It's been four long years since Garbage released their third album, beautifulgarbage. During the interlude, the four-member band endured emotional turmoil, creative dry spells and member disparity that culminated in a brief breakup before they managed to pull it all together to release their new album, Bleed Like Me, on April 12. Prior to their show last week at D.C.'s 9:30 Club, the News-Letter had a chance to speak with Garbage's drummer and producer Butch Vig.
Vig got his start in the music industry as a producer. It was his production of Nirvana's Nevermind that gave him the big break he needed to gain the recognition to start Garbage as a side project.
Although Vig originally saw the band as becoming too big a time commitment, its great success allowed him to justify giving up full-time producing. He feels this is for the best since he has always been a musician before a producer and being in the band allows him more freedom to pursue his own creative expression.
The breakup occurred in October 2003 because the band, Vig said, "wasn't having fun anymore." Shirley Manson, the Scottish vocal lead, had suffered several mental breakdowns due to writers block and related issues. Vig, Steve Marker (guitars, bass, electronics) and Duke Erikson (guitars) all had conflicting ideas of where the new record should be headed.
There was a lack of focus, weak guitar parts and the energy, which Vig felt was essential to their sound, was slipping away. The egomania got so bad that the band, says Vig, "couldn't agree on dinner." At this point, Vig quit the band and flew to L.A.
Despite Duke's denial that the band ever broke up, it took four months before the members reunited. In March 2004, they sat down and collaborated with Dust Brother John King on four songs. Although only "Bad Boyfriend" ended up being used on Bleed Like Me, the experience helped them to sit down and get back to square one. From there they regained their "onstage vibes and energy," and the songs began to flow.
A major contributor to the successful reunion of Garbage was Foo Fighter and former-Nirvana drummer David Grohl. Vig had spoken with Grohl over a few beers at a Christmas Party in 2003 and asked if he would play with Garbage. It wasn't until months later that Grohl accepted and the band readily set him up to play the drums in "Bad Boyfriend." It was the first collaboration between Grohl and Vig since Nirvana's seminal Nevermind. The result was Grohl, who Vig considers one of the best drummers of all time, nailing the song in only a few takes. In addition to the performance, Vig says Grohl's crazy drumming grin, which makes him look like he's "having the time of his life," galvanized the band by raising the bar on many of the album's tracks.
After all the drama, Bleed Like Me emerged with a new and unique Garbage sound. The music was more primal and returns to what Vig calls "the roots of a large rock band." The songs are louder and messier than what's in a studio while the lyrics are socially and politically motivated.
The central track of the album is the title track, Vig's favorite. The lyrics are five vignettes about Shirley's acquaintances. The sound is uplifting: about opening up and admitting pain. It is telling of the making of the album, since the band went through many difficulties during collaboration.
The album also contains many socially and politically themed songs. "Boys Want to Fight" is about apathy in culture and youth. People want to get "[expletive deleted] up" and party rather than care about issues. The media ignores problems in Africa while focusing on the Michael Jackson scandal.
"Sex is Not the Enemy" reveals how right-wing conservatives are trying to control how we live. It also speaks out against gay-bashing in this nation. "Metal Heart" is an anti-war song discussing the hysteria in media and how nobody questioned Bush until it was too late.
When asked about the current state of Garbage, Vig reported the band is getting along very well and they are looking forward to their U.S. tour.
The members feel "as if a big black cloud has gone away." Fans can rest easy after the scare of the March breakup.
