Shirley Manson#External links

File:Evening view across Carlton Hill towards the Castle (13164472813).jpg

Shirley Ann Manson was born in Edinburgh on 26 August 1966, the daughter of Muriel Flora (née MacKay) and John Mitchell Manson.Information gleaned from exhibition research and materials showcased at Famous Scots Exhibition held at New Register House, Edinburgh; Shirley Manson leg ran from 25 May – 17 July 2009, under the Homecoming Scotland banner Her father, a descendant from the fishing community of Northmavine, was a university lecturer, while her mother was a big band singer who had been adopted by a Lothian-based family at an early age and took on the family name MacDonald. Manson was named after an aunt, who was herself named after Charlotte Brontë's novel Shirley.{{cite web| url=http://www.fortunecity.com/tinpan/metallica/818/face-article.html| title=Ginger Spice| work=The Face| date=1 February 1998}}{{Dead link|date=July 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}{{cite web |title=Shirley Manson |url=http://www.notofu.com/site/?portfolio=shirley-manson |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150118233809/http://www.notofu.com/site/?portfolio=shirley-manson |archive-date=18 January 2015 |access-date=18 January 2015 |work=No Tofu}} She has two sisters: Lindy-Jayne who is two years older and Sarah who is two years younger.{{cite web|url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/no-place-like-home-for-shirley-1-1335930|title=No Place Like Home For Shirley|work=The Scotsman|date=25 January 2007|access-date=5 December 2007}} They were brought up in the Comely Bank and Stockbridge areas of Edinburgh in an old Victorian three-storey house.{{Cite journal | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206065923/http://www.geocities.com/boylikearose/articles-suntim-sep.html|url = http://www.geocities.com/boylikearose/articles-suntim-sep.html | title = Relative Values | last = Barrell | first = Tony | journal=The Sunday Times | date = 22 September 2002|access-date=5 December 2007 |archive-date=6 December 2008}}{{Cite web |date=2023-03-24 |title=Beatie Wolfe with Shirley Manson Orange Juice for the Ears |url=https://www.dublab.com/archive/beatie-wolfe-w-shirley-manson-orange-juice-for-the-ears-03-24-23 |access-date=2023-03-28 |website=www.dublab.com}} She attended Broughton High School and her childhood education was informed by the Church of Scotland (her father was her Sunday school teacher) until age 12.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.garbage.com/press/articles/199809/australiarollingstone/index1.htm |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=September 1998 |location=Australia |first=Elissa |last=Blake |title=Spirit in the Sky |access-date=9 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010822090511/http://www.garbage.com/press/articles/199809/australiarollingstone/index1.htm |archive-date=22 August 2001}}

Despite not having considered herself an artist until her forties and still not considering herself a musician, Manson's first experiences with music are rooted in her childhood and she received education in playing many instruments. Her first public performance was in 1970, at age four, singing "Never Smile at a Crocodile" with her older sister in an amateur show held at the local Church Hill Theatre. Enrolled at Flora Stevenson Primary School, she received instruction in recorder, clarinet, and fiddle, and learned ballet and piano from extramural classes at age seven, when she also joined a choir. Manson was a member of Girlguiding UK throughout this period of her youth as a Brownie and a Girl Guide.{{Cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100411084907/http://www.girlguidingscotland.org.uk/information/info_interview_manson.htm|archive-date=11 April 2010| url=http://www.girlguidingscotland.org.uk/information/info_interview_manson.htm | title = Successful Ex-Members: Shirley Manson | publisher=Girlguiding UK |access-date=6 March 2009}} She attended the City of Edinburgh Music School, the music department of Broughton High School. At about age nine, Manson joined the school orchestra. While at Broughton, she became an active member of its drama group, performing in amateur dramatic and musical performances such as The American Dream and The Wizard of Oz, while also singing with the Waverley Singers, a local girl choir. A 1981 Edinburgh Festival Fringe production of Maurice the Minotaur, in which Manson played a prophet, was awarded a Fringe First award by The Scotsman newspaper.

While she enjoyed primary school, Manson was bullied while in her first year at secondary school, causing her to suffer from depression and body dysmorphic disorder{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/the-changing-face-of-shirley-manson-1.836831 |title=The changing face of Shirley Manson |work=The Herald (Glasgow) |date=27 April 2008 |access-date=11 August 2013}} and engage in self-injury: she carried sharp objects in the laces of her boots and would cut herself when she felt low self-esteem, stress, or anxiety.{{cite web | last = Ro | first = Ronin | date = 30 May 2000 | url = http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1429321/20000530/nullgarbage.jhtml | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20030805031552/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1429321/20000530/nullgarbage.jhtml | url-status = dead | archive-date = 5 August 2003 | title =Garbage's Shirley Manson Admits To "Cutting"| website = MTV| access-date=2 February 2007}} The bullying stopped when Manson associated herself with a rebel crowd, which resulted in her rebelling herself. She was absent for most of her final year at school and began smoking cannabis, sniffing glue, drinking alcohol, shoplifting, and on one occasion breaking into Edinburgh Zoo.{{cite web | url = http://shirley-manson.org/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=2000&fullsize=1 | work = FHM | title = Interview with Shirley Manson | date = 1 September 1998 | access-date = 24 March 2009 | archive-date = 22 February 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120222121512/http://shirley-manson.org/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=2000&fullsize=1 | url-status = dead }} Manson had teenage ambitions to become an actress, but was rejected by the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD).{{cite web|last1=Hinchliffe|first1=Hinchliffe|title=Interview: Shirley Manson plumbs dark depths on new Garbage album |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/interview-shirley-manson-plumbs-dark-depths-on-new-garbage-album-1-4150619|website=The Scotsman|date=11 June 2016 }}{{cite web|title=Shirley Manson interview: Breaking up the garbage girl|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/apr/29/shirley-manson-interview-garbage|website=The Guardian|date=28 April 2012}} Her first job was volunteer work in a local hospital's cafeteria, then as a breakfast waitress at a local hotel, before spending five years as a shop assistant for Miss Selfridge. She started on the shop's makeup counters, but was eventually moved into stockrooms because of her attitude toward customers. She became well known throughout Edinburgh's clubbing scene; making use of free samples from Miss Selfridge, she styled hair for a number of local bands.{{Cite journal | journal = Record Collector | title = Garbage | date = 1 February 1997}} She also briefly modelled clothing for Jackie magazine.{{cite web | url = http://garbage.net/garbage/articles/@3-99b.htm | title = Shirley Manson opens her mouth | work = Q | date = 1 March 1999 | access-date = 5 December 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120218163609/http://garbage.net/garbage/articles/@3-99b.htm | archive-date = 18 February 2012 | url-status = dead}}

File:Gary Kurfirst 1979.jpg signed to Radioactive Records, founded by Gary Kurfirst (pictured), but later persuaded to leave by the band's management]]

Manson's first musical experiences came from briefly singing with local Edinburgh acts The Wild Indians and performed backing vocals with Autumn 1904.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/artists/a/|title =BBC John Peel Archive|website=BBC}} While she was performing with her group, Manson was approached by Goodbye Mr Mackenzie's lead Martin Metcalfe to join his band. Manson was in a relationship with Metcalfe initially, but remained working with the band after splitting from him and became a prominent member, performing keyboards, backing vocals and becoming involved in the band's business side.{{cite web |last=MacLean|first=Craig|title=1998 Will Be Garbage!|date=1 February 1998 |work=The Face |location=Madison, Wisconsin |url-status=dead |url=http://www.garbage.net/articles/@theface.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001208150300/http://www.garbage.net/articles/@theface.htm |archive-date=8 December 2000 |access-date=4 February 2017}} Manson's first release with the Mackenzies was a YTS release of "Death of a Salesman" in 1984. The group signed a major-label record deal with Capitol Records in 1987, and they released their first album Good Deeds and Dirty Rags, and their only UK top 40 entry "The Rattler". In 1990, the group's contract was transferred to Parlophone, another EMI label, but after two singles failed to chart Parlophone declined to release the group's second album Hammer and Tongs.{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721232358/http://blokshok.co.uk/gmm/blok_music_Macs.htm|archive-date=21 July 2015|url =http://blokshok.co.uk/gmm/blok_music_Macs.htm |title =Goodbye Mr Mackenzie – Biog |publisher = Blokshok Productions |access-date = 8 March 2009}}

Gary Kurfirst, who managed Talking Heads and Debbie Harry, bought the Mackenzies contract and issued their second album through his own label Radioactive Records, a subsidiary of MCA Records. After another single failed to chart, the group were persuaded to leave Radioactive by their management. The Mackenzies continued to write material; Manson was also given the opportunity to record lead vocals on a number of tracks planned for the band's third album.{{cite web |url =http://blokshok.co.uk/angelfish/luck_law_hill.htm |title =LUCKLAW HILL (The birth of Angelfish & Goodbye Mr MacKenzie MK2) |publisher =Blokshok Productions |access-date =8 March 2009 |archive-date =13 April 2009 |archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20090413183834/http://blokshok.co.uk/angelfish/luck_law_hill.htm |url-status =dead }} Although MCA had no desire to further their commitments to Goodbye Mr. Mackenzie, the label expressed interest in recording an album with Manson, and after hearing several demos, Kurfirst signed Manson to Radioactive as a solo artist, with the remaining Mackenzies performing as her backing band to circumvent the band's existing deal with MCA. Manson's contract obliged her to deliver at least one album and, at the sole option of Radioactive, up to six additional albums.

