Any part of “Judith” (by A Perfect Circle) where Maynard James Keenan isn’t singing-- not that he has a bad voice, but Billy Howerdel (the guitarist) ownz the song. Plus I’m not too fond of the lyrics. Still, great song.
Sister Ray and Sweet Jane by The Velvet Underground are two of the most imitated, and two of my faves.
Any of the Urinals riffs, because they’re so catchy, and so easy to play on guitar, even for a hack like myself.
And there’s something about Iron Maiden’s Alexander The Great and Phantom of The Opera that always make me feel all nice and gooey inside.
Satisfaction. Duh.
I’m with you, Persephone. Mark Knopfler is my hero!
- Hellion Judas Preist
- No More Mr. Nice Guy Alice Cooper
- Big D Boogie Woogie The Reverend Horton Heat.
Neil Young’s solo on Warren Zevon’s Sentimental Hygiene.
There is a great scene in the movie “Crossroads” where the Devil’s guitar player (it was either Joe Satriani or Stevie Vai) has a showdown with the Kid (acted by Ralph Macchio, guitar by ??? ) Outstanding riffs.
And Mudshark, what about the Zappa riffs on “The Man From Utopia”? Oh, let’s just give the Lifetime Achievement Award in Guitar Riffs to Zappa and end it right there.
This is really mainstream and wimpy, but something about the weepy guitar on Bob Seger’s “Main Street” makes me feel sad and nostalgic all at once.
Also, “Dear Mr. Fantasy”. Very melancholy.
The guitar intro to Hotel California remains one of my favourites.
No cite for this so I’m not sure it’s true, but I’ve got an MP3 of this that claims it’s Steve Vai and Stevie Ray Vaughn.
Van Halen “Unchained”
or
Lenny Kravitz “My Momma Said” (just for the pure porn feel of it).
(ModernRonin2, are you talkin about Metallica’s Seek and Destroy or is there a Search and Destroy out there I’m ignorant of?)
Well, some of my first choices were already mentioned here, lets see what else I can come up with.
Walk or Cowboys from Hell by Pantera have awesome riffs
Thunderkiss '65 by White Zombie
Iron Man by Black Sabbath
Wild Side by Motley Crue
There’s a tune from VH’s OU812 album called “A.F.U.(All Fired Up)” that I’ve always thought was awesome.
Clapton Unplugged - on “Old Love” and “Layla”
Sniff and the Tears - opening of “Driver’s Seat”
Cheap Trick - “I Want You To Want Me” (with what sounds like all of Budokan screaming in the background).
Beatles - Opening of “Day Tripper”
Blur hit the nail on the head with “Walk” by Pantera.
I’m also fond of Neil Young. That guy can play any kind of music that uses a guitar.
the first half of Zombie Eaters on Faith No More’s Real Thing album
Steve Vai plays the part (and the guitar) for the character who has sold his soul to the devil. Ralph Mcchio’s guitar parts were played by the film’s composer, Ry Cooder, I beleive.
Steve Biodrowski
http://www.thescriptanalyst.com
Some good choices here, but I wanted to point out that Alice Cooper has admitted that the guitar riff for “No more Mr. Nice Guy” is basically a variation on The Who’s “Substitute” (written by Pete Townshend).
Steve Biodrowski
http://www.thescriptanalyst.com
I believe the phrase is actually “The Devil’s Tritone,” referring to the interval otherwise known as a flattened (or diminished) fifth.
There’s nothing devilish about an octave, which is actually an extremely pleasing and smooth interval, with no dissonance whatsoever.
Even the so-called “Devil’s Tritone” doesn’t always make music sound evil. Listen to the opening riff of “Purple Haze,” and you’ll hear what I mean.
By the way, I do think the guitar riff for “Black Sabbath” is way cool – and almost as important, anyone can play it at home, if they want.
Steve Biodrowski
http://www.thescriptanalyst.com
The Edge’s crecendo in U2’s “ALL I WANT IS YOU”.
The song itself is magnificent, and Edge’s climax is
heatrbreakingly glorious.
(Could that be a new sig?)