Shirley Manson of Garbage Dislikes the Treatment of Musicians Today — and Also, Beach Balls

At todays Good Things festival in Melbourne, Australia, Shirley Manson of Garbage expressed her frustration with both the state of the music industry and disruptive audience antics. The trigger? A single beach ball bouncing through the crowd.

Footage shared online shows the beach ball never reached the stage, yet its mere presence prompted Manson to launch into a sharp critique of industry practices, inappropriate crowd behavior, and audience members she found particularly irritating.

Big guy with your huge beach ball! Im thrilled and terrified at the same time. What a total jerk! Manson shouted, emphasizing the absurdity of the situation. She continued, condemning the lack of proper compensation for musicians and the need to perform for disrespectful audience members. Youre a middle-aged man in a ridiculous hat, and youre being completely obnoxious. I literally want to tell people to punch you in the face. But I wont, because Im a lady, she added.

After the show, Manson took to social media to expand on her feelings. On Threads, she made clear she had NO APOLOGIES for disliking beach balls, explaining that one reason she joined a band was her love for dark, beautiful music rather than beach-themed fun. She criticized fans who take music for granted and treat performers like circus attractions, while reaffirming her respect for the musical community.

Garbage recently completed what they called their final North American headlining tour, noting on social media that many cities from that tour are unlikely to see them again. Their Australian tour continues this month, with additional U.K. dates planned for 2026.

Author: Connor Blake