Taking Out The Trash With BUTCH VIG From GARBAGE

The 1990s were a turbulent time for music. The advent of
gentrification began in earnest as strains and side strains of
sidestrains of different sounds came together to supposedly enhance
our listening pleasure. Newer styles- or genres if you will - of
music materialised almost before our ears, and all of a sudden
phrases like grunge and alternative rock/metal were being bandied
about as though the very passing of those words through your lips
gave you a greater natural aura than all else around you.
But it was also a time where work for musicians was plentiful, be
it trying your hand at creating what was to become the next musical
revolution or branching out into other fields within the music
industry. It was a time where it was okay to mess up, because in
those early years of a new era of music, mistakes were welcomed.
Encouraged in some instances.
It was also a time when an aspiring musician was making a name for
himself as a producer, latching on to the fascination with all
things grunge and throwing his DNA behind the musical revolution
from inside the studio. The place where the magic happens. His
name? Butch Vig. Back then Vig was relatively unknown, but before
long would become known as one of the pioneers of this sonic
movement, producing bands such as Nirvana, the Smashing Pumpkins,
L7, and Sonic Youth. Butch could have set himself up as a producer
for as long as he liked, but the discontent grew inside him,
leaving him bored and disillusioned despite his obvious
talents.
Rather than allow the lingering darkness to fully take over, Butch
instead turned his attentions to creating and playing the music, in
the process uniting with three other like-minded musicians and
forming a rock outfit called Garbage, who still have the same
original four members some thirty years later. Butch realised that
in life, you must forge your own path. Pain is fleeting, the
darkness penetrable. The easiest way for it to consume you is to
sit by while it slowly takes control. Or you can go out and get
that thing you want. Make it happen. Just like Butch Vig did some
thirty years ago.
With Garbage set to touch down in a matter of weeks for the first
time in a decade as part of Good Things 2025, HEAVY jumped at the
chance to get a little nostalgic when we sat down for a chat with
drummer Butch Vig.
"We are so psyched to be coming there," he said warmly. "We have a
huge fan base there. I'm going down there to play some shows, but
also I'm going early, and I'm gonna stay late in Australia, so I
actually can be a tourist for a few days. I'm bringing my wife
along, who has never been there before. So I'm really psyched to
come back."
We point out that it has been a while between drinks.
"Like I say, I am coming down early," Butch laughed, almost
apologising. "We're going down to New Zealand early, then we're
gonna stay extra time in Australia because I haven't been there in
a while. Garbage hasn't been there for a while, and I wanna be able
to take in the country and spend some time there. In the US run, we
play a show, and then we get on the bus and we drive overnight and
play a show again, then get on the bus and drive overnight. We have
tonight off in Salt Lake City, but rarely do we have days off, so I
really wanna get down there and be a proper tourist for a few
days.
In the full interview, Butch tells us what has changed with Garbage
since their last tour a decade ago. He introduces us to their new
bass player and highlights some different elements she has brought
to the band's music. We talk more about the tour and what to
expect, reflecting on the eclectic mixture of bands at Good Things,
and run over the pros and cons of genre-specific festivals opposed
to ones with a wide range of different music.
We spoke about the vibe backstage at music festivals and if the
musicians mix with bands outside of their genre, plus Butch
suggested three songs for Good Things attendees to listen to from
Garbage if they are not familiar with the band's music. Butch took
us through the early days of the band, including his
disillusionment with music at the time, and how forming Garbage
helped reignite his musical spark. We asked him about the success
of Garbage's self-titled debut album and if the band had any
inkling they were onto something special after finishing it, the
importance of continuity within the band and more.


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