Recorded at Eastcote Studios and mixed at Abbey Road Studios and Westside Studios, all in London, Barrel Of A Gun is the 31st single by Depeche Mode (and their 26th in the US). Originally released in 1997 on 28 January in the US and on 3 February in the UK, it’s the band’s first release without Alan Wilder since he fully joined in 1983. The US was the only country to issue a 7-inch of Barrel Of A Gun.
12-inch – UK
Mute – 12BONG25 (released 3 February 1997, gatefold sleeve)
A1 Barrel Of A Gun (Album Version) 5:31
A2 Barrel Of A Gun (Underworld Hard Mix) 9:36
B1 Barrel Of A Gun (3 Phase Mix) 5:25
B2 Barrel Of A Gun (One Inch Punch Mix – V2) 5:29
B3 Barrel Of A Gun (Underworld Soft Mix) 6:29
12-inch limited edition – UK
Mute – L12BONG25 (released 10 March 1997, generic inner sleeve)
A1 Painkiller (Plastikman Mix) 8:39
A2 Painkiller (Original Version) 7:28
B1 Barrel Of A Gun (One Inch Punch Mix) 5:25
B2 Barrel Of A Gun (United Mix) 6:36
12-inch promo – UK
Mute – P12BONG25 (released in January or February 1997, generic inner sleeve)
A1 Barrel Of A Gun (Underworld Hard Mix) 9:36
A2 Painkiller (Plastikman Mix) 8:39
B1 Painkiller (Original Version) 7:20
B2 Barrel Of A Gun (Underworld Hard Instrumental) 9:11
12-inch limited promo – UK
Mute – PL12BONG25 (released in January or February 1997, generic inner sleeve)
A1 Barrel Of A Gun (One Inch Punch Mix – V2) 5:28
A2 Painkiller (Original Version) 7:28
B1 Barrel Of A Gun (3 Phase Mix) 5:23
B2 Barrel Of A Gun (Album Version) 5:29
CD – UK
Mute – CDBONG25 (released 3 February 1997)
- Barrel Of A Gun (Album Version) 5:31
- Painkiller (Original Version) 7:29
- Barrel Of A Gun (Underworld Soft Mix) 6:29
- Barrel Of A Gun (One Inch Punch Mix) 5:26
CD limited edition – UK
Mute – LCDBONG25 (released 3 February 1997)
- Barrel Of A Gun (Underworld Hard Mix) 9:36
- Barrel Of A Gun (United Mix) 6:35
- Painkiller (Plastikman Mix) 8:39
CD promo – UK
Mute – RCD BONG 25 (released in January or February 1997)
- Barrel Of A Gun (Radio Edit) 3:59
- Barrel Of A Gun (Album Version) 5:29
CD – France
Mute – Labels – 724389407723 (released in February 1997)
- Barrel Of A Gun (Album Version) 5:31
- Painkiller (Original Version) 7:29
CD-R promo – UK
Mute – no catalogue number (issued 3 February 1997)
- Barrel Of A Gun (Instrumental Version) 5:30
12-inch – US
Mute – Reprise Records – 0-43828 (released 28 January 1997, generic inner sleeve)
A1 Barrel Of A Gun (Album Version) 5:29
A2 Barrel Of A Gun (Underworld Hard Mix) 9:37
B1 Barrel Of A Gun (3 Phase Mix) 5:23
B2 Barrel Of A Gun (One Inch Punch Mix – V2) 5:28
B3 Barrel Of A Gun (Underworld Soft Mix) 6:29
7-inch – US
Mute – Reprise Records – 7-17409 (released 4 February 1997, generic sleeve)
A1 Barrel Of A Gun (Album Version) 5:30
B1 Painkiller (Original Version) 7:28
2×12-inch promo – US
Mute – Reprise Records – PRO-A-8600 (released in January or February 1997, generic inner sleeves)
A1 Barrel Of A Gun (Underworld Hard Mix) 9:36
A2 Painkiller (Plastikman Mix) 8:39
B1 Barrel Of A Gun (United Mix) 6:34
B2 Barrel Of A Gun (Underworld Hard Instrumental) 9:11
C1 Barrel Of A Gun (One Inch Punch Mix – V2) 5:28
C2 Painkiller (Original Version) 7:28
D1 Barrel Of A Gun (3 Phase Mix) 5:23
D2 Barrel Of A Gun (Album Version) 5:29
CD – US
Mute – Reprise Records – 9 43828-2 (released 28 January 1997)
- Barrel Of A Gun (Album Version) 5:29
- Painkiller (Plastikman Mix) 8:39
- Barrel Of A Gun (Underworld Soft Mix) 6:27
- Barrel Of A Gun (One Inch Punch Mix) 5:23
- Barrel Of A Gun (Underworld Hard Mix) 9:36
CD – US
Mute – Reprise Records – 2-17409 (released 4 February 1997)
- Barrel Of A Gun (Album Version) 5:30
- Barrel Of A Gun (United Mix) 6:34
- Painkiller (Original Version) 7:28
CD promo – US
Mute – Reprise Records – no catalogue number (released in January or February 1997)
- Barrel Of A Gun (Radio Edit) 3:59
- Barrel Of A Gun (Album Version) 5:31
CD promo – US
Mute – Reprise Records – PRO-CD-8600 (released in January or February 1997)
- Barrel Of A Gun (Radio Edit) 3:59
- Barrel Of A Gun (Album Version) 5:31
CD – Japan
Mute – TOCP-50225 (released 18 June 1997)
- Barrel Of A Gun (Album Version) 5:32
- Painkiller (Original Version) 7:29
- Barrel Of A Gun (Underworld Soft Mix) 6:29
- Barrel Of A Gun (One Inch Punch Mix) 5:25
- Barrel Of A Gun (Underworld Hard Mix) 9:38
- Barrel Of A Gun (United Mix) 6:36
- Painkiller (Plastikman Mix) 8:38
CD – Europe / US
Mute – CD BONG 25X / Mute – Reprise – R2 78894A (released 29 March 2004 / 30 March, as part of the box set 6, Singles 31-36, and separately)
- Barrel Of A Gun (Album Version) 5:32 / 5:29
- Painkiller (Original Version) 7:29 / 7:28
- Barrel Of A Gun (Underworld Soft Mix) 6:29 / 6:29
- Barrel Of A Gun (One Inch Punch Mix) 5:27 / 5:25
- Barrel Of A Gun (Underworld Hard Mix) 9:38 / 9:37
- Barrel Of A Gun (United Mix) 6:36 / 6:36
- Painkiller (Plastikman Mix) 8:40 / 8:39
- Barrel Of A Gun (3 Phase Mix) 5:25 / 5:23
- Barrel Of A Gun (One Inch Punch Mix) – V2) 5:29 / 5:28
Note: Barrel Of A Gun was also released on the cassette format (only as a promo in the UK).
Music video – Worldwide
Mute – no catalogue number (directed by Anton Corbijn, released in January or February 1997)
Depeche Mode – Barrel Of A Gun
- written by Martin Gore
- produced by Tim Simenon and Depeche Mode
- highest chart position 4 (UK) 47 (US)
- the first single from the album Ultra, also appears on the compilation The Singles 86>98 and the box set Ultra | The 12″ Singles
- 1997 Depeche Mode was Andrew Fletcher, David Gahan, and Martin Gore