You’ve always maintained an air of mystery, successfully keeping your personal life private. What is something you wish that the public and your fans knew about you?
Well, I wouldn’t tell, would I? I feel that an artist has a right to function in the world doing what it is they love to do without having their privacy invaded. I believe that’s a human right. I don’t see why, because they love making music, musicians should be punished by tabloid press, people sticking cameras in their car doors, or taking pictures of their children. I don’t think that is appropriate. I personally don’t think it should be legal that the press can take pictures of celebrities’ babies; I find it abhorrent, and it makes me crazy. If I had a child and some fucking douchebag took a picture of my baby, I’d fucking rip their thorax out.
Is there a Garbage record that you have a soft spot for?
Beautifulgarbage (2001) because everybody said that’s our worst record and that it was when we lost our way as a band. It was a really interesting experience for me as a musician. I learned a lot. It was quite a liberating experience in a funny way. I was going through a divorce, and I ripped my hair out, basically shaved it. I felt like I had rid myself of all shackles because, in a way, when you do become successful as a musician, it is the most amazing thing that’s ever happened to you, like a dream come true. On the other side of it, you’re stuffed in a cage and tied down to all your old ideas, all your old opinions, all your old creative output, and that can be a prison sometimes. So for me, Beautifulgarbage was really liberating. I have a real soft spot for Beautifulgarbage – I think we all do in the band, actually. We are all really proud of that record.
What is the best beauty advice you ever got, your own trick of the trade? Always check your makeup in the sunlight.
What are the beauty products you can’t live without right now?
Ooh, you’re walking into my absolute favorite subject. The thing I can’t live without is Epicuren Bulgarian Rose Oil. I’m obsessed with that. I’m obsessed with Nuxe Multi-Usage Dry Oil, which smells like Cleopatra. And anything by Tom Ford – that’s my new drug. It’s beautifully packaged, has gorgeous colors, and goes on like a dream. Heaven. The fashion photographer David Sims said that a woman always looks better in a dark navy blue than a black liner, that it’s much more flattering to the eye, so I’m obsessed with M·A·C Blooz Eye Pencil and their Paint Pot in Painterly.
Is there any look from the past 17 years that you cringe over?
No, not really. I’m not overly embarrassed by anything. There was a huge fuss made by my record label, management, the fans, and the media when I shaved my hair. First of all, I shaved it, then I dyed it blonde… and people went nuts. Like literally. I got phone calls from the record company when they saw me on Letterman, I think it was, and they were freaking out, saying, “Fuck, what are we going to do about your hair? Tell us what we can do to help!” and I said, “I don’t want any help. I like it.” And I did. I absolutely loved it. That was an amazing feeling. Only now do I realize how
