Hopefully I have wetted your appetite for the Heaviest of the Heavy Riffs in my Top 10 List. These Top 5 riffs were chosen by me based on their impact on rock music overall, their intensity, their uniqueness and that really all of them have undoubtedly influenced generations of musicians including many of these artist’s contemporaries. So without further banter I present the Top 5 all time Heaviest Rock Riffs:

Number 5: Purple Haze - what classic rock list would be complete without including Jimi. My first Jimi album was the “Smash Hits” LP and between this song and Hey Joe and Red House I think I wore it completely out. What great days those were. Jimi Truly did Kiss the Sky with this one.

Number 4: Heartbreaker - What aspiring guitarist didn’t try and cop this riff. It truly is one of the staples of rock guitar as is most of Jimmy Page’s work with Zep (most everyone had to learn “Stairway”, “Rock and Roll” and “Whole Lotta Love” too). As with all of these riffs, the song that goes along with it is fantastic as well.

Number 3: Sunshine of Your Love - Along with Chuck Berry, Cream took the signature riff to new heights. Hearing the intro to this song still puts shivers up my spine it’s so great. Although I thought Eric Clapton played with a lot more fire and intensity back then (as well as the signature Gibson/Marshall sound), I still love his stuff today. This riff was the invention of the “Woman Tone” of course which inspired countless guitarists to copy e.g. Randy Bachman (American Woman). What a Great Riff!

Number 2: Iron Man - This riff is so intense, that it was a close second to my number 1 riff. Tony Iommi and Black Sabbath really struck a chord (no punn intended) with this song and really the entire “Paranoid” Album. It’s so powerful and intimidating, that it almost seems other-worldly. It’s not a riff that you will forget easily. Great, Great Riff from a great song on an album with a lot of fantastic music.

And Here it is, are you ready…..

My Number 1 Rock Riff of All Time: Smoke on the Water - This riff is equal parts, simplicity, power, great tone and sheer brilliance by Ritchie Blackmore. Has there ever been a more copied riff? I doubt it. What makes it so amazing is that this incredible sound is made up of only a few well placed power chords. (and yes Ritchie himself cleared up any ambiguity as to whether it was the basic power chords or played with major movable chords). The really amazing thing about this riff too is how adaptable it is. When Ritchie came up with the “Man on the Silver Mountain” Riff for his Rainbow Album, it was just a variation of the Smoke on the Water Riff in the same key. No matter how many times I hear this song or play it myself I will never tire of this riff - it’s just the greatest!

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