"Bruise Pristine" was the first single by alternative rock

Alternative rock

Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...

 band Placebo

Placebo (band)

Placebo are a British rock band from London, England, formed in 1994 by singer and guitarist Brian Molko and bass guitarist Stefan Olsdal. The band was joined by drummer Robert Schultzberg, who was later replaced by Steve Hewitt after conflicts with Molko. Hewitt left the band in October 2007 and...

, taken from their self-titled debut album

Placebo (album)

Placebo is the self-titled debut studio album by British alternative rock band Placebo, released on the Hut Records label on 16 July 1996.-Reception:In 1998, Q magazine readers voted it the 87th greatest album of all time...

.

It was used as a part of the soundtrack to the 1997 PlayStation

PlayStation

The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console first released by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan on December 3, .The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of consoles and handheld game devices. The PlayStation 2 was the console's successor in 2000...

 game Gran Turismo

Gran Turismo (video game)

is a racing simulator designed by Kazunori Yamauchi. Gran Turismo was developed by Polyphony Digital and first published by Sony Computer Entertainment in 1997 for the PlayStation video game console...

.

Song information

It was credited to Brian Molko

Brian Molko

Brian Molko is a songwriter, lead vocalist, and guitarist of the band Placebo. He is known in particular for his high-pitched vocals, androgynous appearance, and unique, Sonic Youth-influenced guitar style and tuning.-Early life:Born to an American father of French-Italian heritage and a Scottish...

, Stefan Olsdal

Stefan Olsdal

Stefan Olsdal is the bassist/guitarist of the alternative rock band Placebo and is part of the electronic dance/DJ and remix act Hotel Persona.-Biography:...

, and Robert Schultzberg

Robert Schultzberg

Robert Schultzberg was the original drummer for alternative rock band Placebo. Schultzberg had known Stefan Olsdal from a band in school in Sweden they were both in in 1993 and joined Placebo when the band formed in September 1994, helping them to record their first studio demo in April 1995,...

. The lyrics were written by Molko. It was produced by Brad Wood

Brad Wood

Brad Wood is a record producer from Rockford, Illinois. He served as a drummer for the band Shrimp Boat. Brad records, mixes and produces records and is based in Los Angeles, California. He began his career in earnest in 1988 with the construction of Idful Music Corporation- a recording studio in...

 who produced the album.

Musical structure

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

There are two official versions of the song, the single and the album track. The single version is intended to be more radio friendly. After the intro it cuts directly to the vocal verse and the solo is cut short.

Live performance history

The song was part of the band's repertoire prior to the release of their album and it was a regular until the Black Market Music

Black Market Music

Black Market Music is the third studio album by British alternative rock band Placebo, released in 2000 by Hut Records.- Background :Black Market Music took nine months to record, the longest that the band have ever spent recording an album to date, and is dedicated to the memory of Scott...

 tour. Together with "Come Home

Come Home (Placebo song)

"Come Home" was the second single by alternative rock band Placebo. This is a different version of the lead track from the eponymous debut album. It reached #103 in the UK Singles Chart, and it was available on CD and 7" record. "Oxygen Thief" appears on no other releases.-Single information:It...

" it was Schultzberg's favorite song to perform live.

Track listings

CD1

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

CD2

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

Chart performance

On its initial release in 1995 it failed to chart. It was reissued in 1997 and reached number 14 in the UK.