Suicide Is Painless (Manic Street Preachers song)

"Suicide is Painless" was Manic Street Preachers' tenth single. It was also their first top ten hit, reaching number seven in the UK Charts in 1992. The single was a split with The Fatima Mansions and the title track is a cover of the theme from the television series and film M*A*S*H (see Suicide is Painless for details of the original and other versions). The single was originally recorded for an album called Ruby Trax, released in conjunction with the rock magazine New Musical Express. Both the single and album were released to raise funds for The Spastics Society, now known as Scope, which, like the NME itself, was celebrating its 40th anniversary in 1992.

The bonus track on the CD and 12", "Sleeping with the NME", is an extract from a BBC Radio 5 documentary of that name which went behind the scenes at the NME. The extract captures discussion in the NME office the day after Richey James carved the phrase "4 REAL" into his arm to convince then NME journalist Steve Lamacq of his sincerity. The track was recorded and released in stereo, even though it was originally made for Radio 5, a mono station.

[edit] Track listing

[edit] CD / 12"

"Suicide Is Painless (Theme from M*A*S*H)" (Written by Johnny Mandel/Mike Altman)
"Everything I Do (I Do It for You)" (Performed by The Fatima Mansions)
"Sleeping with the NME"

[edit] 7" / MC

"Suicide Is Painless (Theme from M*A*S*H)" (Written by Johnny Mandel/Mike Altman)
"Everything I Do (I Do It for You)" (Performed by The Fatima Mansions)

v • d • e Manic Street Preachers

James Dean Bradfield • Nicky Wire • Sean Moore Flicker (Miles Woodward) • Richey James Edwards

Studio albums	"Generation Terrorists" (1992) • "Gold Against the Soul" (1993) • "The Holy Bible" (1994) • "Everything Must Go" (1996) • "This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours" (1998) • "Know Your Enemy" (2001) • "Lifeblood" (2004) • "Send Away the Tigers" (2007)

Singles and EPs	"Suicide Alley" (1989) • "New Art Riot EP" (1990) • "Motown Junk" (1991) • "You Love Us (Heavenly Version)" (1991) • "Feminine Is Beautiful" (1991) • "Stay Beautiful" (1991) • "Love's Sweet Exile/Repeat" (1991) • "You Love Us" (1991) • "Slash 'N' Burn" (1992) • "Motorcycle Emptiness" (1992) • "Little Baby Nothing" (1992) • "Theme From MAS*H (Suicide Is Painless)" (1992) • "From Despair To Where" (1993) • "La Tristesse Durera (Scream To A Sigh)" (1993) • "Roses In The Hospital" (1993) • "Life Becoming A Landslide EP" (1994) • "Faster/P.C.P." (1994) • "Revol" (1994) • "She Is Suffering" (1994) • "A Design for Life" (1996) • "Everything Must Go" (1996) • "Kevin Carter" (1996) • "Australia" (1996) • "If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next" (1998) • "The Everlasting" (1998) • "You Stole The Sun From My Heart" (1999) • "Tsunami" (1999) • "The Masses Against The Classes" (2000) • "Found That Soul" (2001) • "So Why So Sad" (2001) • "Ocean Spray" (2001) • "Let Robeson Sing" (2001) • "There By The Grace Of God" (2002) • "The Love Of Richard Nixon" (2004) • "Empty Souls" (2005) • "Your Love Alone Is Not Enough" (2007) • "Autumnsong" (2007) • "Indian Summer" (2007)

Promos	"UK Channel Boredom" (1990) • "God Save The Manics EP" (2005) • " Underdogs" (2007) • "Ghost Of Christmas" (2007)

Other releases	"Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head" (1995) • "Know Our B-Sides" (2001) • Leviathan" (2005) • "The Instrumental" (2006) • "Umbrella" (2008)

Compilation albums	"Forever Delayed" (2002) • "Lipstick Traces" (2003)

Box Sets	"Six Singles from Generation Terrorists" (1997)

Videos	"Everything Live" (1997) • "Leaving the 20th Century" (2000) • "Louder Than War" (2001) • "Forever Delayed" (2002)

Official book	"Forever Delayed" (2002)

Related articles	Manic Street Preachers Discography Manic Street Preachers B-sides