Shirley Manson on Garbage's 30 years, Noel Gallagher and big forthcoming UK tour

On April 8, 1994, music lovers around the world shared in a collective heartbreak when it was announced that Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain had tragically passed away. That same night, another chapter in rock history was beginning, as Shirley Manson was invited to join a band by three other musicians.

That night’s encounter in London would lead to the four of them becoming Garbage - one of the UK’s most acclaimed and exciting rock bands - with more than 17 million albums sold worldwide to date.

30 years on, Shirley - alongside guitarist Duke Erikson, guitarist Steve Marker and drummer producer Butch Vig - is preparing for Garbage's first tour in the UK in six years - with a huge show at Manchester’s O2 Apollo on July 19 (tickets here).

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In-between shows in Germany, where the tour kicked off earlier this month, Shirley sat down with the Manchester Evening News to look back on her incredible career, and reveal what fans can expect from the tour and the band’s upcoming eighth album.

“It’s been more than five years since we last played across Europe,” Shirley explains. “We’ve been quite blown away by the response so far, and the fact that we get such an opportunity to still be doing this. It still feels like such a privilege to be 30 years in our career and still get to play and be loved upon. I’m very grateful for it to be honest.”

Shirley says the band has faced a turning point in recent years where, after a few setbacks, they have been able to find their place in music again. She cites being able to release music on their own label, and basically on their own terms, as one of the main reasons for that