Collections Interview

Name: Meg Campbell
Forum Username:
Location: Rochester, NY
Age: 22

When and how did you get into Garbage?
I remember seeing a television ad for Garbage for the S/T and was like whaaaat is this silly business? Then a few months later, OHWIR came out and I went out and bought the S/T and No Doubt’s Tragic Kingdom together. After a few months I was sick of No Doubt, but still would play the S/T on repeat pretty much 24/7. It was then I decided Garbage was my favourite band.

When did you start collecting?
I started investigating Garbage on-line and one of the better websites early in the day was The Garbage Pail (I believe that was the name). I think Steve even had hair on his pics on the site it was so old. Anyhow, I saw on that site pictures of the 7” and thought they were SO COOL. Then my friend happened to have a bunch of their b-sides that he gave to me (on a cassette tape, ha) and was like da-mn, I need to buy this stuff. The first non-album item I bought was the Vow single from the U.S. because I listened to the clip on CDNOW of the remix and was like “I NEED THAT.” Then I didn’t stop.

Do you or did you have any aims when you started out collecting?
My goals kept changing. It first went from getting all the UK import singles for the S/T. Then I wanted all the 7”s from the S/T. Then I wanted to try and get all the Trash items and I got probably 15-20 of them from Trash 1-30. Then I wanted to collect all the releases of Vow and have quite a few. (I have 7 different Vow items ranging from 4 cds, 1 vinyl, to a cassette, to a the video of Vow looped 30 times on a tape… but I didn’t have money to get the rest).

How big is your collection?
Oh man… well, I know not as big as some! I’d say close to 70 cds, 15 12” vinyls, 8 7” vinyls, 20 or so books/magazines, 8 shirts, 2 hats… some stickers… I think 20-25 posters? A lot of my stuff is at home in Minnesota and I’m at school in New York (SAME SCHOOL where Duke’s daughter went to school!)

What is your favourite Garbage item in your collection?
I’d have to say my 7” vow. It’s signed by all 4 members and it was a really big goal to get it signed by them over a 3 year period.

How much do you think you have spent on your collection?
Oh god… a few thousand.

What’s the most you have spent on a Garbage item?
Honestly, the most I have spent is probably for tickets or t-shirts. Or I think the Queer 7” was like $35… but I even managed to get my Vow 7” for $20

What’s the most you would ever spend on a Garbage item and what is it?
It would have to be something early, like Trash 1-3 or the promo-promo versions of the 7” Vow or Subhuman… or one of the award plaques. And I would say… $30-$150?

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?
I’ve seen them 10 times in concert spanning 2 continents, 3 countries, and 6 states. Again, not as crazy as some, but I’d say decent.

Will you ever sell your Garbage collection? If you were asked this same question in 5 years time what would your answer be?
Some of it yeah… but probably not. I don’t think I’d ever make back what I paid for it and it’s fun to display.