# Greatest Opening Riffs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 14, 2003, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-opening-riffs/168661 "2003-04-14T16:16:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![cleops](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/2acd7d/32.png) [@cleops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cleops)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-opening-riffs/168661/41 "2003-04-14T22:58:51Z")
Hey this is fun! I’m with you PeterW on Smoke on the Water–especially when the bass comes in–whee-oo! But how about the intro guitar in Tumbling Dice–how the heck did they do that? And Start Me Up, of course. And that little D-thing they did to begin Tell Me–damn, so many great starting riffs in Stones songs. Also right up there is the guitar intro to the Kingsmen’s Money-one of the better all-time ones. And who can forget Hendrix’s intro to Red House–talk about the blues, man! 'Course, with the Beatles and Stones and Clapton and Hendrix, the song beginnings are as much signature and Pavlovian, as well as being “great.” ---
**Author:** ![Semp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Semp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Semp)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2003, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-opening-riffs/168661/42 "2003-04-15T01:12:46Z")
First, I nominate **Eighties** by Killing Joke. And **Thieves** by Ministry, if you want to consider it a riff. Jack-hammer assault, more likely, but memorable none the less… > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dewey Cheatem Undhow \* > \*\*Anyone remember Living Colour’s _Cult of Personality_? That’s a great riff. > > What the hell ever happened to them, anyway? That song kicked about forty kinds of ass, but I don’t remember hearing anything else by them. \*\* [anecdote]Nine Inch Nails happened to 'em. Back in the first Lollapalooza, Living Colour played after the up ‘n’ coming Trent’s little band, who lit up the crowd like nothing I had seen to that day. When he left the stage everyone was wiped out. To make matters worse, Living Colour (playing higher up in the bill, thus having greater pull in those days) comes on to stage and… dinner time! So everyone wandered over to the concession stands and waits in line during their entire set. I felt pretty sorry for them, actually, cuz they sounded pretty good…[/anecdote] ---
**Author:** ![Torgo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@Torgo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Torgo)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2003, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-opening-riffs/168661/43 "2003-04-15T01:21:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The Gaspode \* > \*\ ***Back in Black** - AC/DC > 'Nuff said. \*\* No, 'nuff is _not said!_ Proud to be the first to mention the Stones’ **Can’t You Hear Me Knockin’** Also: **Born on the Bayou** CCR **Pretty Persuasion** REM **Strawberry Fields Forever** Beatles (does that count as a riff?) **Pretty Vacant** Sex Pistols ---
**Author:** ![Hometownboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5e9695/32.png) [@Hometownboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hometownboy)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2003, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-opening-riffs/168661/44 "2003-04-15T05:48:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kilt-wearin’ man \*\*\* > > _Who Do You Love_ by Bo Diddley (later by George Thorogood and the Destroyers) - the great bouncy Bo Diddley beat careens into and through the song raising ho-hum lyrics to “classic” status… > \*\* Another version well worth the attention (especially for nostalgic baby boomers) takes up a whole album side on Quicksilver Messenger Service’s “Happy Trails,” their second release. Here’s what All Music Guide says about it: > [@](#): > > The side-long epic “Who Do You Love?” suite is split into an ensemble introduction and coda as well as four distinct sections for the respective bandmembers. The perpetually inventive chops of QMS are what is truly on display here. The musicians’ unmitigated instrumental prowess and practically psychic interaction allow them to seamlessly weave into and back out of the main theme. Yet all the while, each player takes center stage for uncompromising solos. Also a second to **cleops** : > [@](#): > > Also right up there is the guitar intro to the Kingsmen’s Money-one of the better all-time ones. . It’s not often that one is referenced, but it’s well deserved. For a slow, but powerful riff, I’ll toss in \*\*Big Brother and the Holding Company \*\* with the tasty blues lick that opens “Piece of My Heart,” only to have Janis unexpectedly back it down when she opens her vocal. Which gives the song even more power when she cranks it wide open later, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2003, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-opening-riffs/168661/45 "2003-04-15T05:54:59Z")
People. People! The answer is obviously **Unchained** by **Van Halen**. Although **Peace Frog** and **I Feel Fine** are also acceptable non-butt-rock answers. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2003, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-opening-riffs/168661/46 "2003-04-15T06:07:49Z")
First few seconds, huh. Okay… Oingo Boingo “Dead Man’s Party” Doors “Break on Through” Herbie Hancock’s “Watermelon Man” (okay, you didn’t say no jazz) & ChalkPit I like your choices ---