Recording under the name Angelfish, and using some of the newly written material and a previously released Mackenzie b-side, Manson and the group recorded the tracks that would make up the Angelfish album in Connecticut with Talking Heads' Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth. A lead in track "Suffocate Me" was sent to college radio where it was well received. Angelfish and second single "Heartbreak to Hate" followed in 1994. Angelfish toured Belgium, Canada, France, and the U.S. The band co-supported Live on a tour of North America, along with Vic Chestnutt. The music video for "Suffocate Me" was aired once on MTV's 120 Minutes. Producer and musician Steve Marker caught the broadcast and thought Manson would be a great singer for his band, Garbage, which also featured producers Duke Erikson and Butch Vig.{{cite episode | series = Behind The Music | series-link = Behind The Music | title = Garbage: Behind The Music | airdate= 31 March 2002}}

File:Shirleymansonversion2.0.jpg era with Garbage, ({{circa|1998–99}})]]

Vig invited Manson to Smart Studios to sing on a couple of tracks. After an unsuccessful audition, she returned to Angelfish. Manson admitted she felt intimidated showcasing herself to Vig, who produced bands she admired such as Nirvana, Sonic Youth, and The Smashing Pumpkins, and Vig added that the audition's disorganized nature along with the Americans not understanding Manson's Scottish accent caused communication problems.{{cite web|url=http://www.spin.com/2015/08/garbage-shirley-manson-butch-vig-garbage-anniversary-interview/|title=Shirley Manson and Butch Vig Answer 20 Questions for the 20th Anniversary of 'Garbage'|first=Rachel|last=Brodsky|date=13 August 2015|work=Spin|access-date=6 September 2015}} At the end of the Live tour, Angelfish imploded and Manson returned to Smart for a second try. She began to work on the then-skeletal origins of some songs and the band invited her to become a full-time member and finish the album; she co-wrote and co-produced the entire album with the rest of the band.153 F.Supp.2d 462 RADIOACTIVE, J.V., Plaintiff, v. Shirley MANSON, Defendant. No. 01 Civ.1948(SAS). United States District Court, S.D. New York. (29 July 2001) In August 1994, Radioactive gave their permission for Manson to work with Garbage. The band's debut album Garbage was released in August 1995, and went on to sell over 4 million copies, buoyed by a run of high charting singles including "Only Happy When It Rains" and "Stupid Girl." Manson quickly became the public face of the band over the course of a tour that took the band through to the end of 1996. Echo & the Bunnymen had asked Manson to sing on their 1997 comeback album.

Manson became the band's chief songwriter for the follow-up record Version 2.0 which equalled the success of the band's debut record after its May 1998 release. During the two-year tour in support of the record, Manson modelled for Calvin Klein. Manson lived in hotels throughout the recording periods of the debut and Version 2.0. The group recorded the theme song to the James Bond movie The World Is Not Enough, and Manson became the third Scotswoman to sing a Bond theme after Lulu and Sheena Easton. In the accompanying video, she portrays an android assassin. For the recording of Garbage's third record throughout 2000, Manson became one of the first high-profile artists to write a blog online, while she decided to improve her guitar playing for the band's next tour.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1123595/garbages-shirley-manson-hints-at-heavier-new-album/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150117085346/http://www.mtv.com/news/1123595/garbages-shirley-manson-hints-at-heavier-new-album/|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 January 2015|title=Garbage's Shirley Manson Hints At 'Heavier' New Album|website=MTV|date=30 August 2000|access-date=15 January 2015}} Their third album, Beautiful Garbage, featured Manson's most forward and personal lyrics to date. The album did not sell as well as its predecessors, but Garbage performed a successful world tour in support of it. During a concert at the Roskilde Festival, Manson's voice gave out. She afterwards discovered a vocal fold cyst, and had to undergo corrective surgery.Ganz, Karin. [https://books.google.com/books?id=U1mdDlPSC9YC&pg=PA28 "Q&A: Shirley Manson"], Spin (May 2005)

Manson's lyrics became more overtly political for Garbage's fourth record, 2005's Bleed Like Me, which after the surprise success of lead-in single "Why Do You Love Me", posted some of the band's highest chart positions upon release. Garbage began an extended hiatus in October 2005. During this period, in 2007, Garbage reformed to perform a short set at a benefit show to raise cash to pay for Wally Ingram's medical treatment,{{cite news | url=http://www.moderndrummer.com/updatefull/200001671/Wally%20Ingram | work=Modern Drummer | title=Wally Ingram / Back... With A Little Help From His Friends | first=David | last=Stanoch | date=June 2008 | access-date=9 May 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100704010615/http://www.moderndrummer.com/updatefull/200001671/Wally%20Ingram | archive-date=4 July 2010 | url-status=dead}}{{cite magazine| url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1063431/garbage-raitt-lead-benefit-for-veteran-drummer | title=Garbage, Raitt Lead Benefit For Veteran Drummer | magazine=Billboard | date=8 January 2007|access-date=22 May 2009}} shared song ideas via the internet,{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003529208/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605120802/http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003529208/|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 June 2011| title=Garbage, Raitt Lead Benefit For Veteran Drummer|magazine=Billboard|access-date=12 May 2007}} recorded new material, and filmed a music video{{cite web|url=http://garbage.proboards60.com/index.cgi?board=talk&action=display&thread=1181691204|title=Wandering Sons make connections with director, Madison's Garbage|publisher=TheNorthWestern.com (reproduced on Garbage.Proboards60.com as original article has been removed)|access-date=20 June 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130812001757/http://garbage.proboards60.com/index.cgi?board=talk&action=display&thread=1181691204|archive-date=12 August 2013}} to promote the band's Absolute Garbage greatest hits compilation.{{cite web|url=http://www.thescene.com.au/Music/Features/GARBAGE-INTERVIEW/| title=Garbage Interview|website=TheScene.com.au|access-date=2 February 2008}} Garbage returned to the studio in 2010 to write and record material for a fifth album, entitled Not Your Kind of People and subsequently released in May 2012, thus ending the band's seven-year hiatus from recording.

File:Garbage (cropped).jpg, United States, September 2012]]

In 2021, Garbage supported Alanis Morissette's 2020 World Tour: Celebrating 25 Years of Jagged Little Pill, which had been postponed due to COVID-19. At several performances, Manson wore a variation on "Garden Witch Overalls", popularised by feminist poet Kate Baer through her interview on the podcast Gee Thanks, Just Bought It, hosted by Caroline Moss.{{cite tweet|user=91x|author=((91X))|author-link=XETRA-FM|number=1444414914165030914|title=flashback to a few days ago when @Alanis and @garbage took over the North Island Amp to celebrate 25 years of "jagged little pill". that album sold over 60 million copies, went 17× platinum, 1× diamond, and is the proud recipient of 7 Grammy awards!|date=2 October 2021|access-date=11 October 2021}}{{cite web|title=Ep 36: Kate Baer|date=31 July 2020 |url=https://play.acast.com/s/geethanksjustboughtit/ep36-katebaer|access-date=2021-10-11}} Manson paired the overalls with knee-high boots and assorted t-shirts. On March 30, 2021, Garbage released the song "The Men Who Rule the World", the lead single from their seventh studio album, No Gods No Masters, which was released on June 11, 2021.{{cite web |last=Trendell |first=Andrew |date=March 30, 2021 |title=Garbage return with 'The Men Who Rule The World' from new album 'No Gods No Masters' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/garbage-return-with-the-men-who-rule-the-world-from-new-album-no-gods-no-masters-2911012 |access-date=April 3, 2021 |work=NME}} On April 28, the album's title track "No Gods No Masters" was released as the second single,{{Cite web|last=Brown|first=Paul 'Browny'|date=2021-04-01|title=A Whole Lotta Good Garbage Got Announced This Week|url=https://wallofsoundau.com/2021/04/02/a-whole-lotta-good-garbage-got-announced-this-week/|access-date=2021-05-25|website=Wall of Sound}}{{Dead link|date=May 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} followed by "Wolves" on May 19. No Gods No Masters was supported in summer 2021 with an arena concert tour with Garbage as guests of Alanis Morissette. The tour went on to become the most successful female-fronted tour of the year, selling more than 500,000 tickets.{{Cite web |title=Alanis Morissette with special guest Garbage |url=https://www.bethelwoodscenter.org/events/alanis-morissette-special-guest-garbage |access-date=2022-08-19 |website=Bethel Woods Center for the Arts |language=en |archive-date=8 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220708213846/https://www.bethelwoodscenter.org/events/alanis-morissette-special-guest-garbage |url-status=dead }}

On September 7, 2022, Garbage announced their third greatest hits album Anthology, released on October 28. The compilation features 35 newly remastered tracks celebrating three decades of career, including "Witness To Your Love",{{Cite web |last=Skinner |first=Tom |date=2022-09-21 |title=Garbage announce new 'Anthology' compilation: "It's testimony to almost three decades of creative work" |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/garbage-announce-new-anthology-compilation-album-pre-order-tracklist-3314281 |access-date=2022-09-21 |website=NME |language=en-GB}} which was released as a single. Early in 2022, Garbage started writing for their upcoming eighth studio album. In October, after fulfilling their touring obligations, Garbage resumed writing for the album.{{Cite web |last=Consequence |date=July 18, 2022 |title=The Story Behind the Song: Garbage's "Only Happy When It Rains" |website=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXpxCq11z78? |access-date=September 17, 2022}} In February 2023, Garbage announced their Summer 2023 co-headline North American tour with Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds featuring Metric as special guests.{{Cite magazine |last=Blistein |first=Jon |date=2023-02-13 |title=Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, Garbage Plot Co-Headlining Summer Tour |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/noel-gallaghers-high-flying-birds-garbage-co-headlining-tour-1234678666/ |access-date=2023-02-15 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}} On 4 March 2024, Garbage announced a UK and European tour, marking their first UK tour in five years. The headlining tour includes dates in Germany, Italy, France, Denmark, and a date at the Wembley Arena in England. Two dates were confirmed in Manson's native Scotland – a main stage slot at the TRNSMT festival in Glasgow, and a date at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh.{{cite web |last1=Geraghty |first1=Hollie |title=Garbage announce summer 2024 UK and European tour |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/garbage-announce-summer-2024-uk-and-european-tour-buy-tickets-3596330 |website=www.nme.com |publisher=NME |access-date=6 March 2024 |date=4 March 2024}} Their eighth album, Let All That We Imagine Be the Light, was released in May 2025,{{cite web |last1=Skinner |first1=Tom |title=Garbage announce new album 'Let All That We Imagine Be The Light': "Searching for love, searching for all the good things in the world" |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/garbage-announce-new-album-let-all-that-we-imagine-be-the-light-searching-for-love-searching-for-all-the-good-things-in-the-world-3841919 |website=NME |access-date=2 April 2025 |date=27 February 2025}} and will be supported by a North American tour beginning in September 2025.{{cite web |title=Garbage announce 2025 North American tour |url=https://consequence.net/2025/03/garbage-2025-tour-happy-endings/#:~:text=Garbage%20have%20mapped%20out%20a,Blondie%20over%20the%20last%20decade. |website=Consequence |access-date=2 April 2025 |language=en |date=25 March 2025}}

