Shirley Manson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shirley Manson
FRSA
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Manson during an interview in 2021
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Shirley Ann Manson |
| Born | 26 August 1966 Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Origin | Stockbridge, Edinburgh, Scotland |
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| Years active | 1984–present |
Shirley Ann Manson (born 26 August 1966) is a Scottish singer, songwriter, and musician. She is best known as the lead singer of the rock band Garbage. Manson is famous for her powerful, deep voice and her bold, rebellious style. She has been nominated for many awards, including seven Grammy Awards.
Manson's music career started when she was a teenager. She sang and played keyboards for the band Goodbye Mr Mackenzie. Later, she formed her own band called Angelfish. In 1994, she joined the band Garbage, and they became very successful.
Garbage's first two albums, Garbage (1995) and Version 2.0 (1998), were huge hits. They had many popular singles, including "Only Happy When It Rains", "Stupid Girl", and "Push It". The band also performed the theme song for the James Bond movie The World Is Not Enough (1999).
After a break, Garbage got back together in 2010. They have since released more albums, including Not Your Kind of People (2012) and No Gods No Masters (2021). Their newest album, Let All That We Imagine Be the Light, was released in 2025. As of 2017, Garbage has sold over 17 million records worldwide. Manson has also worked as an actress and hosted a music podcast.
Contents
Early Life
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Shirley Ann Manson was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on August 26, 1966. Her father was a university lecturer, and her mother was a singer with a big band. She has an older sister, Lindy-Jayne, and a younger sister, Sarah.
Manson started performing at a very young age. Her first public performance was at age four. She learned to play the recorder, clarinet, fiddle, and piano. She also joined her school's choir and orchestra. Manson was an active member of her school's drama group and performed in plays like The Wizard of Oz.
Manson had a difficult time in her first year of secondary school and was bullied. This experience caused her to feel sad and anxious. The bullying eventually stopped when she made new friends. She had dreams of becoming an actress but was not accepted into the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. Her first job was working in a hospital cafeteria, and she later worked in a clothing store for five years.
Music Career
How It All Started
Manson's music career began when she joined the local Edinburgh band Goodbye Mr Mackenzie. She played keyboards and sang backing vocals. The band signed a record deal with Capitol Records in 1987 and released their first album, Good Deeds and Dirty Rags.
Later, the band's manager, Gary Kurfirst, became interested in Manson as a solo artist. He signed her to his label, Radioactive Records. She formed a new band called Angelfish with the other members of Goodbye Mr Mackenzie. They released one album in 1994.
A music video for the Angelfish song "Suffocate Me" was played on MTV. Musician and producer Steve Marker saw the video and was impressed. He thought Manson would be the perfect singer for his new band, Garbage, which also included Duke Erikson and Butch Vig.
Joining the Band Garbage
Butch Vig invited Manson to an audition for Garbage. The first audition didn't go well, but she returned for a second try. This time, the band asked her to become a full-time member. She helped write and produce their first album.
Garbage's debut album, also called Garbage, was released in 1995. It was a massive success, selling over 4 million copies. Hit singles like "Only Happy When It Rains" and "Stupid Girl" made the band famous. Manson quickly became the face of the band.
The band's second album, Version 2.0 (1998), was just as successful. During this time, Manson also modeled for Calvin Klein. In 1999, Garbage recorded the theme song for the James Bond movie The World Is Not Enough.
Their third album, Beautiful Garbage (2001), featured more personal lyrics from Manson. After their fourth album, Bleed Like Me (2005), the band took a long break.
Garbage's Return
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Garbage reunited in 2010 to work on a new album. Not Your Kind of People was released in 2012, ending their seven-year break. They have continued to make music and tour together.
In 2021, Garbage released their seventh album, No Gods No Masters. They toured with Alanis Morissette that summer, and it became one of the most successful tours of the year.
In 2022, the band released a greatest hits album called Anthology. Their eighth studio album, Let All That We Imagine Be the Light, was released in May 2025.
Other Projects
Acting and TV Appearances
Besides music, Manson has also worked as an actress. In 2008, she was cast in the TV show Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. She played Catherine Weaver, the CEO of a technology company who was secretly a liquid-metal Terminator.
In 2009, Manson appeared as a playable character in the video game Guitar Hero 5. Players could unlock her avatar and play along to the Garbage song "Only Happy When It Rains".
Podcast Host
From 2019 to 2021, Manson hosted a music podcast called The Jump with Shirley Manson. In each episode, she interviewed other musicians about a song that was important in their career. The show helped inspire some of the songs on Garbage's album No Gods No Masters.
Charity Work
Manson has used her fame to support many charities. She became an ambassador for the M•A•C AIDS Fund, helping to raise money and awareness for AIDS research. She has also been a patron for Waverley Care, a Scottish HIV charity, since 2002.
She is also involved with The Pablove Foundation, a charity that funds research for childhood cancer. Garbage recorded a special song, "Witness to Your Love", for a charity album to support the foundation. Manson also has a rescue dog named Veela, who is a terrier-mix.
Artistry and Influence
Singing Style
Manson has a unique and powerful voice. Critics describe it as a contralto, which is a lower vocal range for a female singer. Her singing is known for being very emotional. One critic from The New York Times said her voice can show many feelings, from anger to passion.
Garbage's music is a mix of different styles, including alternative rock, electronic rock, and punk.
Who Inspired Her?
Manson's mother, who was a singer, was one of her earliest musical influences. As a teenager, she was a big fan of Siouxsie and the Banshees. She said she learned how to sing by listening to their albums. She was also inspired by artists like Patti Smith, Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders, and David Bowie.
Her Impact on Music
Manson has inspired many other artists with her music and style. Musicians like Amy Lee of Evanescence, Florence Welch of Florence + the Machine, Hayley Williams of Paramore, and Billie Eilish have all named her as an influence. She is also seen as a style icon for her unique fashion sense.
Personal Life
Manson was married to artist Eddie Farrell from 1996 to 2003. In 2010, she married record producer and Garbage's sound engineer, Billy Bush. They live in Los Angeles, but Manson also has a home in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Manson has spoken about her struggles with feeling anxious or sad, especially when she first became famous. She says that getting help from a professional "saved her life" and taught her how to manage her feelings. She also identifies as a feminist and is considered a feminist icon by many.
Discography
Goodbye Mr Mackenzie
- Good Deeds and Dirty Rags (1989)
- Hammer and Tongs (1991)
- Five (1994)
Angelfish
- Angelfish (1994)
Garbage
- Garbage (1995)
- Version 2.0 (1998)
- Beautiful Garbage (2001)
- Bleed Like Me (2005)
- Not Your Kind of People (2012)
- Strange Little Birds (2016)
- No Gods No Masters (2021)
- Let All That We Imagine Be the Light (2025)
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008–2009 | Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles | Catherine Weaver (T-1001) | 17 episodes |
| 2009 | Guitar Hero 5 | Herself | Playable character |
| 2010 | Pancake Mountain | Herself | Segment: "Around the World with Shirley Manson" |
| 2012 | Knife Fight | Nicole |
See also
In Spanish: Shirley Manson para niños
- List of awards and nominations received by Garbage
Images for kids
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Manson in 2009.
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Manson has been critical about her appearance in the past.
