I've seen all your top ones list at Art School
with all the head bangers :)
Shame no Cream but good fun all the same:)

Jen , Marlow, Buckinghamshire

AC/DC - Whole Lotta Rosie. Never a better riff put on record. Nuff said.

Mark Chisholm, Dereham , UK

The Replacements: "Can't Hardly Wait" or "Left of the Dial" - both have incredible guitar riffs thanks to Paul Westerberg and the late Bob Stinson.

Caroline, Washington DC, USA

Looks like it's a wrap then, the Kinks You Really Got Me.

works for me!!

john d, liversedge,, england

No Aqualung? Perhpas the best riff ever. Also no Sunshine of Your Love?

Jakob, Provo, USA

GOLDEN EARRING Radar Love . How did that one miss ?

yoyojie, Massachusetts, USA

The Stones "I've got nasty habits" intro ?

richard mullens, London, Europe

Where is the riff to "back in black" by AC/DC?? surely that's The Riff TM!

Paul, london,

>'BREADFAN' by Budgie
>The greatest riff ever.

Whilst it is clearly not (as that accolade must surely belong to aint talkin bout love by Van Halen) it is the first sensible thing anyone has said so far.

Gunzo, London, UK

What about "Barbed Wired Blues" by Wilko Johnson? A truly manic and inspired piece of plectrum-free fretwork by the maestro!

Jonathan Yearley, Bromley,

Matthew Bellamy of Muse is one of the best guitarists around. Listen to any Muse track and hear what an incredible musician he is.

Kay, Liverpool,

How can Van Halen's Eruption not be in this list?

Tara Guertin, Los Angeles , CA

Wonderwall by Oasis.amazing guitar.

manu, oviedo, españa

where is comfortably numb?.....pink floyd....

gary angell, shefford, beds

To do it justice you really have to expand the list to 25 at least.
No Layla???
Why not have a list for greatest bass riffs?

Ron, Los Angeles, USA

I have but one word - FREEBIRD

Sarah Gibson, Sale, UK

You gotta love the riffage!! Not sure you got it quite there amigos, no AC/DC is just a crime...be interesting to know who was the first person to come up with the guitar riff?

Dan, Liverpool,

Anyone who makes up a list of "greatest guitar riffs" that dosnt include at least one AC/DC song lacks ANY credibility!

Steve, Perth, Australia

Very strange indeed. Uh, ever listened to the first bar of 'Back In Black' by ACDC for instance. Classic and timeless riff by young Angus Young. And there are millions more. How about Black Sabbath's Toni Iommi for instance? Oh! Suits you sir!

Don Kolley, Pittsburgh, USA

Lets have a bigger more diverse list to choose from!

I don't know how you can claim that the winner will be crowned greatest guitar riff of all time without explaining how these 10 were choosen.

Marc, Antrim,

simplistic, naive if not pretentious......
let the readers submit their suggestions
do a poll of top 100 rather than top 10
then we can appreciate the heterogeonisity of music that make great riffs

Kam Zaki, Cambridge,

Definately a weird list- what happened to:
Sunshine of Your Love by Cream
LAYLA?!!! by Derek & the Dominoes

S. B, Sydney, Australia

This list is ridiculous. Whole Lotta Love isn't even Zep's best riff! Trampled Underfoot is infinitely funkier and pleasing. A list compiled by someone with no musical imagination or by non-musicians. Where is Purple Haze? An abomination!!!

Nick, London,

I agree with Steve, Exeter - no way am I voting on this with so many missing bands

Howard, Basingstoke,

What an odd list! I agree with the obvious ones, like Smells Like Teen Spirit and Smoke on the Water...but I can think of at least 3 that deserve to be on here:
1. Sunshine of Your Love, Cream
2. Sweet Home Alabama, Lynyrd Skynyrd
3. Purple Haze, Jimi Hendrix (REALLY? THIS wasn' t on here?!)

Alana, Moscow, United States

To not include Pink Floyd in one form or other is sacraligious!! As has already been said, David Gilmour's Comfortably Numb solo is amazing.

Brett March, Leeds, UK

Rage Against The Machine anyone? Killing in the name of moves me every time I hear it.

Anyway, music is not a competition. if it sounds good, it is good!

Nick L, Aylesbury, UK

I cant possibly vote on this, "The Top 10 Riffs of all time".
The La`s, Arctic Monkeys!! What a laugh. thats what happens when you ask a 15 year old to compile a list.
Theyve probably never heard of the Kinks, Bowie, Prince, Wishbone Ash, Yes, Steely Dan etc etc.
Arctic monkeys-That is so funny.

Steve, Exeter, UK

No Muse?

No Dave Gilmour?

Twaddle.

Tim, Durham, UK

Wanted to amend my original revisions a bit:
1. Day Tripper
2. I Feel Fine
3. Ticket To Ride
4. Helter Skelter
5. Birthday
6. Satisfaction
7. Johnny B. Goode
8. Roll Over Beethoven
9. You Really Got Me
10. You Shook Me All Night Long

Geert, Toronto, Canada

PINK FLOYD?? David Gilmours fabulous solos in Comfortably Numb??

