Garbage

Madison, Wisconsin gave the world Garbage in 1993 when producer Butch Vig — fresh off engineering Nirvana's Nevermind — teamed up with guitarists Steve Marker and Duke Erikson, then recruited Scottish vocalist Shirley Manson after spotting her in a Angelfish music video on MTV. That lineup proved immediately combustible in the best possible way. Their self-titled 1995 debut was a sleek, unsettling collision of alternative rock, electronic textures, and industrial grit, introducing Manson as one of the decade's most commanding frontwomen. Version 2.0 followed in 1998 and pushed even further into polished, hook-driven territory without losing any of the band's cool detachment, landing them massive hits like Push It and Special. Garbage occupied a fascinating space in 90s rock — too electronic for the grunge crowd, too abrasive for mainstream pop, yet somehow threading the needle to achieve genuine commercial success. Manson's sardonic wit and unapologetic sexuality made her a cultural touchstone for a generation of alternative fans, while Vig's production instincts kept every record sounding ahead of its time. The band took a hiatus in the mid-2000s but returned with Not Your Kind of People in 2012, proving their brand of cinematic, melancholic rock still had real teeth. Their influence echoes clearly in the work of artists ranging from Paramore to Halsey.