Edinburgh singer Shirley Manson opens up on dad's death at Garbage's Teenage Cancer Trust gig

The Edinburgh-born singer, 59, told the crowd at the Royal Albert Hall, the last few years had been “challenging in a billion ways”, looking emotional as she told the crowd her dad John used to attend all her London shows, dating back to her 1980s Scottish band Goodbye Mr Mackenzie.

The gig also saw Garbage cover Lovesong, by The Cure, to honour singer Robert Smith, who has curated a week of shows at the historic venue.

Stockbridge-raised Manson, who now divides her time between Los Angeles and Edinburgh, said they had never played the 1989 song before - but had “whipped it up” in “tribute to The Cure and the great Robert Smith, who asked us to play tonight”.

The former Broughton High School pupil admitted she hoped to get through the song without crying, and said afterwards “that feels like a bucket list moment” singing “in this insanely beautiful building” a song written by the people who had inspired them to start a band.

Manson, dressed all in black, delivered a high energy performance, leaving the stage several times to climb the stairs on both sides, at one point sitting next to an audience member and serenading them.

She discussed the Together Alliance march against the far right that took place in London on Saturday, getting cheers when she asked if anyone in the audience attended.

Garbage were especially keen to play the show “on a day when the people of London came out on the streets to fight fascism” she said, adding: “We have an incredible country, we must fight to protect it.”

Before playing The Men Who Rule The World, from their 2021 No Gods No Masters album, Manson said it seemed to predict the No Kings protests that have taken place against the Trump administration in the US in recent years, including on Saturday.

And she referenced this week’s news that Girlguiding members who identify as transgender girls will have to leave by September, saying “there’s probably about three in the country” before attacking gender stereotypes and playing 2001 single Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go!).

Garbage were formed in 1994, when Manson met American bandmates Butch Vig, Duke Erikson and Steve Marker. They would go on to become one of the biggest musical acts of the '90s, selling over 15 million albums worldwide.

Towards the end of the show Manson said she was losing her voice, and was drinking “a little whiskey” to help, at which point Vig asked if he could have some, and Manson’s husband, record producer Billy Bush, brought him some in a plastic cup.

By this time everyone was on their feet, and Manson asked her fans to help her voice by singing along to the encores, Stupid Girl and Only Happy When It Rains, saying “tonight feels like magic and it’s the kind of world I want to live in”.

Garbage are set to play a huge show at Edinburgh Castle this summer as part of the iconic venue’s summer concert series. They’ll take to the stage on Saturday, July 11.

Speaking about the gig, which could be Manson’s last appearance on home soil, she said: “Bringing my band home for what most likely will be our last headline show in Scotland, feels both poignant and triumphant.

“It’s a full-circle moment for me and it means the world. To be asked to grace the stage with Edinburgh Castle as our backdrop will be, without doubt, one of the greatest honours of my professional career.”