Douglas Elwin "Duke" Erikson (born January 15, 1951, in Nebraska) is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer, best known as a co-founder and guitarist in the alternative rock band Garbage. Garbage has sold more than 17 million albums worldwide. Before Garbage, Erikson was a founding member of the popular Midwestern bands Spooner and Fire Town.\n', '

Duke Erikson was born in Lyons, a small rural community in Nebraska. His first musical instrument was the piano, and his second was the guitar. At the age of 16 he joined his first band, The British, which was inspired by his passion for the British beat movement. The band performed at local dances and high-school hops, often publicizing their appearances with posters announcing "The British Are Coming".\n', '

When Erikson completed his first scholastic cycle, he began studying art history at Wayne State College in Nebraska, where he taught drawing for "a couple of semesters". During this period he also worked as a carpenter and occasional truck driver.\n', '

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