October 2005, Garbage is on an indefinite hiatus; the band had been constantly producing and promoting albums and touring for the past decade. According to Manson, the current situation between the band's members is 'good.' (... more)
On the July 6, 2006, Garbage concert broadcast on PBS's " (SoundStage) " she said: 'Thank you, "girls"! Now go and "start some bands", okay?' - to the young female fans in the front row (who sang and danced along to all the songs).
On May 20, 2007 Virgin Media premiered the newest video 'Tell Me Where It Hurts' directed by Sophie Muller. On July 17th, 2007, 'Absolute Garbage' the compilation CD which spans 10 years of songs, will feature a DVD and a CD of remixes; as well as the newest single 'Tell Me Where It Hurts'.
Solo
While Garbage were on hiatus, Manson began working on her first proper solo album and is due for release in the first half of 2008 following the 2007 release of Garbage's greatest hits retrospective "Absolute Garbage" and prior to the band regrouping to begin work on its fifth album. Much of the work on the album took place during Garbage's self-imposed year and a half long hiatus period.
Manson has collaborated with a number of people on the project including fellow Scottish songwriter Paul Buchanan, US rock musicians Jack White, Billy Corgan and Beck, producer and keyboardist Greg Kurstin and James Bond soundtrack composer David Arnold, with whom in 1999 she, as part of Garbage, had co-produced and performed the title theme to "The World Is Not Enough". Garbage drummer and former Nirvana/Smashing Pumpkins producer Butch Vig is also co-writing and producing for her album.
Producer Barb Morrison of Brooklyn based production team Super Buddha revealed in October that the team are working with Manson and Blondie lead singer Debbie Harry. The team produced Harry's 2007 album "Necessary Evil", but it is unknown whether the track will appear on Manson's record or a future Harry release.
Discography
Studio Albums
"Goodbye Mr. Mackenzie" (credited with backing vocals and keyboards)
"Good Deeds and Dirty Rags" (1988)
"Fish Heads and Tails" (1989)
"Hammer and Tongs" (1991)
"Goodbye Mr. Mackenzie" (1992) (US release)
"Five" (1993)
"Angelfish" (Lead vocals and guitar)
"Angelfish" (1994)
"Garbage" (Songwriter, lead vocals and guitar)
"Garbage" (1995)
"Version 2.0" (1998)
"beautifulgarbage" (2001)
"Bleed Like Me" (2005)
"Absolute Garbage" (2007)
"Solo"
As yet untitled (TBC/2008) - (see: Shirley Manson (Solo album))
Other Appearances
Fun Lovin' Criminals 'Korean Bodega (Aero Mexicana Remix)' (originally from "100% Colombian") (1999) (Guest vocals)
Marilyn Manson & Shirley Manson 'Don't You Want Me' (remains unreleased) (2004) (duet)
Queens of the Stone Age 'You Got A Killer Scene There, Man...' (from "Lullabies to Paralyze") (2005) (Backing vocals)
She Wants Revenge - 'These Things' (2006) (Appears in video only)
Eric Avery - 'Maybe' (from " Help Wanted") (January 2008)
External links
(Shirleyworld - Unofficial Forum)
The Independent: (Interview, March 2005)
Credit
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article about Shirley Manson.