{{Quote box| quote ="I had taken some of my solo music into the record label. They didn't really care for the direction I was moving in and I found it really disheartening. They wanted a pop hit, which I understand in terms of making money. I get that. But what they were going to ask of me was something I wasn't prepared to deliver and I felt kind of trapped. I just stopped writing. I just stopped. It was stifling".|width=25%|source=—Shirley Manson}}

Manson confirmed in March 2006 that she had begun work on a solo album, working with musician Paul Buchanan,{{cite web |last=McLean |first=Craig |date=29 April 2012 |title=Shirley Manson interview: Breaking up the garbage girl |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/apr/29/shirley-manson-interview-garbage |work=The Guardian}} producer Greg Kurstin, and film composer David Arnold, stating that she had "no timetable" for completing the project.{{cite magazine| url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/59093/garbages-shirley-manson-flying-solo|title=Garbage's Shirley Manson Flying Solo| magazine= Billboard |date=14 March 2006| access-date=27 July 2007}} In 2007, Manson collaborated with Rivers Cuomo of Weezer.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/266719/weezers-rivers-cuomo-jermaine-dupri-the-billboard-cover-story-video |title=Weezer's Rivers Cuomo & Jermaine Dupri: The Billboard Cover Story & Video |magazine=Billboard|date=14 September 2009 |access-date=13 August 2012}} Manson presented some of her work to Geffen Records in 2008, who found it "too noir", prompting Manson and Geffen to terminate her contract by mutual agreement.{{cite web|url=https://www.suicidegirls.com/girls/nicole_powers/blog/2680062/shirley-manson-rock-star-terminator//|title=Shirley Manson: Rock Star Terminator|last=Powers|first=Nicole|date=12 November 2008|website=SuicideGirls|access-date=12 November 2008|archive-date=30 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141230190349/https://suicidegirls.com/girls/nicole_powers/blog/2680062/shirley-manson-rock-star-terminator/|url-status=dead}} Manson later elaborated, "[Geffen] wanted me to have international radio hits and 'be the Annie Lennox of my generation'. I kid you not; I am quoting directly."{{cite web|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2012/03/garbage-interview-shirley-manson-butch-vig-not-your-kind-of-people|title=Q&A: Shirley Manson and Butch Vig of Garbage Talk About Their Comeback, and Why Manson was the Lana Del Rey of the 90s|work=Vanity Fair|first=Marc|last=Spitz|date=22 March 2012|access-date=23 March 2012}} "I made a quiet, very dark, non-radio-friendly record," she recalled. "I'm not interested in writing nursery rhymes for the masses."{{cite magazine|title=Welcome back: Garbage|magazine=Classic Rock #170|date=May 2012|page=24}}

Manson continued to write material while without a record deal and had been in talks with David Byrne and Ray Davies about a potential collaboration.{{cite web |url = http://www.heraldscotland.com/the-changing-face-of-shirley-manson-1.836831|title = The Changing Face of Shirley Manson|work = The Herald (Glasgow) |date = April 2008 |access-date = 7 March 2009}} In 2009, Manson posted three demos on her Facebook profile, written with Kurstin, titled "In the Snow",{{cite web |last=Manson |first=Shirley |url = https://www.facebook.com/notes/shirley-manson/so-called-noir/156516745248|title =So Called Noir |date =20 March 2009 |access-date = 20 March 2009 |via=Facebook}} "Pretty Horses"{{cite web |last=Manson |first=Shirley |url=https://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Shirley-Manson/27037696386?v=wall&story_fbid=417275066386&ref=mf |title=Pretty Horses |date=3 August 2010 |access-date=11 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080924153115/https://www.facebook.com/home.php |archive-date=24 September 2008 |via=Facebook}} and "Lighten Up".{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shirley-Manson/27037696386 |title=Lighten Up |publisher=Shirley Manson |date=22 September 2010 |access-date=22 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100529063749/https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shirley-Manson/27037696386 |archive-date=29 May 2010 |via=Facebook}} "Pretty Horses" was later featured in the pilot episode of the show Conviction. 14 additional songs co-written with Kurstin and registered on copyright and performance rights societies included “Don't Want To Pretend”, “Don't Want Anyone Hurt”, “Gone Upside”, “Hot Shit”, “Kid Ourselves”, “Little Dough”, “Pure Genius”, “Sweet Old World”, “Spooky”, “So Shines a Good Deed”, “The Desert”, “No Regrets”, “Stop”, and “To Be King”.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/garbage-50-1339040|title=Garbage singer's solo album details leaked|date=2007-11-19|work=NME|access-date=2020-02-13}}

File:Shirley Manson Edinburgh 2009.jpg

In 2009, Manson announced she was stepping away from music, saying she got sick of the music industry's new practices and had found more excitement in acting.{{cite web|url=https://www.chron.com/entertainment/article/Garbage-singer-dumps-music-for-acting-1743670.php |title=Garbage singer dumps music for acting |work=Houston Chronicle |date=10 March 2009 |access-date=13 August 2012}} Manson said she thought about abandoning the music business in 2008, when her mother developed dementia, and later died, saying that "I didn't want to make music, didn't feel creative. I could barely function."{{cite news | last=Dickinson | first=Jenny | url=http://absolutegarbage.net/articles/super-vixen/ | title=Super Vixen | work=Elle | location=UK | date=April 2010 | access-date=29 May 2012 | url-status=usurped | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327192208/http://absolutegarbage.net/articles/super-vixen/ | archive-date=27 March 2012}} Later that year she reconsidered her words and went back into performing after being asked by friends Jeff Castelaz and Jo Ann Thrailkill to sing David Bowie's "Life on Mars?" at their son's memorial. According to Manson, "we were all in so much pain, but it meant so much to them that I could sing that song and so much to me that I was able to do something. It made me realise how much music sustains people. I don't know why I'd turned my back on it."

Manson also worked with a number of artists outside of her solo project, reciting a verse of a long poem for a Chris Connelly album,{{cite web|url=http://www.jnanarecords.com/newsf.html|title=September 08|publisher=Jnana Records press release|access-date=25 September 2008|archive-date=22 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722042224/http://www.copticcat.ca//newsf.html|url-status=dead}} co-writing and recording a duet with Eric Avery for his solo debut{{cite web|url=http://dangerbirdrecords.com/releases/eric-avery/eric-avery-help-wanted|title=Eric Avery Help Wanted CD (Press release)|publisher=DangerbirdRecords.com|access-date=5 December 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071202230345/http://dangerbirdrecords.com/releases/eric-avery/eric-avery-help-wanted|archive-date=2 December 2007}} recording with Debbie Harry.{{cite news | url = http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/artslife/story.html?id=7170641c-b528-4699-9dd6-c5cf9ea9458f&k=45729 | last = Kaplan | first = Ben | title = Keeping Her Tide High | work = National Post | access-date = 17 January 2008 | date = 24 October 2007 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120212210521/http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/artslife/story.html?id=7170641c-b528-4699-9dd6-c5cf9ea9458f&k=45729 | archive-date = 12 February 2012}} Although not recording material with them, Manson also performed on-stage with The Pretenders, Iggy Pop, Incubus and Kings of Leon in Atlantic City,{{cite magazine | url =https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/57973/iggy-incubus-to-salute-the-pretenders | title =Iggy, Incubus to Salute The Pretenders' |magazine =Billboard| access-date = 2 March 2009|date=28 June 2006}} with Gwen Stefani{{cite news | url = https://www.reuters.com/article/reviewsNews/idUSN2936826220070430 | title =Amid backlash, Stefani thrills mainstream fans |work =Reuters | access-date = 2 March 2009 | date=30 April 2007}} and twice with No Doubt{{cite web | url=http://www.la.com/music/ci_12925804 | title=No Doubt About It – Live Review From The Gibson Amphitheatre, 7/27/09 | website=LA.com | publisher=Los Angeles Newspaper Group | date=28 July 2009 | access-date=25 September 2015 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713180744/http://www.la.com/music/ci_12925804 | archive-date=13 July 2011}} in Universal City. Manson also performed in an uncredited role as a dominatrix in the music video for She Wants Revenge's single "These Things".{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081222032448/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1529492/20060425/she_wants_revenge.jhtml?headlines=true|archive-date=22 December 2008| url = http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1529492/20060425/she_wants_revenge.jhtml?headlines=true | title = She Wants Revenge Hire Shirley Manson As Their Dominatrix |website = MTV | date=26 April 2006|access-date = 5 December 2007}} Most recently Manson performed vocals on a track written by Serj Tankian entitled "The Hunger", a single from the rock musical Prometheus Bound.{{cite web | url = https://www.facebook.com/notes/shirley-manson/amnesty-international/10150443692045249?headlines=true | title = Shirley Manson and Serj Tankian team up for Amnesty International |publisher = Facebook | date = 28 February 2011}}

