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Post by EvilRocker on Jan 11, 2004 1:14:37 GMT -5
Steve, during the song "As heaven is wide" are you using a fuzz pedal at all? markums from iowa
Dear Markums from Iowa, We usually run things through one thing or another to make them sound a little more unique. I think the guitar on that song was going through a Russian Big Muff into a Matchless amp. And then it went into an Akai sampler and got messed up some more in that. The bass was really distorted through an Ampeg SVT amp. Hope you're having a wonderful winter in Iowa. The weather here in Wisconsin sucks. Steve
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I found this quote and want to ask your opinion of it:(the whole band)
Dear Ms. H, What we do isn't exactly easy, but I don't most people have it easy either. It's really pretentious when musicians talk about how rough they have it- try raising a bunch of kids by yourself on a McDonald's salary mister anguished rock star. We're just really lucky that we get to work at something we love and to actually have people pay attention to the results. And, despite her status as one of the goddesses of art in our lifetime, Patti Smith's quote is inaccurate. An artist isn't necessarily required to feel an obligation to the things she mentions. Actually, some of the most important artists didn't give two hoots about anybody but themselves. It's only if you don't want everybody to think you're the world's biggest idiot where this sense of responsibility becomes important. Hope you like the new material- it's almost nearing completion (famous last words). Steve
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Hello! I have a couple questions for Shirley (but I will take a few moments out of my day to think of the truly wonderful and handsome Steve, Duke and Butch.)
Keri, Thank you for taking a few moments out of your day to think of our truly wonderful and handsome selves. Steve
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hey garbage, this one's aimed at duke, During the song, "supervixen" is that an overdubed guitar solo or is it a duet between you and Shirley? How, do you get that sexy sound? do you use delay or echo or something? Now for butch, What type of drums, cymbols and sticks do you use? Steve, during the song "As heaven is wide" are you using a fuzz pedal at all? Shirley, as a girl, were you ever in choirs or stuff like that? I just wanna say you have to have the best female vocalist voice out there. markums from iowa
Markums... I use a customized drumkit from Drum Workshop. Shirley, of course, has final say over what color it is! I also use a D-Drum sampler to trigger sounds from the album when we play in concert. I've been using Zildjian cymbals for years. In the studio I use a combination of live playing, sampling, programming, and anything that works! Butch
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I'd like to say that Butch, you are truly a magician with a mixing board. You've inspired me to take steps towards becoming a producer since this Computer Science thing doesn't seem to be panning out (not to mention that I have a certain uneasiness about being part of "the machine"). My question is, are you familiar at all with tracking and "mod" files (like with Impulse Tracker or Fast Tracker)? Have you done any mixes this way? If so, do you have any suggestions about playing live and doing a live mix? Somehow I don't think the audience would be too into me sitting on a stage with a laptop. Thanks for any help you might provide. Can't wait to hear the new stuff and get these crappy, crappy pop songs out of my head. S.D.A.
SDA... I agree with you, I don't think your audience is gonna dig watching you press the keys on your laptop. Part of what makes a concert exciting is the interaction between the performer and the audience. I don't use any "mod" files...I'm really deep into Pro Tools, Studer tape machines, the Akai MPC 2000, and the Kurzweil K2500. Were trying to finish the new material this spring for a fall release...hope you like it! Good luck! Butch
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Hi boys and Shirley. I'm Olivia. My question is for Shirley: I have noticed that you use the expression TUT TUT or Toot toot in your studio diaries, I think it's very funny (by the way, you could be a very good writer!!!)but I can't quite understand what its meaning is. I was wondering If you could explain to me its use. Oh other thing, PLEASE include EL PASO TEXAS on your next tour ok? (I have never been in a concert, I am pathetic aren't I?, jajaja). Thanks for your attention, take care. I LOVE YOU
Dear Olivia Rosales Tut tut indicates disapproval! Toot toot indicates departure! As for El Paso? No problem honey.I'll see what we can do!!!!! Shirley x
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I found this quote and want to ask your opinion of it:(the whole band) "Let's just say that I think that any person who aspires, presumes , or feels the calling to be an artist has a built in sense of duty, to god, to themselves, to their gift, and to the people."~Patti Smith~ I find that dedicating yourself to art is a more of a struggle, but the impression you leave and the people you touch is worth far more than that struggle.Would you agree with this considering how many people you have reached and even helped by just making music. Thank You for finding each other and becoming a band.I can't express how much you music has meant to me. I look forward to the new material and Good luck!
