Bruise Pristine

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title: "Bruise Pristine" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1995-songs", "1995-debut-singles", "1997-singles", "placebo-(band)-songs", "songs-written-by-brian-molko", "virgin-records-singles", "songs-written-by-robert-schultzberg", "songs-written-by-stefan-olsdal", "song-recordings-produced-by-brad-wood"] topic_path: "arts/music" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruise_Pristine" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox song"]

Field	Value
name	Bruise Pristine
cover	Bruisepristinecover.jpg
caption	1997 cover
type	single
artist	Placebo
album	Placebo
B-side	"Then the Clouds Will Open for Me", "Bruise Pristine (1" Punch Mix)"
released	13 November 1995
recorded	1995
genre	Alternative rock
length	3:01
label	{{flatlist
writer	Placebo (Stefan Olsdal, Brian Molko and Robert Schultzberg)
producer	Brad Wood
next_title	Come Home
next_year	1996
misc	{{Extra chronology
type	singles
prev_title	Nancy Boy
prev_year	1997
title	Bruise Pristine
year	1997
next_title	Pure Morning
next_year	1998
header	Alternate cover
type	single
cover	bruise pristine 1995 cover.jpeg
caption	1995 split single cover
::

| name = Bruise Pristine | cover = Bruisepristinecover.jpg | alt = | caption = 1997 cover | type = single | artist = Placebo | album = Placebo | B-side = "Then the Clouds Will Open for Me", "Bruise Pristine (1" Punch Mix)" | released = 13 November 1995 | recorded = 1995 | studio = | venue = | genre = Alternative rock | length = 3:01 | label = {{flatlist|

• Fierce Panda
• Virgin | writer = Placebo (Stefan Olsdal, Brian Molko and Robert Schultzberg) | producer = Brad Wood | prev_title = | prev_year = | next_title = Come Home | next_year = 1996 | misc = {{Extra chronology | artist = | type = singles | prev_title = Nancy Boy | prev_year = 1997 | title = Bruise Pristine | year = 1997 | next_title = Pure Morning | next_year = 1998 | header = Alternate cover | type = single | cover = bruise pristine 1995 cover.jpeg | border = | alt = | caption = 1995 split single cover

"Bruise Pristine" is a song by English alternative rock band Placebo, released in its original version as a split single with the band Soup by record label Fierce Panda in November 1995. It was re-recorded for the band's 1996 self-titled debut album, and this version was released in May 1997 as the fifth and final single from the album.

Composition

The song is a heavy riff-based track and is notable for its "behind the bridge" guitar solo. The guitars feature F-A-D-G-C-C tuning. It opens with a natural harmonics riff on the 12th fret and proceeds with an overdriven riff that is played during the verses. During the chorus there is a chromatic power chord progression from F to G.

There are three official versions of the song that have been released: the 1995 single version, the album track and the radio edit. The radio edit is intended to be more radio-friendly; after the intro it cuts directly to the vocal verse and the solo is cut short.

Release

"Bruise Pristine" was originally released on record label Fierce Panda as a split seven-inch single with Soup in October 1995. This version is different from the one which later appeared on their 1996 debut album. The 1995 single version was later featured on the Fierce Panda compilation Nings and Roundabouts.

The song was released on 12 May 1997 by record label Virgin as the fifth and final single from Placebo. It was released on 7" vinyl, cassette and CD. The single charted at number 14 in the UK Singles Chart. A music video was made to promote the single.

Track listing

1995 7-inch single

;; Fierce Side

1. Placebo – "Bruise Pristine" ;; Panda Side
2. Soup – "m.e.l.t.d.o.w.n."

1997 single

;;CD 1 and cassette

1. "Bruise Pristine (Radio Edit)"
2. "Then the Clouds Will Open for Me"
3. "Bruise Pristine (1" Punch Mix)"

;;CD 2

1. "Bruise Pristine"
2. "Waiting for the Son of Man"
3. "Bruise Pristine (Lionrock Mix)"

;; 7" vinyl

1. "Bruise Pristine (Radio Edit)" – 3:01
2. "Bruise Pristine (1" Punch Mix)" – 4:38

Charts

::data[format=table]

Chart (1997)	Peak position
UK Singles Chart	14
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Release history

::data[format=table]

Region	Date	Format(s)
UK	13 November 1995	split 7-inch
UK	12 May 1997	rowspan-1
::

References

References

1. (11 November 1995). "New Releases: Singles".
2. "PLACEBO – The Official Charts Company". Official Charts.
3. "PLACEBO 'Bruise Pristine'". officialplacebo.

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::