Collections Interview
Name: Rob
Forum Username: Paranoid_Subhuman
Location: England, UK
Age: 25
When and how did you get into Garbage?
Early 1996 was when I got into Garbage when I heard Stupid Girl on BBC Radio 1's Evening Session. However my first memory of Garbage was hearing a really badly recorded tape which someone had mixed up a load of tracks from various artists. One of these tracks was Supervixen which I thought was a load of rubbish. I think this was down to the recording itself.
When did you start collecting?
I started collecting in March 1996 with the 2 UK stupid girl singles (cds). Within a couple of weeks I got the Australian imports of the same singles plus Trash 09/10. I then started collecting anything I could get my hands on and I really do mean anything official or unoffical.
Do you or did you have any aims when you started out collecting?
As I have just mentioned I really was collecting anything I could get my hands on at the start. However I soon decided that I wanted everything issued in the UK and all the Trash Items. I had everything that was issued commercially in the UK, pretty soon and I have had all the Trash items since I got hold of Trash 27 in the Summer of 1999, it took a while for me to get that one. Then when Trash 39 was held back but I got one when a few leaked from Mushroom in London. Now I tend to concentrate on items from the UK, Europe, Japan and Australia and I just pick items up as and when I see them mainly if they are cheap.
How big is your collection?
Massive, most of which is in boxes and cases.
What is your favourite Garbage item in your collection?
I've a number of items but I really do love my promotional tapes. I think its because they are very rare and not many of us tend to collect tapes so they have extra meaning from a collectors point of view I guess.
How much do you think you have spent on your collection?
over six grand, wouldn't be shocked if it was a couple more than that to be honest. With seeing the band all over Europe as well I'd expect I have spent in the region of £11-13,000 on my love of Garbage.
What’s the most you have spent on a Garbage item?
£235 for one of only 10 tour jackets made for the bands 1996 tour of Australia.
What’s the most you would ever spend on a Garbage item and what is it?
Being that I have quite a bit these days the amount I'm prepared to pay on an item i don't have changes on the item. If the item is something I want and know is rare I'll pay around £100 without any problems even thinking about it. Most items I either pick up for a few pounds or get for free as parts of trades from doubles I have picked up over the years.
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?
Yeah I first see Garbage in 1998. In 1999 I did the whole of the UK tour, plus a number of dates in Europe. In 2002 I see the majority of the dates Garbage played in the UK. In 2005 I see the band 4 times in the UK and once in Holland. In total I have seen the band 27 times and racked up a few thousand miles doing so.
Will you ever sell your Garbage collection? If you were asked this same question in 5 years time what would your answer be?
Currently no but its possible in 5 years time. The problem is with a collection of my size is that I would want it all to go together as a job lot and there aren't meny people who would pay out for that in one go. If someone was to offer me £15,000 for it I would take it for sure..