Dear ~Nancy H.~ Thankyou for your lovely E-mail.It came at a good time on a bad day. As for the Patti Smith quote.......it is as real and raw and courageous as she is. I agree with it most definitely.Whether I am strong enough to live up to it,is another thing entirely. Shirley x
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Post by EvilRocker on Jan 11, 2004 1:18:08 GMT -5
Hello! I have a couple questions for Shirley (but I will take a few moments out of my day to think of the truly wonderful and handsome Steve, Duke and Butch.) #1. Shirley - when you record your vocals, do you record the lyrics in their entirety or do you record in sections? What process have you found that works for you? #2. Do you sometimes get trapped in a certain theme when writing song lyrics? Do you ever feel like you're re-writing the same song? And if you do, how do you get out of it? #3. This is just a statement: Shirley, every week I look forward to reading the studio diaries. They are so unbelievably wonderful I can barely express the joy I feel when I read them. Each week after I read them I have this enormous crush on you (if only you were a man!) because you are so funny and articulate and intelligent. It's like my head swoons and I turn red cheeked because it's just pure bliss to know that people like you exist in this world. Plus, I've seen you in person and you are really one of the most beautiful people I've ever seen. Both physically and in the energy you carry into the room. Thank you so much, all of you, for making such great music and challenging us as an audience.
Dear Keri Your E-mail made me chuckle and blush so I'm going to move on and answer your questions. Every song I have recorded has come together in it's own unique way.There are no steadfast rules by which I abide.For instance........some songs are recorded in one whole piece and others are approached by singing all the verses in one take and then all the choruses in another.If I am having difficulty with the pitching of one particular line.........then I might ask to be "dropped in" to resing it. As for the "theme" of a song......well if the truth be told I worried myself sick about that on the last two Garbage records and then decided I was wasting valuable energy on a negative and hopeless concern. When we entered the studio this time around I determined not to spend another second even thinking about what I was singing about so I could make music in a relaxed and joyful manner.On this new record I have allowed my subconcious to rule my head and I've gone with the natural flow of creating thus allowing my heart to dictate the chosen themes. Shirley x
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Just a thought inspired by Shirley Manson's latest journal entry... "My enthusiasm for keeping this diary is dwindling somewhat.Try as I might I can't seem to remember why I even started writing it in the first place."I don't pretend to know why you started writing your journal, but I can at least tell you why we, the fans, enjoy it. Your diary is a unique opportunity. It creates an intimate view into your life, giving the average fan a chance to know you. A chance that few other artists/celebrities are courageous enough, or care enough, to provide. Your diary is thought provoking and gives the reader glimpses of you we never would have known. Your journal is inspirational, honest, and witty... I know I almost always laugh. In short, I believe that it is a good thing... And if no one has ever told you before... Thank you. It truly is a courageous effort.Craig >>
Dear Craig You give me too much credit but thankyou for your sweet words.I appreciate them very much. Shirley x
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Hello there, First off I would like to do the common trait when emailing a group that you adore the thanks and pleasure you all deserve. I know you have heard it before but not from me, so it makes it different from this side of the screen. My question is the combonation of effects/amplifier you used on As Heaven Is Wide. The bass/low end guitar sound in there is so incredibly full. Listening to that sound one could rip out the ever poetry filled mind of Jack Kerouac himself. Keep up the fantastic job with production, sprits, and music. And let me add that Shirley you are absolutley gorgeous. gremlenstudios
The recording of the bass in As Heaven Is Wide was actually fairly complex. First we double tracked the bass in the verses and chorus using a Experience fuzz pedal into an SVT amp. But the song needed more sub sonics, so we added a third track tuned down on octave, bypassing the fuzz pedal. In the climb into the chorus, we used a sequencer which triggered a Nord Lead and a Mini Moog. It all seemed to make sense when we recorded it, but that song was a mutha to mix! Thanx, Butch
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(1)Hello, a question for the band: Where did the cover idea from Version 2.0 come from? Do you guys still have that orange jacket that Shirley wore? Thank you, MaryJane P.s> Pretty pretty please try to play a show in Mighigan on your next tour!
