Depeche Mode – Barrel Of A Gun

Originally released 28 January in the US and 3 February in the UK, “Barrel Of A Gun” is the 31st single (26th in the US) by Depeche Mode. It’s the first release without Alan Wilder in the band since he fully joined in 1983. The US was the only country to issue a 7-inch release of “Barrel Of A Gun”.


12-inch – UK
Mute – 12BONG25 (gatefold sleeve, released 3 February 1997)

Depeche Mode – Barrel Of A Gun

Depeche Mode – Barrel Of A Gun

  • 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)

Depeche Mode – Barrel Of A Gun

  • 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)

Depeche Mode – Barrel Of A Gun

  • 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)

Depeche Mode – Barrel Of A Gun

  • 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)

Depeche Mode – Barrel Of A Gun

  1. Barrel Of A Gun (Album Version) 5:31
  2. Painkiller (Original Version) 7:29
  3. Barrel Of A Gun (Underworld Soft Mix) 6:29
  4. Barrel Of A Gun (One Inch Punch Mix) 5:26

CD limited edition – UK
Mute – LCDBONG25 (released 3 February 1997)

Depeche Mode – Barrel Of A Gun

  1. Barrel Of A Gun (Underworld Hard Mix) 9:36
  2. Barrel Of A Gun (United Mix) 6:35
  3. Painkiller (Plastikman Mix) 8:39

CD promo – UK
Mute – RCD BONG 25 (released in January or February 1997)

Depeche Mode – Barrel Of A Gun

  1. Barrel Of A Gun (Radio Edit) 3:59
  2. Barrel Of A Gun (Album Version) 5:29

CD – France
Mute – Labels – 724389407723 (released in February 1997)

Depeche Mode – Barrel Of A Gun

  1. Barrel Of A Gun (Album Version) 5:31
  2. Painkiller (Original Version) 7:29

CD-R promo – UK
Mute – no catalogue number (issued 3 February 1997)

Depeche Mode – Barrel Of A Gun

  1. Barrel Of A Gun (Instrumental Version) 5:30

12-inch – US
Mute – Reprise Records – 0-43828 (released 28 January 1997)

Depeche Mode – Barrel Of A Gun

  • 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)

Depeche Mode – Barrel Of A Gun

  • 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)

Depeche Mode – Barrel Of A Gun

  • 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)

Depeche Mode – Barrel Of A Gun

  1. Barrel Of A Gun (Album Version) 5:29
  2. Painkiller (Plastikman Mix) 8:39
  3. Barrel Of A Gun (Underworld Soft Mix) 6:27
  4. Barrel Of A Gun (One Inch Punch Mix) 5:23
  5. Barrel Of A Gun (Underworld Hard Mix) 9:36

CD – US
Mute – Reprise Records – 2-17409 (released 4 February 1997)

Depeche Mode – Barrel Of A Gun

  1. Barrel Of A Gun (Album Version) 5:30
  2. Barrel Of A Gun (United Mix) 6:34
  3. Painkiller (Original Version) 7:28

CD promo – US
Mute – Reprise Records – no catalogue number (released in January or February 1997)

Depeche Mode – Barrel Of A Gun

  1. Barrel Of A Gun (Radio Edit) 3:59
  2. Barrel Of A Gun (Album Version) 5:31

CD promo – US
Mute – Reprise Records – PRO-CD-8600 (released in January or February 1997)

Depeche Mode – Barrel Of A Gun

  1. Barrel Of A Gun (Radio Edit) 3:59
  2. Barrel Of A Gun (Album Version) 5:31

CD – Japan
Mute – TOCP-50225 (released 18 June 1997)

Depeche Mode – Barrel Of A Gun

  1. Barrel Of A Gun (Album Version) 5:32
  2. Painkiller (Original Version) 7:29
  3. Barrel Of A Gun (Underworld Soft Mix) 6:29
  4. Barrel Of A Gun (One Inch Punch Mix) 5:25
  5. Barrel Of A Gun (Underworld Hard Mix) 9:38
  6. Barrel Of A Gun (United Mix) 6:36
  7. 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 Singles Box 6 and separately)

Depeche Mode – Barrel Of A Gun

  1. Barrel Of A Gun (Album Version) 5:32 / 5:29
  2. Painkiller (Original Version) 7:29 / 7:28
  3. Barrel Of A Gun (Underworld Soft Mix) 6:29 / 6:29
  4. Barrel Of A Gun (One Inch Punch Mix) 5:27 / 5:25
  5. Barrel Of A Gun (Underworld Hard Mix) 9:38 / 9:37
  6. Barrel Of A Gun (United Mix) 6:36 / 6:36
  7. Painkiller (Plastikman Mix) 8:40 / 8:39
  8. Barrel Of A Gun (3 Phase Mix) 5:25 / 5:23
  9. Barrel Of A Gun (One Inch Punch Mix) – V2) 5:29 / 5:28

Note: “Barrel Of A Gun” was also released on cassette (in the UK as promo only).


Music video – Worldwide
Mute – no catalogue number (directed by Anton Corbijn, released in January or February 1997)

  1. Barrel Of A Gun (Album Version) 5:28

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