In January 2012, Manson confirmed that work on her solo album had been cancelled, stating the album "[is] dead and buried. We had the funeral. It was sad and I cried a lot but it made such a beautiful corpse that we had an open casket."{{cite news|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2012/01/quick-chat-shirley-manson-of-garbage.html|title = Quick Chat: Shirley Manson of Garbage|work = LaTimes.com |date =31 January 2012 |access-date = 3 February 2012}}

File:Shirley Manson08.jpg

Manson was cast in Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles in May 2008,{{cite magazine |date=30 May 2008 |title=Shirley Manson Heads to TV's Terminator |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1045240/shirley-manson-heads-to-tvs-terminator |access-date=25 September 2015 |magazine=Billboard}} after being asked to appear by series creator Josh Friedman and enduring a multiple audition process, beating out other actresses including Julie Ann Emery.{{cite web |date=2 March 2009 |title=Everything I Do, I Do It For You |url=http://www.fox.com/blogs/terminator/2009/03/02/everything-i-do-i-do-it-for-you/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090413030834/http://www.fox.com/blogs/terminator/2009/03/02/everything-i-do-i-do-it-for-you |archive-date=13 April 2009 |access-date=2 March 2009 |website=Fox |publisher=Fox Broadcasting Company}} She debuted in the season two premiere episode "Samson and Delilah" as Catherine Weaver, CEO of a technology company, ZeiraCorp. At the conclusion of the episode, Weaver is revealed to be a liquid-metal T-1001 Terminator. Manson also performed and co-arranged a rock and blues version of the gospel song "Samson and Delilah" for the episode's score.{{cite web |date=8 September 2008 |title=Josh Friedman: If He Had His Way |url=http://fox.com/blogs/terminator/2008/09/08/josh-friedman-if-he-had-his-way/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090318001424/http://www.fox.com/blogs/terminator/2008/09/08/josh-friedman-if-he-had-his-way/ |archive-date=18 March 2009 |access-date=25 September 2015 |website=Fox |publisher=Fox Broadcasting Company |department=T:SCC producer's blog}} She also played the human Weaver in archive footage viewed by the T-1001 in the episode "The Tower Is Tall, But the Fall Is Short".{{cite web |date=21 October 2008 |title=How Goes the Robot Hunt, Mr. Ellison? |url=http://www.fox.com/blogs/terminator/2008/10/21/how-goes-the-robot-hunt-mr-ellison// |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090408183909/http://www.fox.com/blogs/terminator/2008/10/21/how-goes-the-robot-hunt-mr-ellison/ |archive-date=8 April 2009 |access-date=21 November 2009 |website=Fox |publisher=Fox Broadcasting Company |department=T:SCC producer's blog}}

In 2009, Manson made her first venture into the video game industry as an avatar of herself for the Guitar Hero franchise. In the fifth game in the series, Manson is an unlockable character, while the game also features a licensed Garbage track.

The next year, Manson was one of the final guests to appear on the cult US children's show Pancake Mountain. Featured in a segment titled "Around the World with Shirley Manson",{{cite web |author=Jonathan Fischer |date=29 February 2012 |title=Pancake Mountain Is No More |url=http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/film/2012/02/29/pancake-mountain-is-no-more/ |access-date=27 September 2013 |work=Washington City Paper |publisher=Amy Austin}} she talked about music from other countries. She filmed five such segments but none aired before creator Scott Stuckey and producer J. J. Abrams canceled the show. One segment, featuring Germany, was eventually released and featured an original theme song sung by Manson and written by Stuckey.{{cite web |title=Pancake Mountain: Around the World with Shirley Manson |url=http://shelf3d.com/22dk_L3DrqY#Pancake%20Mountain:%20Around%20the%20World%20with%20Shirley%20Manson |access-date=27 September 2013 |work=Shelf3d.com |publisher=Absolute Garbage Net}}

In 2019, Manson travelled to Santiago, Chile, to participate in the making of Peace Peace Now Now, a documentary telling "stories of women who challenged armed conflicts around the world."{{Cite web |title=Peace Peace Now Now (2021) |url=https://www.avclub.com/tv/reviews/peace-peace-now-now-2021 |access-date=2023-01-07 |website=The A.V. Club |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=4 June 2019 |title=Shirley Manson Grabará Documental En Chile |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BySUT6_nLAA/ |access-date=2023-01-07 |website= |publisher=Peace Peace Now Now |language=en |via=Instagram}} The first season of the documentary came out on 23 November 2022 on Star+.{{Cite web |date=7 November 2022 |title=#peacepeacenownow #seriedocumental @starplusla |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/Ckqy01iOPCD/ |access-date=2023-01-07 |publisher=Peace Peace Now Now |language=en |via=Instagram}}

{{Main|The Jump with Shirley Manson}}

From 2019 to 2021, Manson hosted the music podcast The Jump with Shirley Manson, co-produced by Mailchimp Presents and Little Everywhere, with executive producers Dann Gallucci, Jane Marie and Hrishikesh Hirway. In each episode, Manson interviewed a guest musician about a defining song that represented a breakthrough in the artist's own career and “the moments in an artist’s career where they decide to take a leap into something new.”{{Cite web |title=David Byrne - Loco de Amor - The Jump • Mailchimp Presents |url=https://mailchimp.com/presents/podcast/the-jump/ |access-date=2022-10-01 |website=Mailchimp Presents |language=en}}{{Cite web |last1=Turman |first1=Katherine |date=2019-06-17 |title=Garbage's Shirley Manson Interviews Courtney Love, More on 'The Jump' Podcast |url=https://variety.com/2019/music/news/garbage-shirley-manson-courtney-love-the-jump-podcast-1203245415/ |access-date=2022-10-01 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}

Three seasons of the podcast were produced, for a total of 28 episodes. Discussing the future of the podcast, Manson is unsure whether the show will be renewed for a fourth season.{{Citation |title=Shirley Manson on Garbage's Anthology, James Bond Theme, & Next Album |date=2022-12-07 |url=https://open.spotify.com/episode/25AKWr6odE5yXeXabRO4YM |access-date=2023-01-07 |language=en}} Manson credits the show for the personal growth of her as an artist and an interviewer. Some episodes of the show also directly inspired the writing and production of songs of Garbage's seventh studio album, No Gods No Masters.{{cite web |last=Riley |first=Phoebe |date=2021-06-01 |title=My Ten: Garbage's Shirley Manson Thrives on Unapologetic Heroines |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/01/arts/music/garbage-shirley-manson-favorites.html?smtyp=cur&smid=fb-nytimes&fbclid=IwAR3jWOXJJCYavkIVVP62XpLYQq5jARsBLcDPVNtTEAY58kr96qiH2eCVJa8 |accessdate=2021-06-03 |work=New York Times}}{{cite web |last=Doherty |first=Niall |date=May 7, 2021 |title=Line One: Shirley Manson |url=https://thenewcue.substack.com/p/the-new-cue-17-may-7-garbage-rejjie |access-date=May 7, 2021 |work=The New Cue}}

File:ShirleyMansonApril10-2008.jpg.]]

Manson has used Garbage's profile and her own to raise awareness and secure funds for a number of causes.{{cite web |title=Shirley Manson Charity Work, Events and Causes |url=https://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/shirley-manson |access-date=18 January 2015 |work=Looktothestars.org}} She commissioned a Garbage branded lipgloss online, with all proceeds from the sales split between Grampian Children's Cancer Research and cancer treatment institutions at Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital in Scotland and the Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York.{{cite web |date=4 October 1999 |title=Garbage Moves Further into Makeup World |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1429325/garbage-moves-further-into-makeup-world/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121053413/http://www.mtv.com/news/1429325/garbage-moves-further-into-makeup-world/ |archive-date=21 January 2015 |access-date=18 January 2015 |work=MTV}}

In 2001, Manson became an ambassador for the M•A•C AIDS Fund, fronting their fourth two-year charity lipstick marketing campaign alongside Elton John and Mary J. Blige, beginning with the launch of the VIVAMAC IV lipstick in March 2002, in which all proceeds of the sale of the lipstick goes to help fund AIDS charities and initiatives.{{cite web |title=MAC Cosmetics announces Elton John, Mary J. Blige and Shirley Manson as the new spokespeople for VIVA GLAM iv lipstick and the MAC AIDS fund |url=http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=78172 |access-date=5 March 2009 |publisher=PR Newswire}} While touring, Manson visited several AIDS charities in Amsterdam, Edinburgh, Toronto, New York, San Francisco and Madison to make several donations totalling over $300,000 on behalf of the M•A•C AIDS Fund.{{cite web |title=MAC VIVA GLAM IV Spokeswoman SHIRLEY MANSON Donates $100,000 To Fashion Cares |url=http://minimidimaxi.com/press_releases/FC-09-04-02.shtml |access-date=5 March 2009 |publisher=Canadian Fashion Stage}}

