“You come on like a drug,
I just can’t get enough,
I’m like an addict coming at you for a little more…” – Garbage – Version 2.0, “Temptation Waits”
Those are prophetically apt lyrics for Garbage to open their second album with, Version 2.0, just three years after the eponymous multimillion selling debut. This round, they were in fact coming at us with a little more.
The phrase “it’s hard to believe” is so cliche to say, but it truly is hard to believe that this album is 25 years old this year. That’s equal to the age of a college postgrad!
I remember so vividly waiting in the line outside the doors of Tower Records on Nashville’s West End for the clock to strike midnight so I could grab my copy the moment it went on sale. I handed over my cash, immediately went to my truck, unsealed that annoying cellophane wrapper, slid the CD into the console, and sat in the parking lot with my dome light on listening as I read the lyrics and looked at the photos in the booklet.
Rolling in at just under an hour, Version 2.0 expands Garbage’s signature sound developed on their first from 1995. Layered hard hitting synths, samples processed through their machines output in a new and different way, with moody, sometimes biting, lyrics.
In the 90’s, they helped mold the sound and aesthetic of what the 90’s music scene was. Not the bubble gum boy band and Britney manufactured 90’s scene, but the REAL music scene that required more than a hired songwriter and autotuned vocals suffering from lack of talent.
Version 2.0 sold over 4 million albums worldwide featuring a string of hit singles, and incredibly innovative music videos as artistic companion pieces. Collaborations with amazing directors such as Andrea Gizcobbe (“Push It” video), Sophie Muller (“When I Grow Up”), and Stephane Sednaoui (“You Look So Fine”; also one of my favorite directors. Check out his amazing work with the Chili Peppers, Madonna, and Bjork, as well as the bizarrely sexy video, “Queer” from Garbage’s first album), made them an MTV favorite. Fans went nuts for the band fronted by a fiery Scot with blazing red hair who was cocked and loaded with a trademark “fuck off” attitude.’
Shirley Manson became a 90s icon, both in fashion and music (seriously, no one rocks a miniskirt and Doc Martens better). Girls wanted to be her, boys wanted to be with her. If there was a Mount Rushmore of 90s female musicians and MTV influencers, Shirley would definitely be chiseled into that monument with the likes of Alanis, Gwen, and Courtney.
Within a few short weeks of the release of Version 2.0, they kicked off a world tour that spanned 18 months…and that is when I had the privilege of accidentally meeting them. Keep reading for that part of the story.
I need to preface this next part and explain that, first off, I’m a HUGE Garbage fan, especially when I was in college. I collected all of the albums, foreign and domestic, the singles on cassette and cd, foreign and domestic, the white label vinyls, the special limited edition 45s, posters, and t-shirts. I’ve seen them live an embarrassing amount of times over the years. I’ve literally lost count.
The last show I saw them at was here in LA opening for Tears For Fears. Phenomenal! Their music and lyrics spoke/speaks to me for some reason and I quite enjoy their sonic ride, so I’ve seen them every opportunity I’ve had.
Second, these next few paragraphs are excerpts from the journal I kept in 1998 when I got to meet them. It’s a fan experience that I’ve absolutely loved looking back on all these years, so I thought I’d share it, though a bit “cheesy”. You can google facts about the album yourself, but thought sharing my college journal entry would be a more unique way to mark the occasion. I’m transcribing it as it was written in 1998, but have made notes where needed in parenthesis. Please forgive my unpolished sentences, and rudimentary use of grammar and vocabulary.
Nov 1998
Nashville, TN
Got back from Cincinnati early this morning. Had an amazing trip and incredible time at the Garbage show.
Though I’d just seen them in ATL at the Tabernacle, I found out they were playing Cincinnati. Just a few hours away. Have never been. All I know about Cincinnati is WKRP.
Bought tickets at Ticketmaster and asked Brian (my college roommate) to go with me. I’d pay for the tickets and gas, he just had to help with the driving if necessary. I was shocked he said yes. He isn’t particularly a Garbage fan. Doesn’t really know their music. Figured it would be a good trip, a good hang, and nice to get out of Nashville for a day and explore a little.
I loaded my backpack with the essentials I’d need for the day. My journal, pens, and a bottled water. I also dropped in my Version 2.0 CD (the US version, my Japanese and Australian pressings are still sealed to this day), and a fresh Sharpie marker in the off chance I’d get to meet them. Don’t know how that would happen at all. They weren’t doing in-stores (signings at a record store), or any other public appearance.
Brian and I loaded up the truck and hopped on the highway with our printed MapQuest directions in hand. Nothing remarkable about the drive north. We listened to music and talked; music, film, school. I drove and he navigated by reading the directions aloud from the passenger seat.
We had left a little early. I’m one of those people that, when a trip is planned, or even just a casual night out, the anticipation pushes me out the door early. Rolled into Cincinnati trying to navigate the highway interchanges in an unfamiliar location. We apparently got off the highway an exit too soon. Early afternoon now. We were in a park area that looked clean and shiny with brand new merry-go-rounds, bars, etc, but surrounded by run down apartments. Kids were playing and laughing. Seemed pleasant enough.
