From hardradio.com: A Welsh online paper at icwales.icnetwork.co.uk, report that the GUNS N' ROSES anthem 'Sweet Child O' Mine' has the GREATEST GUITAR RIFF of all time according to music fans. The famous track came top of a poll of 100 Greatest Riffs Ever voted for by readers of Total Guitar magazine. Hits by JIMI HENDRIX, OZZY OSBOURNE and NIRVANA all make it in the top 20, but tracks by the ROLLING STONES and the SEX PISTOLS fail to make it into the 20 favorites. Nirvana once made Guns N' Roses look outdated, but their track 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' is now in second place. LED ZEPPELIN's 'Whole Lotta Love' was third followed by the DEEP PURPLE track 'Smoke On The Water'. Guns N' Roses also have another track in the top 20 - 'Paradise City' at number 19. The band's new collection, Guns N' Roses Greatest Hits, is currently at the top of the UK album charts. Total Guitar editor Scott Rowley said the poll represented a new canon of classic rock. "What this poll shows is that the so-called canon of classic rock - the Led Zeppelins, Eric Claptons, Jimi Hendrix - is as popular as ever, but being added to all the time. To a new generation of guitarists, METALLICA are more important than the Rolling Stones, Guns N' Roses more thrilling than the Sex Pistols, BLACK SABBATH better than the BEATLES." He added, "Riffs are an interesting measure of people's tastes because they're usually easy to play and very catchy - they're the hook of the song. This isn't about who's the flashiest guitarist. It's more about the guitarists and songs that get you most excited." The Top 20 riffs on the survey include: 'Sweet Child O' Mine' - GUNS N' ROSES, 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' - NIRVANA, 'Whole Lotta Love' - LED ZEPPELIN, 'Smoke On The Water' - DEEP PURPLE, 'Enter Sandman' - METALLICA, 'Layla' - DEREK & THE DOMINOES/ERIC CLAPTON, 'Master Of Puppets' - METALLICA, 'Back In Black' - AC/DC, 'Voodoo Child (Slight Return)' - JIMI HENDRIX, 'Paranoid' - BLACK SABBATH, 'Crazy Train' - OZZY OSBOURNE, 'Plug In Baby' - MUSE, 'Black Dog' - LED ZEPPELIN, 'Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love' - VAN HALEN, 'Walk This Way' - AEROSMITH/RUN DMC, 'Sunshine Of Your Love' - CREAM, 'No-One Knows' - QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, 'Paradise City' - GUNS N' ROSES and 'Killing In The Name' - RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE.
A list of greatest guitar riffs without a single riff from Keith Richards makes the list completely bogus.
I like the song, but how does that make the list? How about 'The Ocean' by Zeppelin? 'I Can't Get No Satisfaction' by the Stones?
I saw this on another forum that I post at (Pink Floyd) and found this list to be a dubious one. "Comfortably Numb" or "Dogs" by Floyd should have been on this list.
I've always hated the Sweet Child O' Mine riff. It's so grating to me. The obvious, easy answer is Satisfaction', but my personal favorites are 'I Feel Fine' and Trail of Dead's 'Another Morning Stoner'.
How 'bout "Beautiful Girls" by VH? And if you're going to include something recent, I'd choose "My Own Worst Enemy" by Lit over QOTSA.
Are chord progressions really 'riffs'? I don't know if I'd call Smells Like Teen Spirit or Back in Black riffs. Come as You Are is more of a riff, I think, for Nirvana's stuff, as an example. And I might say you have to be able to sing over it as well, otherwise it's an intro or a solo. i dont know about that, actually. Anyway, I'd put Satisfaction / Jumpin Jack Flash, Rolling Stones Day Tripper, Beatles on there
No Megadeth? No Slayer? Those groups are nothing BUT awesome riffs. I mean, I expect them to overlook Meshuggah, but c'mon. Also, I'm not the biggest Stones fan ever, but they could have at least thrown them a bone. "Satisfaction," "Start Me Up," and a dozen others have classic riffs. I guess they should have just expanded this list to 50.
"Whole Lotta Love" at #3 and Black Dog on there validate this list for me. I'd push for "Whole Lotta Love" being at #1, though.
