Garbage Covers The Cure, Placebo Reunites for Emotional Teenage Cancer Trust Gig
Garbage delivered a powerful set, including a Cure cover, while Placebo reunited for an emotionally charged performance at Robert Smith's Teenage Cancer Trust gig at the Royal Albert Hall.
Last night at London’s Royal Albert Hall, the Robert Smith-curated Teenage Cancer Trust gigs reached an emotional peak with performances by Garbage and Placebo. The evening was filled with powerful music, heartfelt tributes, and a shared commitment to a worthy cause.
Following sets by Elbow, Mogwai, and My Bloody Valentine earlier in the week, and Manic Street Preachers' cover of The Cure's 'Close To Me,' the anticipation was high for Placebo and Garbage.
Shirley Manson Brian Molko and Yungblud backstage at Royal Albert Hall for the Robert Smith curated Teenage Cancer Trust gig series. Credit: Scarlet Page
Yungblud and Robert Smith backstage at Royal Albert Hall for The Cure frontman's curated Teenage Cancer Trust gig series after My Bloody Valentine. Credit: Scarlet Page
Placebo, in their first live show in nearly two years, opened for Garbage with a stripped-back set. Brian Molko and the band began with a spectral cover of Sinead O’Connor’s ‘Jackie O’, performed live for the first time in over a decade, followed by a tender rendition of ‘Special Needs’.
“Thank you ever, ever so much,” Brian Molko told the crowd, expressing gratitude to his band, Garbage, “the legendary Robert Smith”, Teenage Cancer Trust, and their “breathtakingly amazing work.”
Placebo live at Robert Smith's Teenage Cancer Trust gigs at London's Royal Albert Hall. Credit: John Stead, Teenage Cancer Trust
The set included a powerful performance of ‘Pure Morning’ (for the first time since 2018) and a dramatically reworked ‘Taste In Men’. The crowd participation during ‘Slave To The Wage’ and ‘Special K’ created unforgettable moments.
Placebo live at Robert Smith's Teenage Cancer Trust gigs at London's Royal Albert Hall. Credit: John Stead, Teenage Cancer Trust
Placebo live at Robert Smith's Teenage Cancer Trust gigs at London's Royal Albert Hall. Credit: John Stead, Teenage Cancer Trust
Placebo’s setlist was:
‘Jackie’ (Sinéad O’Connor cover)
‘Special Needs’
‘Begin The End’
‘Pure Morning’
‘Taste In Men’
‘Blind’
‘Follow The Cops Back Home’
‘Beautiful James’
‘Slave To The Wage’
‘Special K’
‘Post Blue’
‘Meds’
‘Centrefolds’
Following Placebo, Garbage took the stage, opening with tracks from their new album, ‘Let All That We Imagine Be The Light’. Shirley Manson paid tribute to Teenage Cancer Trust and Robert Smith, expressing gratitude to Placebo for sharing the stage.
Garbage live at Robert Smith's Teenage Cancer Trust gigs at London's Royal Albert Hall. Credit: John Stead, Teenage Cancer Trust
Garbage live at Robert Smith's Teenage Cancer Trust gigs at London's Royal Albert Hall. Credit: John Stead, Teenage Cancer Trust
Manson also spoke passionately about the anti-far right protests in London and the importance of protecting the country.
Highlights included ‘Fix Me Now’, ‘I Think I’m Paranoid’, and a cover of The Cure’s ‘Lovesong’ – “a song by a band who inspired us to form a band,” said Manson.
Garbage live at Robert Smith's Teenage Cancer Trust gigs at London's Royal Albert Hall. Credit: John Stead, Teenage Cancer Trust
Manson addressed the UK's decision regarding transgender girls in the Girl Guides, expressing her dismay and support for the trans community.
After closing the first set with ‘The Day That I Met God’, Garbage returned for an encore, ending the night with ‘Stupid Girl’ and ‘Only Happy When It Rains’.
Garbage’s setlist was:
‘There’s No Future in Optimism’
‘Hold’
‘Fix Me Now’
‘I Think I’m Paranoid’
‘Vow’
‘Run Baby Run’
‘The Trick Is to Keep Breathing’
‘Not My Idea’
‘The Men Who Rule the World’
‘Wolves’
‘Lovesong’ (The Cure cover)
‘Chinese Fire Horse’
‘Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go!)’
‘When I Grow Up’
‘Push It’
‘The Day That I Met God’
Encore:
‘Stupid Girl’
‘Only Happy When It Rains’
Visit here to donate to Teenage Cancer Trust, or text ‘RAH10’ to 70085 to give £10.
Speaking to *NME* ahead of the show , Manson explained how was was “obsessed with Placebo”.
Garbage return for UK and European tour including dates with Skunk Anansie this summer. Visit here for tickets and more information.
Placebo meanwhile are gearing up to release ‘RE:CREATED’, a reimagined version of their debut album ahead of a winter 30th anniversary tour celebrating their first two records. Visit here for tickets and more information.
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