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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