"We Are the Pigs" is the first single from the album Dog Man Star

Dog Man Star

Dog Man Star is the second album by English alternative rock band Suede, released in October 1994 on Nude Records. It was the last Suede album to feature guitarist Bernard Butler, due to growing tensions between Butler and singer Brett Anderson ending with Butler leaving the band before the album...

by Suede

Suede (band)

Suede are an English alternative rock band from London, formed in 1989. The group's most prominent early line-up featured singer Brett Anderson, guitarist Bernard Butler, bass player Mat Osman and drummer Simon Gilbert. By 1992, Suede were hailed as "The Best New Band in Britain", and attracted...

, released on 12 September 1994, on Nude Records

Nude Records

Nude Records was a London based record label, set up in 1992 by Saul Galpern who had previously been involved in the success of artists such as Simply Red, the Fall, Julian Cope, The Triffids, The Slits and The Au Pairs. The label's first success was with Suede. Suede's debut album was the fastest...

. The single announced the darker tone that the band had taken for Dog Man Star, that contrasted heavily with their debut. The challenging sound on the single was not characteristic of the popular Britpop bands of the time. That along with the departure of guitarist Bernard Butler

Bernard Butler

Bernard Joseph Butler is an English musician and record producer. He first emerged in the early Britpop era with Suede. He has been hailed by some critics as the greatest guitarist of his generation, as well as one of Britain's most original and influential guitarists...

 during its release, contributed to its relatively poor charting, although still managing a #18 peak.

The video, directed by David and Raphael Vital-Durand, features a grim, Nineteen Eighty-Four

Nineteen Eighty-Four

Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell is a dystopian novel about Oceania, a society ruled by the oligarchical dictatorship of the Party...

-like setting. It was initially banned by some TV stations including MTV for being too violent. The video features car burnings, cross burnings, and various violence to humans. Also notable, the video features the video debut of new guitarist Richard Oakes

Richard Oakes (guitarist)

Richard Oakes is an English musician and songwriter, best known as the guitarist and occasional pianist and backing vocalist of the English band, Suede.-Early life:...

.

The b-side "Killing of a Flashboy" also became a staple of Suede's live set list and became one of their most popular songs. It is also available on the B-sides album Sci-Fi Lullabies

Sci-Fi Lullabies

Sci-Fi Lullabies is a compilation album by English alternative rock band Suede, consisting of B-sides from the singles that were released from the band's first three albums.-Overview:...

.

Pitchfork Media

Pitchfork Media

Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...

 placed "We Are the Pigs" at #169 on their list of the Top 200 Tracks of the 1990s.

Track listings

All songs written by Brett Anderson

Brett Anderson

Brett Lewis Anderson is an English singer-songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist of the band Suede. After Suede disbanded in 2003, he briefly fronted The Tears, and has released four solo albums...

 and Bernard Butler

Bernard Butler

Bernard Joseph Butler is an English musician and record producer. He first emerged in the early Britpop era with Suede. He has been hailed by some critics as the greatest guitarist of his generation, as well as one of Britain's most original and influential guitarists...

.

CD

1. "We Are the Pigs [edit]"
2. "Killing of a Flashboy"
3. "Whipsnade"

12"

1. "We Are the Pigs [edit]"
2. "Killing of a Flashboy"
3. "Whipsnade"

Ltd. 7"

1. "We Are the Pigs [edit]"
2. "Killing of a Flashboy"