SHIRLEY MANSON


Everybody knows Shirley Manson. She's the aggressive Scottish red-head that fronts the band Garbage. She was born and bred in Edinburgh, her mother being an ex-jazz singer, and her father a lecturer in poultry genetics. She went to school in Stockbridge (Edinburgh), and at the age of 16, she left her sole interests being music, smoking, drinking, and sex. Her obsession with music led onto Shirley joining several bands, the first being 'Autumn 1984', then 'The Wild Indians' - both of which didn't last long. Then in 1985 she became part of 'Goodbye Mr MacKenzie'. They kept together for several years, with a few chart successes, but failure dawned, and they eventually split. Next in line for Shirley, was the band 'Angelfish' - a little known band, which saw Shirley as the lead vocalist. Their track "Suffocate Me" is the most well known, as was also played as a one off on MTV - played at the very moment that 3 famous producers happened to be watching. Vig, Erikson, and Marker saw Shirley and gave her a call, offering her a place in a band, that were soon to become the world famous Garbage.

STEVE MARKER


Steve Marker, known as the silent member of Garbage, is a guitarist and loop-maker within the band. He started early, and by the age of 6 he was playing the drums, and by 12 he could play the guitar. He attended High School, in Mamroneek, just outside New York, and met up with Vig and Erikson when he moved to Wisconsin to study Communication Arts. He became part of various bands, including The Flying Saucers, and First Person, with Vig. Then he was a roadie with Spooner alongside Vig and Erikson. It was Steve's idea, with his 4 track equipment, that inspired Butch Vig to start up the now famous Smart Studios!

BUTCH VIG


Butch Vig (actually Brian Vig), the drummer, producer, and loop-maker of Garbage. Born in Wisconsin, he was brought up by his parents - his mother a music teacher; his father a doctor. He was a huge fan of The Who, and learned to play the piano and drums. His first band involvment was with 'The Schlichts', and later 'Eclipse' and later 'Spooner'. He went to Madisons University of Wisconsin, and studied film, but dropped out after taking great interest in sounds and sound effects. He met up with Steve Marker and Duke Erikson in Winconsin. The three of them hit it off well, and became a soon sought after group of producers. They built up their own studio, Smart Studios, and have credits such as U2, Nine Inch Nails, Nirvana and the Smashing Pumpkins.

DUKE ERIKSON


Duke Erikson, the oldest member of Garbage, handles the guitar bass and keyboards. Brought up in a farming community in Nebraska. He studied art, and also taught it for a few terms. By the age of 16, he was in a band called 'The British'. He moved to Wisconsin, and had jobs such as being a truck driver, and a carpenter. Here, he met up with Vig and Marker, and with them formed 'Spooner', which led to them becoming a famous producing trio, and then Garbage.

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