**Author:** ![DemonSpawn52](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f17d59/32.png) [@DemonSpawn52](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonSpawn52)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2003, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-opening-riffs/168661/47 "2003-04-15T06:12:53Z")
I second **Raining Blood** by Slayer. Satan himself couldn’t write something as evil. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2003, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-opening-riffs/168661/48 "2003-04-15T06:17:10Z")
Elton John, _The Bitch Is Back_ The Jackson 5, _I Want You Back_ ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2003, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-opening-riffs/168661/49 "2003-04-15T06:41:31Z")
After the bomb goes off, the faint ticking of a clock that sets off a chain reaction of chimes, bells and gongs which gives way to a metronome and progresses to a guitar and bongos… And on the same album, the ever distinguishable sound of a cash register opening and the kaching-ing of coins that makes way for the best bass riff ever… Since these are some of the greatest starting riffs, you know what the names of the songs are, and the group that played them, and you don’t need me to tell you. ---
**Author:** ![Phelan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Phelan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phelan)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2003, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-opening-riffs/168661/50 "2003-04-15T06:56:16Z")
In the Flesh? and Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd and New Orleans is sinking by the Tragiacally Hip. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2003, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-opening-riffs/168661/51 "2003-04-15T11:52:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Yeticus Rex \* > **…the best bass riff ever…** Gotta love a song that sports a 7/4 time signature. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2003, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-opening-riffs/168661/52 "2003-04-15T12:38:03Z")
No \*\* Welcome to the Jungle\*\*? ---
**Author:** ![GUINNESS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@GUINNESS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GUINNESS)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2003, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-opening-riffs/168661/53 "2003-04-15T13:03:32Z")
…KMFDM—GODLIKE ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2003, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-opening-riffs/168661/54 "2003-04-15T13:13:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CaptMurdock \* > \*\*“All Along The Watchtower” by Jimi Hendrix > > Possibly the greatest riff ever. \*\* Not to mention Purple Rain. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2003, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-opening-riffs/168661/55 "2003-04-15T13:15:39Z")
Purple Rain? What was I _thinking_?!?!?! :smack: **Purple Haze** I mean. Signed, The Idiot Formerly Known as Jjimm. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2003, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-opening-riffs/168661/56 "2003-04-15T13:20:02Z")
Ace of Spades by Motorhead. the dirtiest riff ever dredged up. ---
**Author:** ![spartacist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/67e7ee/32.png) [@spartacist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spartacist)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2003, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-opening-riffs/168661/57 "2003-04-15T13:36:03Z")
Man On The Silver Mountain - Rainbow Stranglehold - Ted Nugent Fly By Night - Rush Love Removal Machine - The Cult Baba O’Riley - The Who Boys Are Back In Town - Thin Lizzy Anything by AC/DC ---
**Author:** ![Dryga\_Yes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@Dryga\_Yes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dryga_Yes)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2003, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-opening-riffs/168661/58 "2003-04-15T14:08:44Z")
If there were any justice in this world, London Calling would’ve been mentioned in the first post. ---
**Author:** ![DaToad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@DaToad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaToad)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2003, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-opening-riffs/168661/59 "2003-04-15T17:55:09Z")
I think one of the best intros ever is on Steely Dan’s, _Do It Again_. _Purple Haze_ is definitely near the top of the list. IIRC, _Magic Bus_ has a good intro as well. ---
**Author:** ![Labor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Labor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labor)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2003, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-opening-riffs/168661/60 "2003-04-15T21:12:05Z")
OK, sorry but we have to get some classical music in this thread. 5th Symphony - Beethoven 5th Symphony - Mahler Don Juan - R. Strauss 1st Brandenburg Concerto - J.S. Bach Eticelles - Moskowski Encounters II - Kraft (now that’s an obscure one) Interestingly, and feel free to accuse me of hijacking this thread, it’s the end of a piece of music that really gives me the shivers. There are just too many pieces that the first thought I have when they are done is, “Thank God.” And now back to the non-classical music people. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-opening-riffs/168661.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-opening-riffs/168661.md?page=4)