Shirley Manson, the iconic frontwoman of the alternative rock band Garbage, has shared her definitive choice for the next artist to perform a James Bond theme song. In an exclusive interview, Manson expressed her strong belief that American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey would be the perfect fit for the prestigious role.
Why Lana Del Rey is the Ultimate Bond Candidate
Manson declared that she cannot comprehend why Del Rey has not yet been approached for the honour. "I still don't understand why they haven't asked Lana Del Rey," she stated emphatically. "It seems to me an absolute no-brainer." The Garbage vocalist highlighted Del Rey's distinctive qualities that align perfectly with the Bond legacy, describing her as "glamorous, dangerous, and super intelligent." Manson further praised Del Rey as "one of the world's greatest songwriters," suggesting her smoky vocal style would seamlessly join the ranks of legendary Bond performers like Shirley Bassey and Adele.
The Bond Theme Legacy and Garbage's Contribution
Garbage themselves contributed to the Bond canon in 1999 with The World Is Not Enough, which featured in the Pierce Brosnan film of the same name. Unlike contemporary Bond songs where artists typically write their own material, Garbage's track was composed by film score veteran David Arnold with lyrics by Don Black, who had previously worked on four other 007 themes including Diamonds Are Forever. Despite initial criticism for blending their post-modern sound with traditional Bond motifs, the song has since been critically reappraised, with Classic FM ranking it eighth among all Bond themes and Metro.co.uk placing it second in 2017, just behind Adele's Skyfall.
Manson reflected on the intense scrutiny Bond themes receive, noting that "savage" criticism from fans is "par for the course." She observed that "time passes and people forget that they want to hate on you. Then the song stands on its own two feet and suddenly we're always in the top 10 of favourite Bond songs. It's silly."
Lana Del Rey's Previous Bond Connection
Interestingly, Lana Del Rey revealed in 2024 that she had previously written a song specifically for a Bond film that was ultimately rejected. Her track 24 was originally composed as a potential theme for Spectre, which instead featured Sam Smith's Writing's On The Wall. This revelation adds further weight to Manson's endorsement, suggesting Del Rey has both the creative capability and existing interest in the Bond franchise.
Current Bond Speculation and Other Contenders
As speculation continues about the next James Bond film, with no successor yet announced to replace Daniel Craig, discussion about the theme song performer remains equally uncertain. Various names have been rumoured including British artists Olivia Dean and Raye, while former Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher has claimed to have written several potential Bond themes himself. The possibility of Lana Del Rey performing a Gallagher-penned Bond song presents an intriguing hypothetical combination.
Garbage's Upcoming Charity Performance
Beyond Bond discussions, Shirley Manson revealed that Garbage will be performing at London's Royal Albert Hall on March 28th as part of the Teenage Cancer Trust's 2026 concert series. The band were personally invited by The Cure's Robert Smith, who curated this year's programme. "We really are honoured to be invited to play this show," Manson stated, "and we are grateful to be an instrument to raise funds for teenagers all over Britain who really, really need our help." The charity series raised an impressive £2,050,000 last year to support specialist cancer care for young people.
Manson expressed both excitement and nervousness about potentially meeting Robert Smith for the first time, recalling her emotional reaction when meeting punk icon Patti Smith. "I'm really hoping I'm cooler than I was when I met Patti Smith," she admitted. "I was shaking like a leaf, actually, and I burst into tears. I'm really hoping I don't do that to Robert."
Personal Revelations and Biopic Casting
In lighter moments, Manson shared that if a Garbage biopic were ever made, she would want Academy Award-winning actress Emma Stone to portray her. "Emma Stone!" she declared without hesitation, suggesting the La La Land star would make a "perfect" Shirley Manson while humorously adding "I'm sure she'd be horrified to hear me say that." Her bandmates Duke Erikson, Steve Marker, and Butch Vig could "choose their own avatars" according to Manson.
The singer also recounted the amusing story of being recognised by another bride while attempting to secretly marry her husband, audio engineer Billy Bush. Despite her concerns about the photograph appearing online and upsetting her father, the image never surfaced and her father ultimately found the secret wedding "marvellous."
Despite her status as a rock icon who has inspired countless musicians and fans, Manson maintains a characteristically self-deprecating perspective, describing herself as "decidedly uncool" and recalling embarrassing fan moments including clinging to Cocteau Twins vocalist Elizabeth Fraser's leg. As the music world awaits both the next Bond announcement and Garbage's charity performance, Manson's endorsement of Lana Del Rey adds a compelling voice to the ongoing conversation about who should next lend their vocals to the iconic spy franchise.