In 2003, the M•A•C AIDS Fund linked with the Elton John AIDS Foundation to produce the White Bedroom campaign, where both Elton John and Manson recorded PSAs promoting condom use and stating facts on AIDS.{{cite web |title=AIDS Ain't Over PSAs |url=http://www.commercialcloset.org/common/adlibrary/adPrintdetails.cfm?QID=3078&ClientID=11064 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718212045/http://www.commercialcloset.org/common/adlibrary/adPrintdetails.cfm?QID=3078&ClientID=11064 |archive-date=18 July 2011 |access-date=5 March 2009 |publisher=Commercial Closet}} By 2007, the combined six VIVAMAC campaigns had raised over $100 million U.S. dollars,{{cite web |title=M.A.C. Raised $100 million to Fight Against HIV and AIDS |url=http://toronto.fashion-monitor.com/news.php/fashion-cares/2007112106mac-viva-glam |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080515231503/http://toronto.fashion-monitor.com/news.php/fashion-cares/2007112106mac-viva-glam |archive-date=15 May 2008 |access-date=5 March 2009 |publisher=Fashion Monitor Toronto}} and as a former ambassador Manson accepted a cheque for £51,000 on behalf of HIV charity Waverley Care from the M•A•C AIDS Fund on 10 April 2008 at Harvey Nichols Edinburgh store.{{cite web |title=On The Edge of Her Seat |url=http://living.scotsman.com/features/On-the-edge-of-her.3975508.jp |access-date=12 April 2008 |publisher=Scotsman newspaper}} Manson had become a patron of Waverley Care in October 2002{{cite news |date=15 October 2002 |title=Singer Manson Backs HIV Charity |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/2331251.stm |access-date=6 March 2009 |work=BBC News}} and previously hosted a fund raiser auction to raise funds for the charity in January 2004 which raised £45,000. A Fender guitar owned by Manson raised £1,050, while other items auctioned included contributions sourced by Manson herself, from Elton John and Kylie Minogue.

Manson has also adopted a rescue dog, a terrier-mix named {{anchor|veela}} Veela, named after the veelas from the Harry Potter books.{{cite web |title='Harry Potter' Gets Love From Robert Pattinson, Lupe Fiasco, Keira Knightley And More Celeb Fans |url=http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1595489/story.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130129064537/http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1595489/story.jhtml |archive-date=29 January 2013 |access-date=16 April 2009 |website=MTV}}

In 2008, Manson became involved with The Pablove Foundation, a charity founded by Dangerbird Records head Jeff Castelaz, whose son Pablo succumbed to cancer the following year. Castelaz, whose family Manson had befriended in the 90s, had asked Manson to sing "Life on Mars?" at their sons' memorial.{{cite web |date=13 January 2015 |title=Shirley Manson, David Bowie tribute band to perform for Pablove 6 |url=http://www.jsonline.com/entertainment/musicandnightlife/shirley-manson-david-bowie-tribute-band-to-perform-for-pablove-6-b99422101z1-288353071.html |access-date=18 January 2015 |work=JSOnline}} Funds raised for The Pablove Foundation fund pediatric cancer research and educational and quality of life programming for families dealing with childhood cancer.{{cite web |date=25 September 2009 |title=A Special Message from Shirley Manson |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smDfkoMjbeo |access-date=11 September 2010 |publisher=Pablove Foundation via YouTube}} Manson reformed Garbage to contribute an exclusive track, "Witness to Your Love", to a charity album for the Foundation,{{cite web |date=13 September 2008 |title=Urban Outfitters / Filter / Pablove Foundation 'Give Listen Help' CD Compilation |url=http://getwellpablo.blogspot.com/2008/09/urban-outfitters-filter-pablove.html |access-date=13 September 2008 |publisher=Pablove Foundation via Blogspot}} and signed a Pablove poster for auction on eBay. Manson also hosted a fundraiser headlined by the Silversun Pickups,{{cite web |title=Shirley Manson to MC Pablove Benefit Featuring Silversun Pickups, Eulogies at Echoplex Tomorrow Night |url=http://blogs.laweekly.com/westcoastsound/news/shirley-manson-to-mc-pablove-b/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091126162335/http://blogs.laweekly.com/westcoastsound/news/shirley-manson-to-mc-pablove-b/ |archive-date=26 November 2009 |access-date=11 September 2010 |work=LA Weekly}} and performed acoustically on-stage at a second fundraiser with Butch Vig and Laura Jane Grace (for a rendition of "Witness...") and with Greg Kurstin (for a cover of Pablo's favourite song, David Bowie's "Life on Mars?").{{cite web |date=23 November 2009 |title=Laura Jane Grace, Shirley Manson, and More Play Cancer Benefit |url=https://www.spin.com/2009/11/tom-gabel-shirley-manson-and-more-play-cancer-benefit/ |access-date=11 September 2010 |work=Spin}}

In 2010, Shirley Manson donated two hand-decorated T-shirts to Binki Shapiro's (of the band Little Joy) online charity auction "Crafts for a Cause" to raise money for victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake. The two T-shirts raised a total of $1522.00, which was donated to the Artists for Peace and Justice organisation.{{cite web |title=Shirley Manson: Crafts for a Cause |url=http://www.oliverpeoples.com/ee/index.php/lifestyle/detail/shirley_manson_crafts_for_a_cause/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100425041157/http://www.oliverpeoples.com/ee/index.php/lifestyle/detail/shirley_manson_crafts_for_a_cause/ |archive-date=25 April 2010 |access-date=1 June 2010 |publisher=Oliver People's}}

In January 2015, Manson headlined Pablove 6, the sixth-annual fundraiser for the Pablove Foundation. She made a special appearance with Chicago-based David Bowie tribute band Sons of the Silent Age, featuring Matt Walker and Chris Connelly.{{cite web |date=17 November 2014 |title=Marilyn Manson, the Decemberists among new Milwaukee concert announcements |url=http://www.jsonline.com/entertainment/musicandnightlife/marilyn-manson-the-decemberists-david-bowie-tribute-with-shirley-manson-among-new-milwaukee-concer-b-282972551.html |access-date=29 November 2014 |work=JSOnline}}{{cite web |date=13 January 2015 |title=This Week in Milwaukee: Jan 15–21 |url=http://expressmilwaukee.com/article-permalink-24717.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150118223334/http://expressmilwaukee.com/article-permalink-24717.html |archive-date=18 January 2015 |access-date=18 January 2015 |work=Shepherd Express}}

{{Quote box|width=300px|align=right|quote="We wanted to work with a female vocalist who didn't have a high, chirpy, quality to her voice, we had discussed who we really respect, and names like Patti Smith and Chrissie Hynde came up. And Shirley had some of the same depth."|source=—Steve Marker discussing Manson's voice in an interview with the Los Angeles Times.

}}

Manson, with Garbage, has an alternative musical style fusing various genres including electronic rock, industrial rock, punk, grunge, trip hop and shoegaze.{{cite web |last=Zoladz |first=Lindsay |title=Garbage: Not Your Kind of People |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/16606-not-your-kind-of-people/ |work=Pitchfork |quote="Garbage reigned in the late-period glory days of alternative-rock radio, probably because their sound was a hectic amalgamation of almost everything that mingled on the format's airwaves: electronica, punk, industrial rock, grunge, and the occasional trip-hop"}}{{cite web |author=Fishsticks, Angel |date=14 May 2012 |title=Garbage – Not Your Kind of People |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/garbage-not-your-kind-of-people-album-review-stunvolume/ |access-date=22 September 2014 |work=Vice}} Although trained as a soprano when singing in the choir as a child, Manson never identified as one, saying "I don’t think I’m a soprano. I don’t know what the hell I am."{{Cite web |last=Brendt |first=Logan |date=2012-10-12 |title=LADYGUNN – SHIRLEY MANSON |url=https://www.ladygunn.com/music/shirley-manson/ |access-date=2023-01-06 |website=LADYGUNN |language=en-US}} Critics agree she possesses a contralto vocal range,{{cite news| url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/live-music-reviews/9259577/Garbage-Troxy-review.html| title = Garbage, Troxy, review| work=The Telegraph| date=11 May 2012| access-date=5 October 2014| first=Catherine| last=Gee| location=London}}{{cite web |url=http://kroq.cbslocal.com/2012/03/21/shirley-manson-on-garbages-comback-nobodys-making-music-like-us |title=Shirley Manson on Garbage's Comeback |publisher=KROQ-FM |date=21 March 2012 |access-date=5 October 2014 |archive-date=6 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006131847/http://kroq.cbslocal.com/2012/03/21/shirley-manson-on-garbages-comback-nobodys-making-music-like-us/ |url-status=dead }} which has been noted for its distinctive qualities as well as her emotive delivery. Elysa Gardner of the Los Angeles Times stated "one of Garbage's most compelling features is a force of nature: Manson's vocals, which can convey a multitude of emotions without ever coming across as melodramatic".{{cite web |last=Gardner |first=Elysa |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-12-17-ca-15158-story.html |title=Garbage interview |work=Los Angeles Times |date=17 December 1995 |access-date=4 April 2013}}

{{Quote box|width=300px|align=left|quote="We wanted someone who could sing in an understated way, at the moment, a lot of these alterna-rock singers have a tendency to scream. Shirley is just the opposite. By using understatement, she can sound even more subversive."|source=—Butch Vig describing Manson's voice in the Los Angeles Times interview.

