![\"Garbage](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2162723189.jpg\")
\n\t\tShirley Manson tells Metro about her unwavering fight for justice (Picture: Shirlaine Forrest\/WireImage)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tShirley Manson tells Metro about her unwavering fight for justice (Picture: Shirlaine Forrest\/WireImage)<\/p>\n
Shirley Manson<\/a> has spent the last 30 years being an outspoken member of the music community, but she\u2019s urging more people to take up her rallying cry.<\/p>\n It\u2019s hard to imagine Garbage<\/a> without instantly thinking of the iconic frontwoman, with her penchant for bold makeup and daring outfits.<\/p>\n After breaking through in the 90s, Shirley<\/a> admits she\u2019s baffled as to why the band <\/a>\u2014 with Duke Erikson, Steve Marker, and Butch Vig \u2014 is still resonating so strongly with fans.<\/p>\n \u2018I don\u2019t really know why we still have a career,\u2019 she laughed while speaking to Metro ahead of Garbage\u2019s Royal Albert Hall gig with our partners the Teenage Cancer Trust\u2019s 2026 concert series<\/a>. \u2018But I\u2019m very grateful for it.\u2019<\/p>\n The 90s legends will be performing in March as part of the series curated by The Cure\u2019s Robert Smith<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Stupid Girl singer, 59, credited the younger generation with keeping Garbage relevant by \u2018tolerating\u2019 the music, but those lyrics rallying against the system might just be resonating more as the years go on.<\/p>\n \t\t Shirley explained: \u2018Artists are essential because they exist within this system [but] they\u2019re answerable to no one, and so they\u2019re free in ways that are threatening to the status quo.<\/p>\n \u2018That\u2019s why they\u2019re vital. That\u2019s why we need them, because they say things that are not allowed or are feared within the system. <\/p>\n \u2018They can criticise power and the abuse of power. They can hold a mirror to society and say, \u201cLook, this is what we\u2019re seeing. Are you happy with this?\u201d\u2018<\/p>\n At the time, she was reflecting on the growing \u2018swell\u2019 of politically aware rising stars, somewhat downplaying her own impact in shaping that movement.<\/p>\n Supporting causes she believes in has always been second nature to Shirley, crediting her late father\u2019s dedication to community as her inspiration.<\/p>\n \u2018I don\u2019t do it because I\u2019m a saint,\u2019 she shared. \u2018I also get so much out of it. It brings me so much joy. It makes me feel safer, it makes me feel happier, it makes me feel more fulfilled.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t While she might not be afraid to speak up, she\u2019s never going to push or chastise other celebrities for not doing the same.<\/p>\n \u2018Not everybody has that [confidence] and a lot of people are much more introverted, perhaps than I am,\u2019 Shirley reasoned. \u2018Perhaps they\u2019re not as eloquent.\u2019<\/p>\n Reflecting on the recent political unrest in Minnesota, which resulted in the death of Alex Pretti<\/a>, she admitted she was \u2018frustrated\u2019 that others hadn\u2019t been more outspoken.<\/p>\n Her generous personality shone through as she added: \u2018[But] I don\u2019t know their particular personal circumstances. I\u2019m uninterested in bullying someone into speaking up. <\/p>\n \u2018I am very proud to be part of a community of people who have chosen to speak out, even at their own peril. I am uninterested in those, perhaps, who are perhaps more just wanting to toe the party line.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t Even though Shirley is known for her activism, consistently speaking on difficult subjects has been to her own detriment at times.<\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s caused a lot of problems for me in my life. However, I was brought up to believe that you must speak out where you see injustice. That\u2019s just how I was raised.\u2019<\/p>\n She credits her altruism to her compassionate upbringing in Scotland<\/a>, with her father often taking her to sing at nursing homes and to children in hospital wards.<\/p>\n That particular part of her childhood has come full circle as Garbage is set to perform at the Royal Albert Hall on March 28 as part of Teenage Cancer Trust\u2019s concert series.<\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019ve had first-hand experience with teenage cancer<\/a> [through a friend], and I understand how forgotten the teens are in the worldwide battle against cancer,\u2019 she said.<\/p>\n Teens are the \u2018forgotten sufferers\u2019 as their needs are so \u2018specific and complex\u2019, undergoing treatment while navigating all the difficulties that come with development.