Terror Couple Kill Colonel - Version

This song was based on the 1972 killing of Lieutenant Colonel Paul Bloomquist. A pilot in the Vietnam War, Bloomquist had been stationed in Frankfurt, Germany, when a far-left terrorist organization called the Red Army Faction detonated bombs inside his post. Bloomquist was killed and 13 others were injured. Bauhaus guitarist Daniel Ash told Songfacts the band borrowed the title directly from the headline of a German newspaper article about the bombing. He couldn't recall if it was vocalist Peter Murphy or bassist David J who wrote the lyrics.

Bauhaus released two versions of the single. On each, the B-side included "Scopes" and one of two alternate versions of "Terror Couple Kill Colonel." The first release is notable for a textured fabric sleeve.

Bauhaus released this song as a standalone single. It was second in an unofficial series of such standalone singles, with the first being "Dark Entries" and the third (and final in the series) being "Telegram Sam."