MaryJane- We thought we'd continue the color idea from the first album (pink) and go with a strong color to identify V2.0. Shirley had this orange puffy Agnes B jacket, and, lacking any better ideas, we went with it. I think she did something with it, but I don't know what. If she wasn't in New York today doing a photo shoot, I would ask her. Hope to see you in MI later this year. Steve
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Dear Garbage,You can hardly imagine how happy I am to be able to address you directly. I live Russia & I¹ve been your passionate fan for quite a long time. First of all, I¹d like to say a few words to Shirley. It¹s a true pleasure reading your diaries for they are absolutely cute. As a foreigner I enjoy your LANGUAGE a lot. Second of all, of course I keep on waiting anticipating for your new album that is, inevitably, going to be incredible (just like everything you¹ve been doing so far). Actually I¹ve got a question which concerns fame. How did it influence you & did it change the attitude of your close people towards you? It seems ridiculous to me when a superstar begins to make pathetic attempts to convince others that he/she has not changed at all ever since this star became famous. I am really interested in your opinion. One more thing, do you think fame can be a good substitute for anything? With loveAlex Korchagin
Alex, Nice to hear from Russia. It was very cold there when we were there. However, you are wrong, I think, when you imply that it isn't possible for fame to not change a person in a negative way.Fame hasn't changed us at all- we're still the ego-centric fucked up idiots we were before we started the band! Hope this helps, Steve
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Shirley, The intimate candor of your studio diaries is most enjoyable and refreshing, especially the literary references. One doesn't encounter much of that in this era of Fred Durst and Christina Aguilara feuds. In light of that I was pondering your disgruntlement over Zadie Smith being compared to Salman Rushdie and it reminded me of something PJ Harvey may or may not have said (though so-quoted in Q) regarding herself often being compared to Patti Smith: "Lazy journalism." I can't think of a better way to put it. My wife asked who, of anyone living or dead, would I like to have dinner with. For some reason, I could only think of Polly Jean. She just has a way with the turn of a phrase and a perspective of the world. I thought of Marc Bolan, but it seems like he would be too distracted. Anyway, I think we, the masses, appreciate you letting us in on some your thoughts and activities whilst recording a new album. What an adventure, and a blast to read. It's gotten me through my work day. Also reading Nabakov's "Despair" helped. Say, how did Butch end up playing drums? I've always thought of him as something of a studio genius. With all due respect to my two brothers, I've never met a genius drummer.
Thanks for the read. Mike in Michigan
Dear Mike in Michagan, I know you didn't ask me anything, but your letter brought this to mind. What do you call a guy who hangs out withs musicians? A drummer. Steve
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Hi There Guys and Shirley My question is for all of you. Where does the inspiration come for your videos? Do you all come up with seperate ideas and take different elemants of those ideas and gel them together to make one or do you have an outside source come up with one. Who came up with the idea for the video for Milk where Shirley is moving in out & out of focus? This on is for Shirley, What did you think of Wendy James? UK singer now pretty much labelled a one of the biggest jokes of the British media of the 80's & 90's? You guys are truly awesome and inspiring some keep up the great work. Take Care Justin
Hey Justin- usually we get this big box sent to us full of all the latest video director demo reels. Which we never get around to actually opening. Then, as the pre-production deadline looms ever nearer and nearer, one of us will say- "what about that one video with the such-and-such look, with the such-and suches dancing around in it"? This will be met with either incomprehension or disgusted looks of horror by the rest of the band, at which time we call up the person who did our last video, to see if they're available. If they're not, we reach into the box and hope for the best. Videos are very relaxing things to make, as you can easily spend a million dollars in less than two days. Shirley usually has the most say in how they look, since she ends up being in them the most, although if you notice a particularily brilliant idea in one of the videos it was probably mine. Steve
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Post by EvilRocker on Jan 11, 2004 1:22:27 GMT -5
Hello there, First off I would like to do the common trait when emailing a group that you adore the thanks and pleasure you all deserve. I know you have heard it before but not from me, so it makes it different from this side of the screen. My question is the combonation of effects/amplifier you used on As Heaven Is Wide. The bass/low end guitar sound in there is so incredibly full. Listening to that sound one could rip out the ever poetry filled mind of Jack Kerouac himself. Keep up the fantastic job with production, sprits, and music. And let me add that Shirley you are absolutley gorgeous. gremlenstudios
Dear Gremlenstudios, Thank you. Your letter could rip out the ever poetry filled mind of Jack Kerouac himself too. Cheers, Steve
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Hey Garbage, First off, I like to say I am huge fan of yours and I've always been, since the first album. I love your music. I especially love "Milk" and "#1 Crush". Some of the best and unique love songs I heard in a long time. I have some quick questions. 1. At the time of this writing, I wanted to know if you have planned to pick any bands to be your opening act or are you just going to tour without an opening band? If I may suggest as a fan, I think you should do co-headlining tour with PJ Harvey! I am a huge fan of hers and a joint tour would be unbelievable. 2. What is the best and worst email that any of you have ever gotten from a fan? 3. Just a random question: which of these artists do you think are the best songwriter(s): John Lennon, Bob Dylan or Garbage? That's all. Sincerely, Richard.XOXO
