Collections Interview
Name: Elfie
Forum Username: elfie
Location: Paris, France
Age: 24
When and how did you get into Garbage?
I first heard of Garbage in 1996 when my best friends got the cd and would listen to it all the time. I had not money to buy it so I taped it and didn't even know the names of the songs. It was my favourite cd though, I was so in love with it, I was a fan of the album but knew nothing about the band. I never heard them on the radio or saw any video back then because I had no access, and had no idea there were singles (unavailable in France except in Paris where I wasn't living in). In December 1997 a friend of mine from the UK sent me the 7” for Stupid Girl and Milk for Christmas, and I was just amazed! Early 98 I bought NME with Shirley on the cover and I started becoming a fan of the band and Shirley, becoming interested at who were the people behind Garbage. I saw them live in June 1998 and that's when everything changed and I became obsessed. I started my fanzine a few months later.
When did you start collecting?
December 1997 was when I got my first two 7”s. I was so amazed, I wanted them all…
Do you or did you have any aims when you started out collecting?
I started by getting all the singles from the UK, then all the 7”s and vinyls and UK promo cds. And as many magazine cuttings as I could. Now I tend to collect everything, but I don't really care for cassettes, compilations, posters, tee shirts and bootlegs, even though I have many of all those. I would like to get more official cdrs but they're not my priority. It was really exciting when I started collecting, to discover all those releases, and more and more.
How big is your collection?
Official items (not counting duplicate items): About 220 cds, a dozen of cassette tapes, a dozen of promo videos, 30 or 40 vinyls (7” and 12”), 40 tee shirts, 30 posters, 40 or 50 memorabilia items (including slides, carrier bags, banners and shop displays, etc), 1000s of magazine articles and clippings, a gold disc award. Then I have audio and video bootlegs, photos...
What is your favourite Garbage item in your collection?
The beautifulgarbage Japanese promo book. The 7”s. The Djmilk 12”s. Vow promo cd in rubber sleeve. My s/t award. The version 2.0 promo cds and 12”s.
How much do you think you have spent on your collection?
I buy something Garbage related every month, spending at least $25, up to $150 a month. Sometimes more when it's special (like the award that cost me $500 I think). I'd say maybe $6000 including magazines, unofficial items, weird stuff, photos... it's hard to tell, I don't count. And it's really easy to go up. I also spent about $5000 on concert tickets and travelling.
What’s the most you have spent on a Garbage item?
The award ($500). I think there are other things… I always manage not to pay so much for my stuff (I got Trash 01 for about $30). Oh and as a girl, I have a thing for Shirley's clothing and accessories. Not the ones she wore, although I'd dream of getting something she wore, but there are some of her dresses or outfits I'm obsessed with (but no luck in finding them), because I love them not because Shirley wore them. I'm not SUCH a freak. I spent $170 on a pair of shoes recently, the same that she wore a lot recently (in the SINTE video, during the concerts, photoshoots) and that's actually my favourite Garbage related item! I'd wear them though.
What’s the most you would ever spend on a Garbage item and what is it?
There are things I wouldn't pay much for (the in prints, cdr cds). I don't like spending more than $70 for items, there are some, though, that I would, such as most of the items a guy called tatoocaves was selling on ebay (I would have, had I been allowed to bid on his auctions!), and also memorabillia items like the version 2.0 promo watch… I would also be willing to pay a lot for items that belonged to Shirley or the same as hers (not everything, a FEW items, like the version 2.0 jacket).
Does your Garbage collecting Obsession stretch to seeing the band live in concert?
Eg: Do you follow the band from Show to Show for a period during a tour?
Yep. Did a big part of the beautifulgarbage tour and bleed like me tour. (only did 3 concerts during the version 2.0 tour). I carefully chose the concerts I go to though... My goal is not to do as many concerts as I can, but to enjoy and remember each concert and hopefully witness a very special one.
Will you ever sell your Garbage collection? If you were asked this same question in 5 years time what would your answer be?
No and no. I collect for myself, my personal pleasure, not for what it is worth. Of course in 5 years or 10 years it might be worthless, but I don’t care, I’ll keep it, because it is (or was if I change then) a big part of my life. That’s why I’m acting differently towards it: I used not to want to put the posters on my wall or wear the tee shirts but what’s the point? Lol. So the tee shirts that are too big for me, I cut them and make dresses, skirts and bags out of them for example. I don’t care anymore about their so called worth (“you have to keep them sealed, etc”). I still keep my cds sealed or buy several copies to keep one sealed, just because I like it to be perfect condition. Which is a contradiction but I can’t help it!