First of the Gang to Die

{{Short description|2004 single by Morrissey}}

{{Use British English|date=August 2012}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}

{{Infobox song

| name = First of the Gang to Die

| cover = MorrisseyFirstGang.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Morrissey

| album = You Are the Quarry

| B-side =

• "My Life Is a Succession of People Saying Goodbye"
• "Teenage Dad on His Estate"
• "Mexico"

| released = {{start date|2004|7|12|df=y}}{{cite magazine|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=27|date=10 July 2004}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Alternative rock

| length = 3:38

| label = Attack

| writer = Morrissey, Alain Whyte

| producer = Jerry Finn

| prev_title = Irish Blood, English Heart

| prev_year = 2004

| next_title = Let Me Kiss You

| next_year = 2004

}}

"First of the Gang to Die" is a song co-written by Morrissey from his 2004 album You Are the Quarry. It was released in July 2004 as the second single from the album. It was written by Morrissey and Alain Whyte, the two being responsible for lyrics and music respectively. Following the success of "Irish Blood, English Heart", from the same album, the single reached the number six spot in the UK Singles Chart, giving Morrissey two top ten hits in a row for the first time since "The Last of the Famous International Playboys" and "Interesting Drug" both reached the top ten in 1989.

The single was A-Listed by BBC Radio 2 and received much more exposure than "Irish Blood, English Heart", propelling it onto the UK top 40 airplay chart. It entered the UK Singles Chart at number six, making it the third-highest-charting song and most successful follow-up single of Morrissey's career. The single stayed in the chart for seven weeks, longer than any other Morrissey single. Outside the United Kingdom, the song reached number 20 in Sweden and number 26 in Ireland, while becoming a minor hit in Germany and the Netherlands.

The song, which tells the story of a gang member named Hector, is seen as a tribute to Morrissey's significant Hispanic fanbase.{{Cite news |last=Correspondent |first=James Hider, Latin America |title=Heaven knows he's Mexican now: Latinos adopt Morrissey |newspaper=The Times |language=en |url=https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/north-america-travel/us-travel/california/jh-mexico-morrissey-zsgppqrj5 |access-date=2022-09-12 |issn=0140-0460}} Whyte commented, "All these Hispanic kids were coming to see us, with quiffs and leather jackets, shouting for Morrissey. The Latinos embraced him because they relate to all that isolation in his lyrics. They feel like outsiders in their own country. Plus, they have a very romantic sensibility and love the whole rocker image."{{cite journal |last1=Wilkinson |first1=Roy |title=The single life |journal=Mojo |date=November 2002 |pages=42–49 |url=https://illnessasart.com/2021/07/04/mojo-november-2002/ |access-date=15 May 2022}}

In October 2011, NME placed it at number 147 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/list/150-best-tracks-of-the-past-15-years/248648/page/1|title=150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years|website=NME |date=6 October 2011}}