Dear Richard 1.I would LOVE to tour with PJ Harvey.She is one of my favourite artists of recent years and her new album is unbearably wonderful.Unfortunately she doesn't like to tour too heavily which rules her out as a headliner for Garbage as we tour like animals.Besides.....we should be opening for HER. 2.Not telling!!! 3.John Lennon Thanks for your letter Richard! Shirleyx
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Dear Shirley and the whole Garbage crew, Now, im a car freak, i love their beauty, how they express everyone's personality and who they are.That said,i have a question which sounds a bit funny, but what car do you drive and what do all the other band members drive? Also, if you were a car what would you be? Ok, i bet youve never heard that one before, but it would be kinda interesting to know so, email me back on that one!..Henrick
Dear Henrick If I were a car I would be a beat up old Triumph Herald. Shirleyx
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Dear Shirl (and the boys!) I know how often you're told this, but I still have to say that you guys are just fantastic. Your music is pretty much the only thing that keeps me going! Anyway, I have a couple of questions for Shirl (incidentally, do you prefer Shirl or Shirley?) 1) I was at the London Wembley Arena gig in Jan 1999, where you sang a duet of Only Happy When it Rains with Chryssie Hynde, which was awesome by the way! Was that planned/rehersed well in advance, or was it kinda last minute? 2) I absolutely love your video to 'Push It', it's so weird and there are so many things going on - but what the hell exactly is it about? Anyway, can't wait for the new record, and hope to see ya back in England really soon! Love Jeff
Dear Jeff 1.When Chrissie Hynde joined us on stage at Wembley we knew she was in the crowd as we had telephoned her the night before and invited her along. 2.Don't ask me.How the hell would I know?!?!?!??!!? ha ha ha.......... Shirleyx
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Dearest Shirley & The Guys I recently watched the DVD of Spinal Tap again and had forgotten how brilliant it was. I was wondering what your opinion of the movie was and if you've seen some instances of "HELLO CLEVELAND!" etc; in your travels. Also, I wanted to let Shirley know how much respect I have for you as a music fan who loves strong women more interested in their lyrics and music as the main form of expression over belly shirts and dance numbers (Don't get me wrong, you are amazingly beautiful). Your words and voice have such layers of beauty and power at times they reach right in and touch my soul. I can't explain it, but your band has a profound affect on me when I listen to you. Best of luck with your new album and hopefully when you come back to the Bay Area I can come see you.. Take care, Jeremy
Dear Jeremy Thank goodness there are men like you out there!!!!!!! Yahooooo As for Spinal Tap moments in Garbage........there are too many to mention I'm afraid. Shirleyx
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Dear Jim Anderson I can state for the record that there is absolutely no official "LIVE" recording of "Can't Seem to Make You Mine" in existence as performed by Garbage. Hope this clears up your confusion once and for all. Shirley
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Dear Scott Collins from Madison,Wisconsin In answer to your questions: 1.Yes there are plans to release a DVD at some point in the future to include all our videos and some live performance footage but right now.......all we are concerned with is finishing this new album of ours!!!!! 2.No film scores in our immediate future but again it is something we are more than interested in doing somewhere down the line. 3.Of course it is acceptable to say hello to anyone of us you may see out in public.As long as you are cool.....we'll be cool back. 4.To set the record straight.....I believe I said I was disappointed in "Kid A".I never said I was displeased by it.My opinion has not changed in the slightest.But hell.......who CARES what I think about it.........it's what YOU think about it that matters. 5.I've already seen Momento and LOVED it but now I will be sure to check out the Jon Brion album you recommended!!!!! Shirley
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Post by EvilRocker on Jan 11, 2004 1:23:57 GMT -5
Dear Scott I can honestly say I have never even heard of Oingo Boingo let alone listen to them.I shall be sure to check them out now that they come so highly recommended. Shirley
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Dear Chris Here are your answers!!!1 1.No I will not be playing keyboards on the next tour. 2.The keyboard Steve plays on stage is a Nord Lead. 3.No I have never been recorded playing keyboard in Garbage.I gave all of that up when I left Goodbye Mr Mackenzie!!!! Shirley
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Dear Heather I read about Margo Guryan in Mojo Magazine and am delighted to know that your husband is the man responsible for re-releasing her album "Take a Picture" in the US. He has great taste!!!! Shirley
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Dear Jenn Lee Here are some answers to your questions: 1.When writing songs we usually play together all at once so that the melody and the instrumentation are born at the same time.Sometimes even the lyrics are written at the same time but most often I work on the lyrics later once we have finalised a song structure. 2.Usually we very carefully select the video director we want to work with,have an initial conversation with that person about the song and what kind of video we are hoping to make and then we pretty much leave the rest of it up to the director.We feel it's important to allow him or her to be unhampered in the creative process as much as possible.Obviously we continue to have some imput over the course of the proceedings but we try to keep our egos in check and allow them to do what attracted us to them in the first place and really allow them to shine at what they do best. 3.Yeah we all have charities that we like to support, both collectively and personally but there is no one particular cause we have,as a band, thrown ourselves behind publicly at this juncture. Hope these answers suffice. See you in Toronto Shirley
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