Garbage's Shirley Manson Stands by Criticism of Good Things Event: 'I Won't Apologize'

Shirley Manson, the frontwoman of Garbage, expressed her frustration with disruptive behavior at the Good Things Festival, criticizing a festivalgoer who repeatedly threw beach balls during the band's Melbourne performance on December 5. From the stage, Manson addressed the individual, saying, "Big guy with your big fkin beach ball, what a fkin douchebag Youre a fkin middle-aged man in a fkin ridiculous hat, and youre a fkin fkface. I want, literally, to ask people to fkin punch you in the fkin face. But you know what? Im a lady, so I wont."

The incident sparked significant online discussion, and Manson later reinforced her position through a statement on Threads, explaining her longstanding dislike of beach balls at concerts and her broader frustration with certain fan behaviors. "I make NO APOLOGIES whatsoever for getting annoyed at beach balls at shows," she wrote. "I joined a band because I HATED THE FKING BEACH. I joined a band because I wanted to listen to Siouxsie and the Banshees and The Cure and be dark and beautiful." She added, "I love the musical community and I want to respect their artistry. I am so tired of folks taking music for free and treating us all like circus performers."

Manson, originally from Scotland, and her bandmates are currently touring Australia as part of the Good Things Festival, following their last tour there in 2016. The band is also performing sold-out side shows in Melbourne, Adelaide, and Sydney. Their setlists include classic hits like "Only Happy When It Rains," "Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go!)," "Stupid Girl," and "When I Grow Up," along with tracks from their 2021 album No Gods No Masters and their 2023 release Let All That We Imagine Be The Light.

The bands next performances will be in Sydney on December 6 and Brisbane on December 7, before they begin their headline tour.