| Public Castration Is a Good Idea | |
| Type: | Live album |
| Artist: | Swans |
| Cover: | SwansPCIAGA.jpg |
| Alt: | The words "Swans" in yellow, all caps with a black outline, each letter separated by a dot. Below, the text "Public Castration Is a Good Idea" in white, all caps with a black outline. |
| Released: | 1986 |
| Recorded: | February - March 1986 |
| Venue: | ICA, London (tracks 1 - 6) The Garage, Nottingham (track 7) ULU, London (track 8) |
| Length: | 73:56 |
| Label: | Some Bizzare Records Thirsty Ear Recordings |
| Producer: | Michael Gira |
| Prev Title: | A Screw |
| Prev Year: | 1986 |
| Next Title: | Children of God |
| Next Year: | 1987 |
Public Castration Is a Good Idea is the first live album by American experimental rock band Swans. It was originally released as a semi-officially approved bootleg through Some Bizzare Records in 1986, consisting of performances recorded from shows in London and Nottingham on the tour for the albums Greed and Holy Money. The performances were recorded from London's ICA, The Garage in Nottingham and London's ULU.[1]
The CD edition, released by Thirsty Ear on July 6, 1999, was mastered from a vinyl source. An accompanying videocassette (betamax and VHS editions) of the same tour (both containing set lists that are identical to the LP) was released called A Long Slow Screw.[2]