Photo: Thanira Rates
Garbage returned to London last night, for an epic celebration of their 20th anniversary. It was a pretty momentous night - getting off to bizarre start with frontwoman Shirley Manson halting the gig early on to retrieve some underwear.
"Thank you for coming," Manson told the capacity crowd after openers 'Alien Sex Fiend' and 'Subhuman' - "we've been playing this venue for 20 years."
Despite that, what followed would be a career first. "I need to go somewhere really weird," she smirked. "I need someone to go and get me some underpants. I've got a wind machine working, My family are here tonight and I got distracted and forgot to put on my underpants. Bare with me."
She added: "I bet this never fucking happens to Beyonce."
- MORE: See our exclusive Garbage 20 Years Queer takeover
The rest of the band then played a brief intermission of muzac while Manson left the stage to put underwear on.
Watch our interview with Shirley Manson below
What followed was an epic celebration of the band's early years - taking in b-sides and rarities to recreate the blueprint of how this iconic band began. For every rock classic, there was an interesting detour to colour the edges of what make Garbage so essential.
A moving moment came when Manson's seven-year-old niece joined her on stage - showing that of any rock royalty you could hope to meet, Garbage are probably by far the most human, and everyone present who is part of their history, is also part of their family.
With passion, poetry, power and a language all of their own, only Garbage could inspire a reaction like this from their religiously dedicated following. Here's to another 20 Years of Queer.
Garbage played:
Alien Sex Fiend
Subhuman
Supervixen
Queer
Girl Don't Come
As Heaven Is Wide
The Butterfly Collector (The Jam cover)
Not My Idea
Trip My Wire
Milk
Fix Me Now
My Lover's Box
Sleep
A Stroke of Luck
#1 Crush
Stupid Girl
Dog New Tricks
Only Happy When It Rains
Vow
Encore: Kick My Ass (Vic Chesnutt cover)
Driving Lesson
Automatic Systematic Habit
When I Grow Up
Garbage's remaining European tour dates are as follows, and tickets are available here.
EUROPEAN TOUR
November 9 - London, UK - Brixton Academy
November 11 - Moscow, Russia - Crocus City Hall*
November 13 - Manchester, UK - Academy
November 14 - Edinburgh, UK - Usher Hall
