Greatest rock riffs ever?

What about the first great riff you ever heard?

Dire Straits - Sultans Of Swing

But when classics are concerned this one can't miss:

Eric Clapton - Cocaine

 

"Ramble Tamble" for sure but not sure what riffs you're hearing in those Floyd tunes...

 

Well then I'm including those Gilmour's solos to the bunch

 

One of the most unique rock songs, an hypnotic guitar riff

 

Bebop Deluxe - Sister Seagull

 

Start Me Up

 

AC/DC has countless, the simpler the better. This would be one of the greatest intros ever.

 

The Easybeats- Friday On My Mind

 

and Stevie's Spanking

 

Ha, subtle but brilliant...

 

Since he only covered the song, kudos for Cocaine are going to the late great J.J. Cale I think.

 

Alice Cooper - School's Out
Blue Oyster Cult - E.T.I.

 

That could easily have fit on Zeppelin 1. I must listen to more of this band, cheers for posting!

 

KISS - Duece

 

No Love for Chuck Berry's opening riff on "Johnny Be Good"??? Nobody got more mileage out of a single riff........... Roll Over Beethoven, Brown-Eyed Handsome Man, Carol, Little Queenie, Back in the USA and Let It Rock to name a few.

 

"Under Pressure" by Queen/David Bowie.

Of course they blatantly stole the riff from Vanilla Ice so perhaps it shouldn't count.

 

How much more damn hypnotic could be this guitar riff? ...Awesome!

 

Maybe not the greatest, but pretty interesting (bass) riffs:
Pink Floyd: Money
Jethro Tull: Living in the past
Stranglers: Nice n sleazy

 

Every Led Zeppelin riff

Even the ones they stole

 

Smoke On The Water - Deep Purple
Jumpin' Jack Flash - The Rolling Stones
Gimme Shelter - The Rolling Stones

 

Stranglehold.

 

The Riverboat Song - Ocean Colour Scene

 

Blue Oyster Cult - Dominance and Submission
Flamin’ Groovies - Slow Death
James Gang - The Bomber
Mountain - Never In My Life
Elmore James - Dust My Broom

 

sounds like something from golden earring to me,,, twilite zone maybe? not sure

 

"Rock 'n Me" - Steve Miller Band