<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t\t\tTeenage Cancer Trust 2026 concerts\t\t\t<\/p>\n For the 2026 concert series, Teenage Cancer Trust recruited the legendary Robert Smith<\/a>, frontman for The Cure.<\/p>\n The shows run from Monday, March 23 to Sunday, March 29, all at the Royal Albert Hall in London<\/a>.<\/p>\n Tickets are on sale now through the venue\u2019s website<\/a>. <\/p>\n Monday, March 23: Elbow\u00a0+ MRCY<\/p>\n Tuesday, March 24:\u00a0Robert Smith\u2019s Comedy Favourites \u2013 Jack Dee, Maisie Adam, Bridget Christie, Stewart Lee, Dara \u00d3 Briain and more<\/p>\n Wednesday, March 25: Mogwai\u00a0+ Craven Faults and Annika Kilkenny<\/p>\n Thursday, March 26: Manic Street Preachers\u00a0+ The Joy Formidable (the 150th TCT show)<\/p>\n Friday, March 27: My Bloody Valentine\u00a0+ Chvrches (stripped back)<\/p>\n Saturday, March 28: Garbage\u00a0+ Placebo (stripped back)<\/p>\n Sunday, March 29: Wolf Alice\u00a0+ Nil\u00fcfer Yanya<\/p>\n She said: \u2018They need support in ways perhaps that not everybody else who\u2019s fighting the good fight does. So this feels very urgent to me, very pressing, and I\u2019m very thrilled that me and my gorgeous band are able to come and support this initiative. We\u2019re very proud.\u2019<\/p>\n Despite her intimidating reputation, Shirley is intensely honest, warm and even a little self-depricating as she admits she\u2019s absolutely star-struck when it comes to The Cure\u2019s Robert Smith, who curated the concert series.<\/p>\n \u2018He\u2019s one of the few of our heroes that we haven\u2019t met,\u2019 she said, joking that sounds \u2018arrogant and vile\u2019 \u2014\u00a0we just think it\u2019s a humble brag that Garbage has absolutely earned.<\/p>\n Calling Robert \u2018the dream\u2019, the seemingly unwavering frontwoman confessed she \u2018felt quite lightheaded\u2019 when that email asking them to perform landed in her inbox. <\/p>\n \u2018I literally nearly swooned,\u2019 Shirley laughed, revealing that despite three decades of performing, they\u2019ve never bumped into The Cure before.<\/p>\n Garbage has cited the new wave pioneers as a huge inspiration for their music, and Shirley admitted she just \u2018crushed so hard\u2019 on Robert.<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t Her giddy excitement is palpable, even with her video off, as she gushed: \u2018I loved him so hard, crushed on him, really, seriously, obsessively, mercifully, not dangerously. But, I mean, was there a more beautiful man than Robert Smith?<\/p>\n \u2018I love everything he stands for. I love how wild he presents now. I love that there\u2019s been no concession to being boring and conservative. I love that he still smears makeup on his face, wilds his hair, and makes no concessions to being polite.<\/p>\n \u2018He\u2019s just an amazingly authentic person. I mean, I want to be Robert Smith when I grow up.\u2019<\/p>\n She might have dreams of being the Just Like Heaven icon, but personally, we want to be Shirley.<\/p>\n Tickets for Garbage\u2019s concert, as well as the other Teenage Cancer Trust Royal Albert Hall shows are available now. <\/p>\n Got a story?<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk<\/a> entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff<\/a> page \u2013 we\u2019d love to hear from you.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Garbage-press-shot-3eb4-e1769615927600.jpg\")
\n\t\tGarbage are set to perform for Teenage Cancer Trust\u2019s concert series<\/p>\n![\"Audacy's](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-1435745358.jpg\")
\n\t\tShirley is fearlessly outspoken for causes close to her heart (Picture: Axelle\/Bauer-Griffin\/FilmMagic)<\/p>\n![\"Garbage\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-688518928.jpg\")
\n\t\t\u2018Artists are vital to criticise those in power\u2019 (Picture: Gie Knaeps\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Garbage](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-1322491709.jpg\")
\n\t\tGarbage has never changed its lineup with Shirley performing with Duke Erikson, Steve Marker and Butch Vig since 1995 (Picture: Paul Bergen\/Redferns)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/TCT_2026_A3MASTER_ART_FULLLINEUP_FINAL-1-5b8c.png\")
\n\t\tRobert Smith of The Cure is this year\u2019s \u2018Cureator\u2019 (Picture: Teenage Cancer Trust)<\/p>\n![\"2023](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-1687789903.jpg\")
\n\t\t\u2018Is there a man more beautiful than Robert Smith?\u2019 (Picture: Jason Squires\/FilmMagic)<\/p>\n![\"Garbage](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2251354764.jpg\")
\n\t\tWe want to be Shirley when we grow up (Picture: Naomi Rahim\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
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