People think I’m mad. I am mad in respects I would say but in particular, people mainly at work think I’m when it comes to talking about my obsession with Garbage. Who could argue otherwise just from reading this blog of mine – its a bit Garbage-centric wouldn’t you say..
Anyway , colleagues think I’m mad because I’ve booked to see Garbage performing live in the UK in July, not once, not twice but four times! Yes, I’m going to every Garbage show on the forthcoming tour of the UK this July. Why am I mentioning this, well one of the venues in which the band shall be taking to the stage holds special significance to me. 10 years ago today, I saw Garbage at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall on the beautiful garbage tour. It was my first proper rock show/gig. And what a night it was!
Blame my parents. I was 15 nearly 16. They wouldn’t let me go see Garbage at Brixton Academy in London on my own. Though that particular gig was closest to my home in Hertfordshire they didn’t feel comfortable with the idea, fair enough they are my parents and they were going to pay for the ticket for me to see my new favourite band. I had no idea what to expect. The only other group ‘d seen live in concert , was the Spice Girls in Wembley Arena. Wembley Arena, Wolverhampton Civic Hall was not.
That my parents were good enough to get me a ticket but they drove me up to Wolverhampton. Did I mention, April the 3rd is my dear mother’s birthday? Yup, my mother on her birthday took me to see Garbage. Thanks mum! Blame my parents. How was I to know that that night, my obsession as it were would increase ten fold!
My cousin Alan and his friend Pip joined me at the gig. I was so excited. We got dropped off outside the venue. Whilst waiting for the doors to open, I noticed people in shirts of rock/metal bands like Korn, Slipknot and Marilyn Manson . I’d heard about these “mosh pits” (do people still call them that these days, THAT makes me feel old). Bear in mind I’m only 5 foot 3 now, I have never been tall, I was terrified.
Once the doors were open, I remember to this day being so proud of the fact I was the first person to be let in. I was so excited to be going in my mind was racing. Pip and Alan ran on ahead whilst I got a T Shirt. Pip had done this before, she and Alan were right at the barrier at the front!
I met a fellow fan, Martin, who lived locally at the time. he was telling me all about all the Garbage singles he owned including a signed 7″ of debut single Vow, which comes in a metal sleeve. I’d only ever seen pictures of it at the time and I thought it was stunning thing I’d ever seen. I was in awe. This was the first time I’d met someone who knew more about Garbage than I did! He posed in a picture with us! Great guy! He came up with the Cajun Squirrel Walkers crisps a few years ago incidentally – I LOVED them! Sadly the rather naff Full English Breakfast ones won bah!
Anyway I digress. Keli Ali (ex Sneaker Pimps) were the support act – I remember liking them but couldn’t remember a single song afterwards. That wasn’t important, I was there for Shirley – they did not disappoint one bit! Opened with a blistering rendition of Push It, which today is still an all time favourite, Manson was on fire. I could not get over her stage presence and energy. The volume was intense, but she was in command – stunning!
I remember all the little things – I saw a guy who must have been in his eighties with a walking stick right in the middle of the pit! I was sandwhiched in between two guys during When I Grow Up. I was lifted off the floor and lost all feeling down one side. I remember Shirley doing press ups in the intro to Hammering In My Head… I remember Shirley jokingly telling the audience, Wolverhampton was a shit hole or that it was part of a joke amongst the local sports teams to say that. She added that she had a “fucking jacuzzi” in her dressing room! the best bit though, was Shirley jumping into the crowd during the pootastic Cherry Lips. I held her hand for the middle of the song. I vowed NEVER to wash my hand again! Until I did it later on that evening …oopps.
The set was a mixture of old favourites with the then new material from beautiful… Shirley strummed her white guitar during the sombre So Like A Rose, whereas Not My Idea, When I Grow Up, Hammering In My Head and Vow were crushingly loud and just pure brilliance . The bizarre but funky bside, Get Busy With The Fizzy was played towards the end, which may have even been the first time I heard it. Garbage who started doing live covers on their first tour, treated us to a cover of the Rolling Stone’s Wild Horses – which I loved but I have to confess don’t recall ever hearing the original before then. I’d heard a cover on Buffy and many other covers but never the original. The band played Supervixen in the encore, which to me was great not because its an amazing song but more importantly it probably now my favourite song of all time. I’m sure that rendition helped cement my appreciation of it further. Only Happy When It Rains, the closing track was just the perfect way to end the night – the arrangement made it sound in my mind more anthemic and uplifting and the crowd got to join in too!
The full set ran as follows:
Push It / Temptation Waits / I Think I’m Paranoid / Special / Til the Day I Die / Cup of Coffee / Breaking up the Girl / Not My Idea / When I Grow Up / Hammering in my Head / So Like A Rose / Shut Your Mouth / Get Busy With the Fizzy / Parade / Stupid Girl / Cherry Lips / Vow // Supervixen / Wild Horses / Only Happy When It Rains.
Sadly the show was never taped (as a lot of shows for Garbage often are), but the band performed in Hackney a week later for MTV’s 5 Night Stand which was broadcast live. The set was shorter and slightly different but mostly the same running order of tracks. I’ve always sorta had that as my memento of the gig.
Today is a special day as I say. 10 years since my first Garbage gig and tonight the band are going to premiere the new music video for Blood For Poppies. 18 months ago we were never sure if it was ever going to come to this – a new single, album and world tour. I’m so happy to be a Garbage fan right now. All the memories I’m hoping to have after all this kicks off in the next few weeks! I said to my mother today over lunch; “Do you remember ten years ago today we got in the car and you took me..” She didn’t let me finish the sentence she just laughed. I love you mum! As I said – blame the parents!
