Shirley Manson has seen it all, and then some. Over her 20-plus years as a songwriter and performer – under her own name, as part of Angelfish and Goodbye Mr Mackenzie, and with legendary alt-rock band Garbage – the Scottish musician has sold millions of records, performed with Iggy Pop and Gwen Stefani, starred as a Terminator (in the TV series Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles) and campaigned extensively for Aids foundations, cancer charities and the 2010 Haiti earthquake relief fund.
As the vocalist of Garbage, Manson has made an indelible mark on the pop and rock culture of the 90s, 00s and beyond, the band’s 1995 debut album going double platinum in the UK and spawning the era-defining single Stupid Girl. In the years that followed, Garbage recorded a Bond theme (1999’s The World Is Not Enough) and released a stack of successful follow-up records. And the impact of Manson’s powerful, distinctive performance style can be seen in the generation of stars that followed, with everyone from Florence Welch to Paramore’s Hayley Williams to Lady Gaga self-identifying as Garbage devotees.
There’s no shortage of topics to discuss with Manson. Are there some old-school Garbage lyrics that you’ve always wanted to know the meaning behind? Do you want to know about the long-discussed Manson solo album that never saw the light of day, or what it was like writing songs for an early-career Sky Ferreira? Perhaps you have questions about the incredible silver Balenciaga gown she wore at this week’s Sound of 007 concert, or her general status as a fashion icon?
Post your questions for Shirley Manson in the comments by noon on Friday 7 October.