We stopped at the stoplight, and to our left saw a man in a white bowler hat, full length fur coat, and a cane literally strutting down the street. Seriously, it was almost like a movie clip of a pimp. It was a bit shocking to our senses because this was broad daylight and not some seedy dark corner after midnight. We promptly left the neighborhood and got back on route to our destination. The fur was impressive!
A few minutes later we arrived at the venue, Bogarts. I found it odd that it was just a dive bar sandwiched between a row of alternative type businesses like independent record stores, and hip thrift stores.There was a Subway sandwiches, coffee shop, and some sort of big chain American restaurant whose name escapes me at the moment.
We both needed to make a pit stop, so we decided to duck into the coffee shop, use their facilities, and grab some caffeine. I asked the clerk for the key. A curly haired girl in a tank top with hairy armpits. She informed me that I’d need to make a purchase first. Then unprompted continued by explaining “Yeah, we charge to buy something first, otherwise people will go in there, do drugs, and O.D. Then we can’t get the door open because their body is blocking it. We have to call the cops, who then have to call a locksmith.”
I tried to not let her see that my eyes felt as if they would burst from my head. I don’t know why, but asked “That happens?”. She went on to say, “Yeah, a lot. So we started making people buy something before we hand them the key. Drug addicts don’t want to buy anything.”
“I’ll have a small cup of coffee, and a bottled water. Thank you.” I made my purchase, she gave me the key, and then I used the bathroom where apparently a multitude of drug addicts have OD’d or died, at least according to the barista. Gnarly.
I found it odd she was so forthcoming with that information. Just simply saying I needed to buy something before using their restroom would have sufficed. Plus, it would have been rude of me not to make a purchase anyway. Who does that?
We left the coffeehouse, crossed the street and attempted to go record shopping, but this store was severely lacking in imports, so we left.
Stepping out, I saw a few people walking out into the middle of the street with a photographer. One had bright red hair, white faux fur jacket, and the others were a couple of guys. As they were posing, I realized it was Garbage, the entire band. I assume they were taking photos for the local press.
I reached into my pocket, grabbed my keys, handed them to Brian and requested he go back to the truck to grab my backpack containing my Version 2.0 CD while I kept watch. He was really cool about it, ran and grabbed the bag, and came back.
I waited for them to finish up and grabbed that opportunity to meet them and have them sign my CD.
As I approached, Shirley reached out her hand and said hello. Then she said she hoped to sing well later that night because she has a cold. She took my pen and CD, then signed it for me. I was ridiculously nervous. It wasn’t the celebrity aspect so much as it was my awareness that I’m eternally awkward and I didn’t want to embarrass myself in front of the band. What do I have to say to them other than “I think your music is cool!”. DORK!
But yeah, I was in awe of them. Not just because of my love and appreciation of the band, but because I was also meeting Butch Vig. He is rock‘n’roll royalty and history. He changed the direction of the current rock landscape having produced Nirvana’s “Nevermind” album, and countless others.
She passed the CD around to the other band members, and they signed it, shook my hand. Duke had his own Sharpie. I told them “Thank you”, and we all moved on.
To be honest, by the time the show started I was tired. Had been a long day, and I’d “crashed” by then from the excitement of meeting them, but we soldiered on. We pushed through the crowd, and situated close to the stage in the center.
They opened with “Temptation Waits” and the crowd erupted into moshing and crowd surfing. Was cool for Brian to see other fans besides myself be excited. The show was EXCELLENT. They even played one of my favorite B-sides “Thirteen”. Her voice on that track is so seductive and calming.
Grabbed some merch on the way out the door, and headed back to Nashville.
What I enjoy most about that encounter is that it was a random encounter. It wasn’t a crowded in-store event, or backstage hobnobbing at a concert or awards show. It was my own private little hello and thanks for the music moment. Fortunately, they were incredibly nice and gracious.
Unfortunately, though, this took place long before smartphones, so I wasn’t able to get a photo with them. I do regret not having an instant disposable camera with me. HA! Remember those?
I still have the CD that they signed for me, as well as the ticket stub. Currently most of my collectibles are all in storage, safe and organized as I shift between domiciles during a move. I’m sure they will end up a future social media post as soon as I get to them.
Funny thing, Garbage announced a tour this year and are making a stop in Nashville. I’d asked Brian to go with me, but it ends up I’m actually going to be in LA that day. It would have been cool to see them with him in tow again 25 years later, though.
I was then and am now a HUGE Garbage fan. So, Happy 25th Anniversary Garbage and Version 2.0 fans! Congratulations on this outstanding achievement, and keep those albums coming. Our ears need your unique sound, and our souls need your lyrics.
If you are so inclined, click the YouTube link below for a live performance from 1998. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a clip of the Bogart’s show, but this is still a great performance.