}}

Reviewing a live Garbage performance, Jon Pareles of The New York Times commented, "Temptress, lover, sufferer, scrapper – those have been Ms. Manson's personae since Garbage started in 1995. In other eras she might have been a pop torch singer, a soul belter or a new-wave frontwoman: a Shirley Bassey, a Dusty Springfield, or a Chrissie Hynde. There's a little of each of them in her voice" also stating "In the course of each song she let her voice rise in anger, contempt or passion".{{cite news| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/24/arts/music/shirley-manson-leads-garbage-at-webster-hall.html?_r=0| title = Exposing Multiple Personae, All Defiant| work=The New York Times| date=23 May 2012| access-date=3 April 2013| first=Jon| last=Parales}} Green Left Weekly, in a review of Garbage, remarked that Manson "vocalist and guitarist, has a powerful voice, which soars and dips like a bird. It can plead or demand. It can sound dreamy or psychotic."{{cite news| url =https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/10493| title = Garbage to treasure| work=greenleft.org.au| date=24 October 1995| access-date=3 October 2014}} Reviewing a 2012 live Garbage performance, Catherine Gee of The Daily Telegraph noted that Manson "remains a striking performer whose distinctive contralto snarl can still raise the hairs on the back of your neck."{{cite news| url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/live-music-reviews/9259577/Garbage-Troxy-review.html| title = Garbage, Troxy, review| work=The Daily Telegraph| date=11 May 2012| access-date=5 October 2014| location=London}} In a review of Garbage, Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic described Manson's voice as "thin and airy",{{cite web | url = https://www.allmusic.com/album/garbage-mw0000178973| title = Garbage review| work=AllMusic| access-date=3 April 2013| first=Stephen Thomas| last=Erlewine}} whilst Mike Diver of the BBC stated Manson owned "a snarl in her voice but [was] equally capable of a purr to melt away any resistance." also adding "even at her most vulnerable, Manson maintains her controlling condition".{{cite news| url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/q8hf| title = Garbage review| work=BBC| access-date=3 April 2013| first=Mike| last=Diver}}

File:Garbage 2 RDTSE 2005.jpg

Manson's earliest musical memories were of her mother, who sang with a big band when Manson was a child. Manson was exposed to classic jazz records as she grew up and work by Nina Simone, Cher, Peggy Lee and Ella Fitzgerald. One of Manson's earliest musical memories is of ABBA winning the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest and becoming a fan of the group. She was particularly drawn to Anni-Frid Lyngstad as she felt she embodied 'the outsider' and her stage presence made an impression.{{cite web | url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/how-abba-influenced-shirley-manson/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1cxBI_2W-TOXI1_S3OGCNufBb_L78v5C4-WQ7peVNPTsgaoxh04y5OMYU_aem_28qgXYRtRo_iQBLuyGy0Iw | title=How ABBA influenced Shirley Manson | date=20 June 2024 }} At 14,{{cite magazine|first=Steve |last=Baltin |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevebaltin/2018/05/29/who-i-am-shirley-manson-on-how-abba-blade-runner-and-more-made-her-a-rock-icon/#4b88cc3e4e29|title=Who I am Shirley Manson|magazine=Forbes |date=29 May 2018|access-date=3 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180816231436/https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevebaltin/2018/05/29/who-i-am-shirley-manson-on-how-abba-blade-runner-and-more-made-her-a-rock-icon/|archive-date=16 August 2018|url-status=live}} she became a fan of Siouxsie and the Banshees albums The Scream{{cite web|url=https://www.longlivevinyl.net/why-i-love-the-scream-siouxsie-and-the-banshees-by-shirley-manson/|title=Why I Love… The Scream – Siouxsie and the Banshees by Shirley Manson|first=Shirley|last=Manson|date=11 May 2018 |publisher=Longlivevinyl.net|access-date=22 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190125020026/https://www.longlivevinyl.net/why-i-love-the-scream-siouxsie-and-the-banshees-by-shirley-manson/|archive-date=25 January 2019|url-status=live}} and Kaleidoscope, and taught herself how to sing listening to those albums, later stating "many of the songs of those two albums were massive loves of my life".Shirley Manson, foreword of 'Siouxsie & The Banshees The Authorised Biography', Mark Paytress, Sanctuary 2003, page 8 Vocalist Siouxsie Sioux embodied how Manson aspired to be as a teen,{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090224122732/http://www.garbage.net/garbage/articles/@new8.htm|archive-date=24 February 2009|url=http://www.garbage.net/garbage/articles/@new8.htm|title=Rebellious Jukebox|work=Melody Maker|first=Dave|last=Simpson|date=28 March 1998|access-date=9 September 2008}} and "has remained a touchstone for me throughout my career and is still inspiring to me."{{cite web|url=https://www.theskinny.co.uk/music/playlists/guest-selector-shirley-manson|title=Under the Influence: Shirley Manson|publisher=Theskinny|date=29 June 2012 |first=Dave|last=Kerr |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160620194602/https://www.theskinny.co.uk/music/playlists/guest-selector-shirley-manson|archive-date=20 June 2016|url-status=live}}

At nineteen, Manson discovered Patti Smith, specifically her Horses album, which made a "strong impact" on her.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5940021/the_immortals__the_greatest_artists_of_all_time_47_patti_smith|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080312185057/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5940021/the_immortals__the_greatest_artists_of_all_time_47_patti_smith|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 March 2008|title=The Immortals – The Greatest Artists of All Time: 47 (Patti Smith)|magazine=Rolling Stone|author=Shirley Manson|date= 15 April 2004|access-date=9 September 2008}} Manson was inspired to learn guitar by Chrissie Hynde, who is an admirer of Manson,{{YouTube|id=VtNckwNqgiA |title=pretenders with shirley}} while also appreciating the style of Toyah Willcox{{Cite web|date=2020-05-17|title=Public acknowledgement|url=https://www.dgmlive.com/news/rf-diary-may15-2020|access-date=2020-11-27|website=DGM Live}}{{Cite web|title=Edinburgh singer Shirley Manson has written a heart-felt apology to her teenage inspiration, Toyah Willcox|url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/edinburgh-singer-shirley-manson-has-written-heart-felt-apology-her-teenage-inspiration-toyah-willcox-2864074|access-date=2020-11-27|work=Edinburgh Evening News|date=25 May 2020 }} and Debbie Harry, whose 2006 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction speech was delivered by Manson.{{cite web |url=http://rockhall.com/inductees/blondie/transcript/shirley-manson-inducts-blondie/|title=Shirley Manson inducts Blondie|work=Rock & Roll Hall of Fame |access-date=16 October 2010}} The majority of Manson's influences were female musicians; however she also notes David Bowie as an inspiring male musician. Manson also grew up listening to Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Frank Sinatra, The Clash, The Sugarcubes,{{cite web|url=http://www.theskinny.co.uk/latest/302240-guest_selector_shirley_manson |title=Guest Selector: Shirley Manson |work=The Skinny|date=29 June 2012 |access-date=11 August 2013}} Cocteau Twins,{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/garbage/63049 |title=Shirley Manson: 'The new Garbage record is inspired by David Bowie, Siouxsie Sioux, Cocteau Twins' | News |work=NME|date=3 April 2012 |access-date=11 August 2013}} Iggy and the Stooges,{{YouTube|id=PhqjTmJDWKE |title=Garbage "Interview" MusiquePlus 1998}} Echo & the Bunnymen,{{cite web|url=https://www.ocregister.com/2012/10/03/garbage-gets-playful-at-the-palladium/|title=Garbage gets playful at the Palladium|work=Orange County Register|date=3 October 2012|accessdate=6 May 2021}} and The Velvet Underground. For acting, she cites actress Glenn Close and former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher as influences for her Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles performance.{{cite web |title=Shirley's Thatcher Inspiration |url=http://www.metro.co.uk/fame/article.html?Shirleys_Thatcher_inspiration&in_article_id=304366&in_page_id=7&in_a_source |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120903183510/http://www.metro.co.uk/fame/article.html?Shirleys_Thatcher_inspiration&in_article_id=304366&in_page_id=7&in_a_source |archive-date=3 September 2012 |access-date=11 September 2008 |work=Metro}}

Manson's lyrics deal with darker themes, often in a mocking manner. She credits that to her Scottish psyche that leads to a preference for depressing themes, and the fact she always felt like an outsider, even within Garbage – "I'm the odd one out by default. I'm the only girl, I'm younger than they are, they've all known each other for 40 years, or something crazy like that. So I always felt, like, off the centre of things."{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2012/04/spin-interview-shirley-manson/?page=1|title=The SPIN Interview: Shirley Manson|work=Spin|first=Chris|last=Martins|date=26 April 2012|access-date=29 December 2014}}

