Top 100 Greatest Guitar Riffs

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Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 9:43 am

You have to be of a certain age to know these (or what a guitar riff is) but a very good list.

I went for AC/DC's 'Back in Black' in the end, with many close seconds.

BBC Link Top 100 Greatest Guitar Riffs

Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 9:51 am

Without looking at the list, Brian May's in Queen's "Brighton Rock". Old school!

From the list, I'd have to go with Nirvana and "Smells Like Teen Spirit". There's a lot of choices I'd make that aren't on the list-George Thorogood's "Who Do You Love", The Who's "Pinball Wizard", Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down". Metallica's "I Disappear".

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Jon Michel Jarre with London Kid aided by Hank Marvin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zKnMMnEYLY

Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 10:26 am

^^^ Saw that live when he played Docklands.

There's some classics in there. I'm currently not allowed to vote due to being outside the UK, but, The Clash - Should I Stay Or Should I Go.

Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 10:41 am

How do you answer this, there are loads

But this is pretty good. Angus Young AC/DC Let there be rock.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSEY4vIaIp4

Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 10:46 am

^^^^^That's more of a solo than a riff.

One that I sing loads Deep Purple / Metallica Smoke on the water.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUwEIt9ez7M

Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 11:01 am

/\/\ I have no idea why, obviously, but that song used to be known as 'Smoking a Quarter'. Cool

I was in the Casino Theatre at Montreux a few weeks before the fateful fire, in 1971, on holiday in Switzerland with my Grandparents. IIRC the ceiling had polystyrene tiles, which would explain why it went up when hit by a flare! When the fire was on the news, and subsequently world famous because of the song, I always identified it with my visit.

Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 11:55 am

damn - there are some great riffs on there

pity you can only pick one

went with alive by pearl jam - takes me back everytime i hear it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qM0zINtulhM

Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 11:56 am

I could quiet easily vote for about 80 of those but they only let you pick one.

It would have to be Smells Like Teen Spirit for me.

Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 12:50 pm

I'm weak for the music of the 60's. Roy Orbison and The Byrds.
Also Miss Mike favourite of all times is also there, Under the bridge, even though I am not overly fond of it.
But in the end I have to go with Born to run. The Boss is still the Boss.

Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 1:02 pm

Sweet Home Alabama.

(Up yours Neil Young!)

Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 2:02 pm

Most of those are pretty good - can't just pick one out as it depends what mood you are in at the time so to me it's an impossible question Wink

Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 3:02 pm

^I'm with you on that.

I figured they'd have Cat Scratch Fever on the list though.

Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 5:02 pm

Too many to choose from.

ELO Ma-Ma-Ma Belle just about gets my vote

Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 5:30 pm

Rolling Stones got my vote Cool

Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 5:35 pm

Iron Butterfly...In A Gadda Da Vida

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Paranoid 4 me Thumbs up

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Best riff from the list: Van Halen - Ain't Talkin Bout Love

Best all-time Riff not on the List: Ted Nugent - Stranglehold

Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 9:41 pm

I hate lists. Out of that lot I'd probably go with Purple Haze. I might be going blind but there seems to be a heap of great riffs missing from that list: Black Dog (Zeppelin), Jumpin Jack Flash (Stones), Innagaddadavida (Iron Butterfly), about 20 by Black Sabbath, and so on....

Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 10:26 pm

Voodoo Chile (slight return).

Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 10:27 pm

I will go with Pretty Vacant - The Sex Pistols

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Esox lucius wrote:

Most of those are pretty good - can't just pick one out as it depends what mood you are in at the time so to me it's an impossible question

Agreed. If a gun were put to my head to give a good example of a solid riff you probably couldn't go wrong with Smells Like Teen Spirit or something by SRV.

OK, for the sake of argument, I'll pick one that has stood the test of time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9irsg1vBmq0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGqXN9wXeWE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mK6tcgsKgps

Edit:

Mr. Labowski wrote:

Ted Nugent - Stranglehold

Reverend Bondi Cigars wrote:

there seems to be a heap of great riffs missing from that list: Black Dog (Zeppelin), Jumpin Jack Flash (Stones), Innagaddadavida (Iron Butterfly), about 20 by Black Sabbath, and so on....

Upon further review of other peoples comments I again agree, this is an unpossible task.

Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2014 2:30 am

I'm with Justhot, "Sweet Home Alabama" Very Happy

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The Monsignor wrote:

Voodoo Chile (slight return).

^^^ A solid contender for sure ^^^

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Almost impossible to choose there's so much good stuff on there

I'd rule out Daft Punk as that song irritated me so much, it was EVERYWHERE last year.

I used to put on Hocus Pocus and say to the kids "come on sing along"

Laughing

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