Scottish singer/songwriter is best known as the iconic lead singer for the alternative pop/rock band . Prior to , she was a member of Scottish bands and . It was in a music video for the latter group that she was discovered by her future bandmates and .

was born in 1966 and raised in Edinburgh, Scotland, influenced by her mother, Muriel, a onetime jazz singer. Growing up, school was a particular problem, with teased by classmates about everything from her hair to her eyes. 's focus soon shifted toward a life of drugs, sex, and depression. However, one thing proved to be a light in her life: her love for music. She began playing keyboards and singing backup for local rock bands, then went on to be a lead singer. Although she thought would be her big break, the group didn't score any hits. However, it did get her noticed, and in 1994 landed her the lead singer spot in .

's multi-platinum self-titled debut was released in 1995 and would go on to become a seminal record of the era, with singles like "Only Happy When It Rains" and "Stupid Girl." The band's popularity grew, fueled by the charismatic frontwoman. Their sophomore set, , another platinum hit, arrived in 1998. After a slight slip in the charts with their third release, 2001's , and company debuted at number four in 2005 with their comeback LP, . A greatest-hits compilation followed in 2007 before the release of their fifth album, , in 2012. Their first in seven years, peaked in the Top Five of the Billboard independent, alternative, and rock charts. arrived in 2016.

In addition to fronting , also acts. Her earliest role was on the television series Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, in which she starred from 2008 to 2009. also recorded vocals for the theme song for the 2017 series American Gods. Her contributions to the big screen also extended to the James Bond franchise with 's 1999 theme "The World Is Not Enough." She has also recorded with , , , , and . ~ Neil Z. Yeung & Charlotte Dillon

Shirley Manson

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