Shirley Manson on the dole

What motivated you to get into the music industry?

Nothing EVER motivated me to get involved in the music industry and nothing ever has!!!! I wanted to be in a band. All I ever wanted was to be able to make music with other people. If I had known in advance that becoming successful within a band meant having to be involved by default in the music industry, I would never have done so!!!!!

Did you have to sign on the dole yourself at any time?

Unfortunately I had to sign on and off the dole more times than I care to remember.

Did you ever take any really bad jobs just to keep going?

Of course I did!!! Hotel and shop work mostly. I absolutely detested it!!!!

How many dodgy bands were you in before your most successful one?

I sang backing vocals in the studio for quite a few local bands but I was only ever an official members of two bands: Goodbye Mr McKenzie and Angelfish. (The latter was a rearrangement of the former)

Did you ever feel like giving up and getting a real job?

No I never felt like giving up because I loved it so much. I think I was lucky because my sole motivation was not clear cut. I didn't desire to be a famous star or anything like that. My ambitions were shockingly modest. I simply wanted to be able to keep playing music within the structure of a band. I realised that a certain amount of 'success' was necessary to the trajectory of a band's career and internal enthusiasm, but it was not the be all and end all of my passion. A 'real job' was never an option despite the fact that most of my friends were enjoying the benefits of a reliable salary and I was horribly skint.

Did you have any really horrendous experiences early on?

The horrendous experiences that I have endured throughout my career in music are too numerous to mention here. From near death experiences in the back of transit vans, gigs where the band out-numbered the audience, having gear nicked and a rehearsal room vandalised, a shitty manager who didn't have a clue what he was doing, crappy contracts, rip-offs etc, etc. You name it! I've been there, seen it, done it!!!!!!

When did things start to come right?

I was back on the dole and I realised I had to take matters into my own hands and engineer my own happiness. I took a few brazen risks, approached people who I thought could help me and in short, began to manage my own self.

How did that feel?

It felt scary, exciting, terrifying and liberating at the same time!!!!

Did friends and family support you or try to talk you out of your ambition?

My friends and family always supported me and never tried to sway me from my love of music. Seeing how things have turned out for me now I can assure you that they are most relieved that they didn't.

How are things with you now?

I feel like the luckiest woman alive!!! But I will say this I have worked like a demon and I have gigged my ass off!!!!

Any words of wisdom or sage advice for those just getting started in the business?

Oh I am full of sage advice but I would bore everyone rigid if indeed I haven't done so already. Suffice to say, make music because you love it and because you feel that you must. If luck will have it then you may be blessed with fame and fortune but at the very worst you will fill your own life with light and magic. Now it doesn't get much better than that, does it???!!!!!