Garbage’s Shirley Manson has put out a call to action to female musicians everywhere, after she realised she was the only woman on the bill of a touring Aussey festival. Garbage appeared alongside Midnight Oil, Billy Idol, Lifehouse, Nickelback, The Tea Party, Goo Goo Dolls and Default – no women.
"Now what the fuck is that all about?" Manson says in a message to fans at the Garbage website. "C'mon girls ... Get a fucking grip!!! Pick up the microphone. Grab a guitar. Be loud. Make a noise. Kick it up a notch and do it now. Your country needs you!!!"
"There is SOME movement out there, thank God" she continued. "Sleater Kinney, The Donnas, The Distillers, Peaches etc etc ... but it's all pretty much underneath the radar and just not happening fast enough for my tastes. I mean, Avril Lavigne is a nice change from Britney as a pop star but please, I've had enough of the media ramming here down my throat as a bone fide agitator!!!! Em ... no I don't think I'm buying that one! And here's a little tip for the stylists behind the "diva". For god's sake, take off the tie ... enough already!!"
"For those of you, like me, who never bought into the so called, patriarchally orchestrated "girl power' of the Spice Girls ... or the join the dots, colouring book " rock rebellion" of Avril lavigne; Get your eyes fixed on Karen O from the "Yeah Yeah Yeahs" because let there be no mistake - no misunderstanding - she really is the anointed one!"