This song is assumed to have been written at some point between the year 2000 and its live debut in August 2002 (under the slightly different original title "The First Of The Gang To Die"). It is credited as having been recorded in Los Angeles in 2004, but the "You Are The Quarry" sessions were actually split between Sarm Hook End in Berkshire in the autumn of 2003 and Conway Studios in Los Angeles in late 2003 or January 2004, with producer Jerry Finn. Musicians on this recording were Boz Boorer (guitar), Alain Whyte (guitar), Gary Day (bass), Dean Butterworth (drums) and Roger Manning (piano).

A radio version was recorded on 19 May 2004 for Zane Lowe's programme on BBC1. Two other titles were recorded on the same radio session. The line-up still included Boz Boorer, Alain Whyte, Gary Day and Dean Butterworth, but Michael Farrell had replaced Roger Manning on keyboards.

album / single version {3:38}

• "You Are The Quarry" album

• "First Of The Gang To Die" single, all formats

• "Greatest Hits" album [remastered 2008]

Late Late Show With Craig Kilborn 12 September 2002 [tv]

This performance as well as the bit of Morrissey interview are circulated on bootleg video compilations of Morrissey television appearances. The audio has not yet been compiled on a manufactured bootlegs but it is found in digital format on the internet.

Zane Lowe radio session 19 May 2004 {3:48}

Nothing from this 3-song radio session (also including "Irish Blood, English Heart" and "Shoplifters Of The World Unite") has ever been given an official release, but good sounding recordings of the tracks as well as the Morrissey interview can be found on various manufactured bootlegs as well as in digital format on the internet.

Later With Jools Holland 21 May 2004 [tv]

This is widely circulated on bootlegs of Morrissey television appearances, alongside the three other songs Morrissey did that night, "Irish Blood, English Heart", "Let Me Kiss You" and "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out" as well as the Morrissey interview. The audio of the latter two songs can be found on manufactured bootlegs, but not the audio for "First Of The Gang To Die" which is only circulated in digital format on the internet.

T4 11 July 2004 [tv]

This is circulated on bootleg video compilations of Morrissey television appearances. The audio from this broadcast is not circulated on bootlegs because the performance was lipsynched.

Late Late Show With Craig Kilborn 22 July 2004 [tv] {4:05}

• deluxe edition of "You Are The Quarry" album

Despite having been given an official release, this song as well as the other two Morrissey did on this programme at the time (but on different nights - "I Have Forgiven Jesus" and "Let Me Kiss You") are circulated on bootleg video compilations of Morrissey television appearances. The audio can be found in digital format on the internet.

Top Of The Pops 23 July 2004 [tv]

This is circulated on bootleg video compilations of Morrissey television appearances. The audio from this broadcast is not circulated on bootlegs because the performance was lipsynched.

Reading Session@AOL 27 August 2004 [web video] {4:30}

• official USA iTunes download as "Sessions@AOL" EP

Because this official release in only in audio form, the web video footage is being circulated in bootleg video.

Late Show With David Letterman 16 November 2004 [tv]

This is circulated on bootleg video compilations of Morrissey television appearances and the audio can be found in digital format on the internet.

In-D TV: Morrissey En El Polyforum 27 January 2007 [tv]

This performance is part of a 5-song mini-concert + interview given by Morrissey for television ahead of a concert in Mexico City. It is circulated on bootleg video and the audio can be found in digital format on the internet.

Jimmy Kimmel Live 20 April 2007 [tv]

This performance is part of a 6-song set recorded by Morrissey for this programme. Unfortunately, only the first few seconds were broadcast before the closing credits. This very brief segment as well as the full "I Just Want To See The Boy Happy" (the show's main feature) are circulated on bootleg video and the audio can be found in digital format on the internet. The four other songs remain unseen (except by those who attended the taping).

The song has been performed live 454 times by Morrissey, which makes it the most played song of his career. This is even more impressive considering the fact that it is a song from the latter half of his solo years. It has been done on every tour since its live inception in 2002, and on a majority of nights for most of those tours. It was done each and every night bar two on the 2002 tour with no name, for a total of 45 times. After being released, it was done 65 times out of 66 dates on the 2004 You Are The Quarry tour. It was on the setlist every night on the 93-date Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI, many times as the set opener. It was done a further 83 times (out of 91 dates) on the 2007-2008 Greatest Hits tour and this time its typical position was the encore. It remained the near-standard encore on the two 2009 tours: it was done 65 times, that's every night bar three, on the Tour Of Refusal, and 16 times out of 26 dates on the Swords tour. Following this, its presence started waning a bit as it was played 40 times out of 47 dates in 2011, 29 times out of 56 dates in 2012, only 4 times out of 15 dates in 2013 and 14 times out of 49 concerts in 2014.

live Manchester 22 May 2004 {4:02/4:39}

• official internet download from MorrisseyMusic.com; rate:160

• DVD-single of "First Of The Gang To Die"

• American Deluxe edition of "You Are The Quarry" album

• "Who Put The 'M' In Manchester?" live DVD

live Glastonbury 27 June 2004 {4:04}

• "Glastonbury" a film/documentary about the legendary British music festival

• "Music From Glastonbury The Film" various artists compilation

live Move Festival 11 July 2004 {3:48}

• "Who Put The 'M' In Manchester?" live DVD, in bonus features

live England December 2004 {3:48}

• "Live At Earls Court" live album

live Hollywood Bowl 8 June 2007 {4:23}

• limited edition of the "Greatest Hits" album

live Las Vegas 9 June 2007 {3:50}

• official web giveaway on the eve of the release of the "Greatest Hits" album

No demos or studio outtakes of this song have leaked to the general public at this point in time.