In Style - September 2003
Photography: Frank W Ockenfels 3
Interview: James Patrick Herman

YOU'RE 
        THE
  INSPIRATION

What would happen if today's young music stars met their greatest inspirations? We brought six of them together with their role models - some of the world's greatest singer-songwriters - to find out.

SHIRLEY MANSON AND DEBORAH HARRY SHARE A LIMO IN NEW YORK CITY

The Fan: Shirley Manson
is the frontwoman for rock band Garbage, who are currently working on their fifth album, due for release early next year.

The idol: Deborah Harry
is the lead singer of groundbreaking group Blondie, whose new album, The Curse Of Blondie, is due out later this year.

Shirley on Deborah:
"I remember seeing the video for 'Rapture' and thinking, who the hell is she? I hated her immediately, because she was so beautiful. Nobody has been as stylish and as beautiful as Debbie Harry. If we had to name one person as the pop cultural icon - so that 1,000 years from now people could see why the world was obsessed with pop stars - she would be it. I was on tour last year with No Doubt, and Gwen Stefani and I went on stage and sang 'Call Me' as a tribute. But neither of us could hit the high notes. I don't think Debbie was really recognised as a great singer because of how beautiful she is."

Deborah on Shirley:
"She's Scottish, so she has great rock'n'roll spirit - rebellious, stubborn, strong. I first met her when she was a little girl singing back-up for a band called Goodbye Mr Mackenzie. They opened for Blondie in Glasgow at this ballroom. Everybody was pogoing. And she just stood there. She was terrific. She had it all."