This instrumental was written and recorded in May 1986 at Livingston Studios in London with producer John Porter and fifth Smith Craig Gannon, alonside "Panic" and an early, slower version of "Sweet And Tender Hooligan".

single version {5:08}

• 12", cassette and cd-single of "Panic", except in Germany

• Greek 12" of "Bigmouth Strikes Again"

• Germany-only "Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others" single, all formats

• Australia "The World Won't Listen" double LP and double cassette

• deluxe digital edition of "The Sound Of The Smiths" [remastered 2008]

This song has never been performed specifically for radio or television.

The song has been performed live by the Smiths on every (uninterrupted) night of the second UK leg of the 1986 Queen Is Dead tour (total, 11 times). The instrumental song was always the first one to be played as the band returned to the stage for the first encore, giving Morrissey an extra 5-minute break.

live Kilburn 23 October 1986 {4:26}

• "Rank" (live album)

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

Quotes

"I've got an Epiphone Coronet with one pickup, and I string it with the high strings from a 12-string set. It's a really zingy, trebly guitar. I used that on a lot of things that people think are 12-string... I also used it on the studio version of 'The Draize Train,' along with two Rickenbackers. I was working with Alan Rogan, the famed English guitar technician. He said, 'Well, if you want a Pete Townshend sound, I'll bring down two of Pete's guitars.' I don't know whether Pete knows about that!"
- Johnny Marr, Guitar Player, January 1990