Rock icon Shirley Manson proves she’s not just a musical powerhouse but also a force to be reckoned with when it comes to maintaining concert harmony. During Garbage’s performance at Audacy’s KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas concert, Manson abruptly halted the show to quell a brewing scuffle in the audience.
Three songs into their set, Manson directed the band to stop as she turned her attention to the unfolding chaos. In a video shared on social media, Manson passionately addressed the crowd, expressing her frustration with the altercation. “Knock this off, girls. Knock this f—ing s— off right the f— now. What the f— is wrong with you? F— this s—.”
The Garbage frontwoman continued, emphasizing her disdain for unnecessary conflict. “I don’t know ladies, I don’t know what the f—ing story is; quite frankly, I don’t care. There’s enough f—ing bulls— in this world… I don’t care who it is. I want it to f—ing stop.”
The crowd cheered Manson on as she instructed the venue’s staff to intervene. “Separate them right the f— now. Security, I’d like you to get your f—ing asses in there and find out what the f— is going on,” she demanded. “I don’t want anyone to get hurt. Somebody has lost something, whether it’s a contact lens, glasses, or a phone. Let’s f—ing sort it out.”
After venting her frustrations, Manson concluded, “Meanwhile, we’ve got 30 f—ing minutes on this stage, and you’re eating into our time. So f—ing get it sorted. I don’t have patience for this s—.”
While it remained unclear from videos what exactly triggered the altercation, a caller named Amanda provided some clarification on KROQ’s The Kevin / Ally Show. She claimed the dispute arose when she defended herself and her girlfriend against an aggressive concertgoer pushing through the front rows.
“I didn’t mean to interrupt the show. I’m a huge Garbage fan, and I was really pissed that that happened,” Amanda explained. Despite the unexpected turn of events, she expressed gratitude to Manson for intervening, especially since she was able to save her glasses from being crushed by the crowd.
Garbage’s representatives have not yet responded to requests for comment. The incident adds another memorable chapter to Manson’s legacy, showcasing her dedication to ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for all fans at their concerts.