Manson has been credited with inspiring later female artists; including Amy Lee,{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/AmyLeeEV/status/194264587833581570 |title=AmyLeeEV: Met one of my idols today, Shirley Manson of Garbage... |publisher=Twitter|first=Amy|last=Lee |date=22 April 2012 |access-date=23 May 2014}} Florence Welch,{{cite web |url=http://www.hotpress.com/Florence--The-Machine/news/EP-Archives-Florence--The-Machine-interview/13600136.html |title=Florence + The Machine interview |work=Hot Press|date=4 March 2015 |access-date=5 November 2017}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8529953/shirley-manson-podcast-the-jump|title=Shirley Manson Says Her Podcast The Jump Is 'A Revelation in My Life'|magazine=Billboard|date=13 September 2019|access-date=27 January 2020}} Taylor Momsen,{{cite web |last=Nika |first=Colleen |url=http://www.interviewmagazine.com/music/pretty-reckless-taylor-momsen#page2 |title=Dirty Pretty Thing: Taylor Momsen |work=Interview |date=23 August 2010 |access-date=10 June 2017}} Liz Anjos of RAC and The Pragmatic,{{cite web | url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/pink-feathers-keep-pretending-is-electropop-perfection/ | title=Pink Feathers' New Track "Keep Pretending" Is Electropop Perfection | work=Vice | date=18 November 2014|access-date=29 November 2014}} Screaming Females' Marissa Paternoster,{{cite web|url=http://screamingfemales.blogspot.com/2011_08_01_archive.html|title=Dream Life|publisher=Blogger|first=Marissa|last=Paternoster|date=4 August 2011|access-date=14 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thecut.com/2017/06/shirley-manson-garbage-returns-with-blondie.html|title=The Return of a Grunge Goddess Shirley Manson, lead singer of '90s band Garbage, heads back on the road with Blondie|work=The Cut|first=Dayna|last=Evans|date=6 June 2017|access-date=14 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115033022/https://www.thecut.com/2017/06/shirley-manson-garbage-returns-with-blondie.html|archive-date=15 January 2018}} Dee Dee Penny of Dum Dum Girls,{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/22/dum-dum-girls-interview_n_5606406.html|title=Yes, Even Rock Stars Like Dum Dum Girls Freak Out When They Meet Their Idols|work=Huffington Post|date=22 July 2014|access-date=27 January 2015}} Skylar Grey,{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/SkylarGrey/status/37418471109169152 |title=Twitter / SkylarGrey: oly****! Shirley Manson?! I'm a BIG FAN! |publisher=Twitter/Skylar Grey|date=14 February 2011 |access-date=23 May 2014}}{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2012-may-04-la-et-garbage-20120504-story.html |title=Garbage picks up again with 'Not Your Kind of People' |work=Los Angeles Times |date=4 May 2012 |access-date=28 December 2014}} Paramore's Hayley Williams,{{cite web|url=https://uproxx.com/music/paramore-hayley-williams-perceptions-women-rock/|title=Paramore's Hayley Williams Gave Props While Talking About The Changing Perception of Women in Rock|work=Uproxx|date=3 August 2016|access-date=27 January 2020}} Ritzy Bryan (lead singer and guitarist of The Joy Formidable),{{cite web|url=http://www.spinner.com/2011/03/08/the-joy-formidable-sxsw-top-100/ |title=The Joy Formidable 'Roar' About Chrissie Hynde – Top 100 Acts at SXSW 2011 |website=Spinner |date=8 March 2011 |access-date=2 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120919232704/http://www.spinner.com/2011/03/08/the-joy-formidable-sxsw-top-100/|archive-date=19 September 2012}} Katy Perry, Lady Gaga,{{cite magazine|url=http://www.harpersbazaar.com/celebrity/news/lady-gaga-interviews-debbie-harry-blondie-0911 |title=Lady Gaga Interviews Debbie Harry |magazine=Harper's Bazaar |date=5 August 2011 |access-date=23 May 2014}} Potty Mouth's Ally Einbinder, Billie Eilish,{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/awards/8549306/billie-eilish-grammys-sweep-explained|title=How Did Billie Eilish Sweep the Grammys' Big Four Categories -- And What Does It Mean For Her Career From Here?|magazine=Billboard|date=27 January 2020|access-date=27 January 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2020/01/why-billie-eilish-swept-grammys/605587/|title=How Pop's Biggest Weirdo Swept the Grammys|work=The Atlantic|date=27 January 2020|access-date=27 January 2020}} Peaches,{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/music/8319828/How-Garbage-got-their-fire-back |title=How Garbage got their fire back |website=Stuff|publisher=Fairfax New Zealand|first=Jule|last=Scherer|date=19 February 2013 |access-date=21 October 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141022004349/http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/music/8319828/How-Garbage-got-their-fire-back|archive-date=22 October 2014}} Radiator Hospital's Cynthia Schemmer, The Great Wilderness' Paola Rogue,{{cite web|url=http://musicinpress.com/artists/item/17-the-great-wilderness|title=A Band Defying Conventions About Gender, Music and Tradition: The Great Wilderness|work=Music in Press|first=Bojana|last=Sandic|date=17 November 2015|access-date=15 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109114508/http://musicinpress.com/artists/item/17-the-great-wilderness|archive-date=9 January 2015}} Marina and the Diamonds,{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/the-darkling-manifesto-shirley-mansons-individualist-style-legacy-179753/|title=The Darkling Manifesto: Shirley Manson's Individualist Style Legacy|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=31 July 2012|access-date=27 January 2020}} and Lana Del Rey.{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2012-may-04-la-et-garbage-20120504-story.html|title=Garbage picks up again with 'Not Your Kind of People'|website=Los Angeles Times |date=4 May 2012|access-date=27 January 2020}} Manson is also considered a style icon, influencing various other female artists,{{refn|{{cite web|url=http://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/fashion/celebrity-fashion/2010/08/influential-style-icons-in-music-madonna-rihanna-lady-gaga-the-runaways#!image-number=1 |title=Top Influential Music Style Icons |work=Glamour |access-date=4 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115023841/http://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/gallery/influential-style-icons-in-music-madonna-rihanna-lady-gaga-the-runaways|archive-date=15 January 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allure.com/story/shirley-manson-still-red-still-rocking|title=Shirley Manson: Still Red, Still Rocking|work=Allure|date=24 October 2011|access-date=27 January 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.anothermag.com/art-photography/3154/shirley-manson-on-style-past-present-and-future|title=Shirley Manson on Style Past, Present and Future|work=Another Magazine|date=5 November 2013|access-date=27 January 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://wwd.com/eye/people/shirley-manson-garbage-fashions-grunge-10456309/|title=Fashion's Favorite Grunge Girl Shirley Manson Returns|work=Women's Wear Daily|date=15 June 2016|access-date=27 January 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/fashion/article/26445/1/why-post-punk-girl-power-inspires-this-emerging-designer|title=How 90s girl power icons inspire this emerging designer|work=Dazed|date=17 September 2015|access-date=27 January 2020}}{{cite web|url=http://www.imnotobsessed.com/2009/07/17/katy-perry-talks-fashion-inspiration/ |title=Katy Perry Talks Fashion Inspiration |website=I'm Not Obsessed |date=17 July 2009 |access-date=2 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110405143731/http://www.imnotobsessed.com/2009/07/17/katy-perry-talks-fashion-inspiration/|archive-date=5 April 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/fashion/street-style-photo-blog/2011/04/marina-diamandis-singer |title=Accessories Special: Marina Diamandis, Singer, Marina and the Diamonds |work=Glamour |date=4 April 2011 |access-date=23 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140428014514/http://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/fashion/street-style-photo-blog/2011/04/marina-diamandis-singer|archive-date=28 April 2014}}}} and inspiring fashion designers and stylists.{{refn|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/blogs/thread-count/designer-todd-lynn-on-learning-from-his-musical-muses-and-why-lady-gaga-should-never-have-a-fashion-line-20111005|title=Designer Todd Lynn on Learning From His Musical Muses and Why Lady Gaga Should Never Have a Fashion Line|magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120805071802/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/blogs/thread-count/designer-todd-lynn-on-learning-from-his-musical-muses-and-why-lady-gaga-should-never-have-a-fashion-line-20111005|date=5 October 2011|archive-date=5 August 2012|access-date=27 January 2020|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.elle.com/Fashion/Fashion-Spotlight/Celebrity-stylist-Andrea-Lieberman|title=Celebrity Stylist: Andrea Lieberman|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090625165231/http://www.elle.com/Fashion/Fashion-Spotlight/Celebrity-stylist-Andrea-Lieberman|archive-date=25 June 2009|date=19 March 2009|access-date=27 January 2020|url-status=dead}}}}

Manson was married to Scottish artist Eddie Farrell from 1996 to 2003. In 2008, Manson became engaged to record producer and Garbage sound engineer Billy Bush.{{cite web|url=http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/topstories/Shirley-Manson-grieving-as-her.4742158.jp |title=Shirley Manson grieving as her mum dies |work=Edinburgh Evening News |date=28 November 2008 |access-date=2 January 2012}} They were married at a Los Angeles courthouse in May 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/story/manson-weds-in-secret-courthouse-ceremony_1144373 |title=Shirley Manson – Manson Weds in Secret Courthouse Ceremony |website=Contactmusic.com|date=30 May 2010 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/singer-manson-introduces-new-husband-to-students-in-paisley-1.1064114 |title=Singer Manson introduces new husband to students in Paisley |work=Herald Scotland |access-date=28 October 2010 |archive-date=27 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101227114921/http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/singer-manson-introduces-new-husband-to-students-in-paisley-1.1064114 |url-status=dead }} They reside in Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, while Manson maintains a second home in the Edinburgh suburb of Joppa.{{Cite news |last=Barlow |first=Eve |date=2018-08-31 |title=Garbage's Shirley Manson: 'I want to feel love, lust and everything in between' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/aug/31/shirley-manson-garbage-version-20-tour-i-want-to-feel-love-lust-everything-in-between |access-date=2025-04-27 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} For the majority of her career, Manson commuted between her home city of Edinburgh and the United States to record with Garbage, which was originally formed in Madison, Wisconsin.{{cite web |date=April 2008 |title=The Changing Face of Shirley Manson |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/the-changing-face-of-shirley-manson-1.836831 |access-date=7 March 2009 |work=The Herald (Glasgow)}}

Manson has distanced herself from organized religion but has long been interested in spirituality. She recalled, "When I was very small, I was very besotted with the church, absolutely. I loved the theatre of it and I got very involved in all the stories we were taught." When she was about 12, she had an argument with her father at the dinner table, screaming at him, "Religion's a sham and I'm not going to church anymore, it's just bullshit." She stopped going to church but continued to have theological debates with him every Sunday. She became disenchanted with organised religion and although she maintained an interest in spirituality, she complained that she has "brushed up against too many examples of hypocritical spiritualists".

Manson identifies as a feminist and has been hailed as a feminist icon.{{cite web|title=Shirley Manson Wonders Why Beyonce Didn't Say 'Blow Me' Over 'Unflattering' Photos|url=http://www.spin.com/2013/05/garbage-shirley-manson-beyonce-unflattering-photos-letter/|work=Spin|first=Marc|last=Hogan|date=6 May 2013|access-date=17 March 2016}}{{cite web|title=Woman on top|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/woman-on-top-20120524-1z61l.html|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=25 May 2012 |access-date=16 June 2013}}

Manson is asthmatic.{{Cite web |last=Murphy |first=Peter |title=Happy Birthday Shirley Manson: Revisiting our classic 1998 interview with Garbage |url=https://www.hotpress.com/music/happy-birthday-shirley-manson-revisiting-classic-1998-interview-garbage-22786147 |access-date=2023-01-02 |website=Hotpress}}{{Cite web |last=Manson |first=Shirley |date=January 17, 2017 |title=I stopped smoking around the age of 25... |url=https://www.facebook.com/shirleymanson/photos/a.100231106386/10154515921881387/ |access-date=2023-01-02 |website=Facebook |language=en}} She quit smoking in the early '90s, when she was around the age of 25. In 1998, Manson had a benign tumor removed from her breast. After the surgery, which she said was "really botched" and left her "in a lot of pain", she kept on touring wearing a sling.{{Cite web |last=Trendell |first=Andrew |date=2018-06-30 |title=Shirley Manson reflects on fame, a cancer scare, 'Version 2.0' and what's next for Garbage |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/shirley-manson-reflects-fame-cancer-scare-version-2-0-whats-next-garbage-2347382 |access-date=2023-01-02 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}

During the Beautiful Garbage tour, Manson started having trouble with her voice, losing her voice completely at the Roskilde Festival, in Denmark, on 30 June 2002: "I got on stage and opened my mouth to sing, and about 30 seconds in, there was no voice at all. It was a fucking nightmare," she recounted Spin magazine in 2005. Believing it was due to fatigue or stress, she kept on touring until Gwen Stefani pointed her towards a vocal specialist, who diagnosed her with "a large-sized cyst on one of my vocal cords, which was also causing considerable damage to the vocal cord opposite."{{Cite book |last1=Cohen |first1=Jason |title=This Is the Noise That Keeps Me Awake |last2=Garbage |publisher=Akashic Books |year=2017 |isbn=978-1-61775-550-7 |pages=157 |language=en}} A specialist informed Manson the operation could damage her singing ability permanently, so initially she desisted. She underwent surgery in 2003 after seeing another doctor in New York and recuperated her voice after three weeks of rehabilitation, including a week of total silence.{{Cite web |title=Garbage regroups, strips off the layers Garbage regroups, leaves its trash behind |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2005-05-04-0505040148-story.html |access-date=2023-01-06 |website=Chicago Tribune|date=4 May 2005 }}{{Cite web |date=2005-03-07 |title=Manson risked cancer to sing |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/arid-30192590.html |access-date=2023-01-06 |website=Irish Examiner |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Manson |first=Shirley |date=2015-03-31 |title=My sister has just sent me the best photo of me and my mum dancing together some years ago now at her wedding. |url=https://www.facebook.com/shirleymanson/photos/a.100231106386/10153011071781387/ |access-date=2023-01-06 |website=Facebook |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2005-04-08 |title=LET IT BLEED |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/let-it-bleed-695276 |access-date=2023-01-06 |website=mirror |language=en}} Manson described the experience as "torture": "speech is my absolute lifeline and I felt like I'd lost my personality, been stripped completely of me… I felt invisible," she explained.{{Cite web |title=Shirley Manson interview with The Sunday Herald |url=http://www.sundayherald.com/48101 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050307000000/http://www.sundayherald.com/48101 |archive-date=7 March 2005 |access-date=2023-01-06 |website=www.sundayherald.com/ |language=en }} [https://ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com/1298857.html Alt URL]

Manson has declared of suffering of various mental disorders on multiple occasions, including body dysmorphic disorder and depression, exacerbated by the media scrutiny and misogyny she encountered during Garbage's breakthrough years.{{Cite web |date=2001-11-05 |title=MODEL BENEFITS |url=https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/model-benefits |access-date=2023-01-02 |website=British Vogue |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=2021-08-03 |title=Sifting through the Garbage of life with Shirley Manson |url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/life-times-of-shirley-manson-garbage/ |access-date=2023-01-02 |website=faroutmagazine.co.uk |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Martins |first=Chris |date=2012-04-26 |title=The Spin Interview: Shirley Manson |url=https://www.spin.com/2012/04/spin-interview-shirley-manson/ |access-date=2023-01-02 |website=SPIN |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=December 30, 2022 |title=It's @garbage day. Today Shirley Manson talks to us candidly about the toll being in the spotlight took on her mental health... |url=https://www.instagram.com/reel/CmzgkbfJs44/ |access-date=2023-01-02 |website=Instagram |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=2022-11-02 |title=Shirley Manson: 'Garbage got it in the neck from everyone' |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-63463129 |access-date=2023-01-02}} She received psychiatric help on the advice of her trainer during the making of Garbage's third album Beautiful Garbage whilst also going through a divorce, a time when she was admittedly "crying literally for like four hours in the bathtub every night." She said the psychiatrist she went to "saved [her] life" and taught her "how to turn all the noise down and allow a healthier voice to emerge. Start to make sense of the world and start to control how you respond to it."

Manson has admitted she has learnt to manage her condition with time, saying "It's a constant dialogue, and you just learn to be more powerful than that other voice." She also credited her photo shoot with no make up on for Calvin Klein, in 1999, to have helped considerably in facing her own perception of herself. "If everyone had seen me with no make-up on, there was nothing to hide. And, I like the photograph. I looked… sweet. I actually wrote to Calvin Klein telling him that he'd done something incredible for me" she told Glamour magazine in 2001.

File:Shirley Manson Performing Live.jpg

Manson has spoken of her aversion to resorting to cosmetic surgery, stating that it wouldn't solve her body dysmorphia: "I know that even if I did get something fixed it is not going to last very long and I am still going to be back to square one, and I'm going to have to face myself in the morning", she told The Herald in 2008. She also added "I don't want to set an example for the younger generation of women who come up and think they have to fix their faces. I don't want to pass that on to other girls. I don't want to be responsible for that."{{Cite web |title=The changing face of Shirley Manson |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/default_content/12761710.changing-face-shirley-manson/ |access-date=2023-01-02 |website=HeraldScotland |date=27 April 2008 |language=en}}

Manson has also spoken openly about struggling with self-harm.{{Cite web |title=Garbage's Shirley Manson Admits To "Cutting" |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/o9tap3/garbages-shirley-manson-admits-to-cutting |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812041435/https://www.mtv.com/news/o9tap3/garbages-shirley-manson-admits-to-cutting |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 August 2022 |access-date=2023-01-02 |website=MTV |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Shirley Manson Uses Podcasts and Instagram To Open Up About Self-Harm, Mental Health and Music |date=21 August 2019 |url=https://www.audiojuju.com/shirley-manson-uses-podcasts-and-instagram-to-open-up-about-self-harm-mental-health-and-music/ |access-date=2023-01-02 |language=en}} In 2018, she wrote an article on self-harm for The New York Times called "The First Time I Cut Myself", in which she detailed the experience of cutting for the first time when she was thirteen years old whilst in an unhealthy relationship.{{Cite news |last=Manson |first=Shirley |date=2018-07-03 |title=Shirley Manson: The First Time I Cut Myself |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/03/arts/music/shirley-manson-garbage-the-first-time-i-cut-myself.html |access-date=2023-01-02 |issn=0362-4331}} She said the self-harming lasted up until she was fifteen,{{Citation |title=Shirley Manson on Body Image, Fetishizing the 90s, and the Genius of Beyoncé: Q&As w/ KTB | date=15 September 2016 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWNZkR78ecA |language=en |access-date=2023-01-02}} although she has felt the impulse to cut again during the Version 2.0 tour due to the media pressure, an urge she resisted. Manson admitted not knowing to this day the reason behind her self-harming, "but I'm sure there was a lot of unexpressed anger, a lot of hormones, and a lot of emotions that I was unable to process as a young person", she explained.

At the first date of the Garbage tour promoting Strange Little Birds, whilst singing "Special", Manson fell off the stage into the pit at KROQ Weenie Roast on 14 May 2016. She immediately stood back up, apparently unhurt, and continued performing for the rest of the set.{{Cite web |last=Morgan Britton |first=Luke |date=2016-05-16 |title=Watch Garbage's Shirley Manson fall off the stage and continue performing |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/garbage-3-1198200 |access-date=2023-01-02 |website=NME |language=en-GB}} In November 2022, she said she injured her right hip in the incident, causing her "so much pain" and requiring hip replacement surgery, which took place on 16 January 2023 at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.{{Cite web |date=29 November 2022 |title=This photograph was taken minutes after I fell off a rotating stage at the @KROQ weenie roast back in 2016 where I badly injured my right hip. |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CljLVFaIIut/ |access-date=2023-01-02 |website=Instagram |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=5 January 2023 |title=Less than two weeks to go before I finally realise my childhood dreams to become a bionic woman |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CnB1x4RIzJr/ |access-date=2023-01-07 |website=Instagram |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-01-17 |title=Thank you thank you thank you to everyone who kept me in their thoughts and sent me messages of healing yesterday. |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CnhgJqDplPX/ |access-date=2023-01-17 |website=Instagram |language=en}}

{{Main|Shirley Manson discography}}

Goodbye Mr Mackenzie

• Good Deeds and Dirty Rags (1989)
• Hammer and Tongs (1991)
• Five (1994)

Angelfish

• Angelfish (1994)

Garbage

{{Main|Garbage discography}}

• 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)

• List of awards and nominations received by Garbage

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Shirley Manson}}

{{Wikiquote}}

• {{Official website|http://www.garbage.com/|Official Garbage website}}
• {{IMDb name|1276549}}
• {{AllMusic|id=shirley-manson-mn0000027901}}

{{Garbage (band)}}

{{Angelfish (band)}}

{{Goodbye Mr. Mackenzie}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Manson, Shirley}}

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