Ida Victoria, Outrup, Denmark

seriously... no Black Sabbath??
Tony Iommi changed the face of music forever in Feb. 1970...
and don't even try giving me Paranoid as an apology.
Mr. Iommi has indeed written the greatest riff in rock history
...and the best riff of all time is of course "HEAVEN & HELL"!!

henrik, larvik, Norway

1. Satisfaction - Stones
2. Sweet Child O'Mine - GNR
3. Sunshine Of Your Love - Cream
4. Smoke On The Water - Deep Purple
5. Back In Black - AC/DC
6. Whole Lotta Love - Led Zep
7. Rebel Rebel - David Bowie
8. You Really Got Me - Kinks
9. Day Tripper - Beatles
10. Money - Pink Floyd

John Kench, Charlotte, NC, US (Ex-UK)

Jessica - Allman Bros [thanks Chris Walter]
Lenny Kravitz [actually Slash] - Always on the Run
Pearl Jam - Alive
Dire Straits - Money for Nothin'
Beat It - Michael Jackson [but don't credit him]
Led Zeppelin could feature several times
No beatles?
Arctic Monkeys & White Stripes? You clowns

Bill Clark, Sydney, Australia

I agree with most of the comments made about your inappropriate list. Who compiled it? It is sadly lacking nearly all the all time great riffs referrred to by your readers. Please try again!
Mike, Bushey.

Mike, Bushey, UK

There are at least 15 riffs from The Stooges better than that list.

Matthew Griffiths, WALLASEY, UK

In the words of Andy Millman..... Are you having a laugh?! Is he having a laugh?!

Bill, Bristol, UK

Personally for its time Eddie Cochran's music was fabulous not to mention Ritchie Valens and Buddy Holly. Surprising to me is the fact that Eric Clapton was omitted which is a shame not to metion Eddie Van Halen.

Jean , Louisville , USA

I've always thought that a "riff" had to re-occur at various points throughout the song - a hook on which the whole tune was built. Whole Lotta Rosie, Paranoid, etc. But Sweet Child O'Mine has an "intro", not a riff. Jees - even Love Machine by Girls Aloud has more right to be on this list.

Clive, Durham, England

You've missed all of the best and like all of these lists only included many of the latest bandsm most of whom will be forgotten next month.
Every guitar player knows the best, go to a music shop Saturday afternoon and listen. The same tunes over and over being tried out by budding players.

Derek, St Agnes, UK

Riff from Back in Black should be up there near the top for me, though I guess it's a taste thing, hence the Arctic Monkey inclusion.

Damian, Manchester,

Back in Black - AC/DC
Whole Lotta Love - Led Zeppelin
Snowblind - Black Sabbath
Brown Sugar - Rolling Stones
You Really Got Me - The Kinks
Voodoo Child - Jimi Hendrix
Sunshine of Your Love - Cream
Pinball Wizard - The Who
Green Manalishi - Peter Green
21st C. Schizoid Man - King Crimson

Steve, Canberra, Australia

HR/HM is not the only pool of great guitar riffs. I don't really go for punk/NW and pops myself, but you can't ignore Police's "Every Breath You Take."

Hisawo, Taipei, J-expat in Taiwan

Artic Monkeys?? No AC/DC who complied this list a 12 year old?

Stu, Chelmsford,

The Eagles - Hotel California??

Is this all you could come up with?

Toni, Falkirk, UK

"Crossroads" by Cream on "Wheels of Fire":
"Purple Haze" - Jimi Hendrix;
"Kashmir" - Led Zeppelin

And that's off the top of my head - I don't think whoever complied your original list was really trying.

Paul, Coniston,

What about (damn near any song by) PRINCE?
Layla
Hotel California
Baby Come Back (Player)
Walk This Way
I Don't Need Love (Sammy Hagar)

Condo, Detroit,

Where is "Layla?" It is more recognizable than 70% of your list.

Jason, Huntsville, AL, USA

Are you jokin

Chuck Berry - Johnny B Goode has got to be in the top 5!

Eggers, Alnwick, Northumberland

What about "Layla"? Who doesn't recognize the riff?

Bob, Annapolis, USA

You forgot "Runnin' Down a Dream" by Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers

Tricia WARDINO, RESTON, United States

"You Really Got Me? - either Jimmy Page or Dave Davies (depending on whom you believe) invented hard rock with that riff

Steve Symmons, Melbourne, Australia

Walk This Way - Aerosmith
best ever

Ben, Borough,

And what about "Hotel California" by The Eagles? I think that's a fantastic riff and must be on the list.

Jonny, Mallorca, Spain

Where the heck is Angus' opening riff from AC/DC's 'Thunderstruck"?
What's wrong with you people?!

Keith, Houston, USA

1. Oh Well Part 1 Peter Green Fleetwood Mac... makes the hairs on the back of your stand.. and pretty impossible to play so I hear
2. Sweet home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd
3. Dancing in the Moonlight - Thin Lizzy
4. More than a Feeling - Boston
5. I shot the Sheriff - Bob Marley version
ran out .

Stephen, Khobar, KSA

I can't believe that The Kinks are not given a mention here...surely "You Really Got Me" or "All Day and All of the Night" stand head and shoulders above some of the nominations listed.

David Kipping, Atherstone,

I'd bet you would find Pete Townshend's "I can't explain" a the most common riff all the others mentionrf would list as the one that put the anger in rock n' roll.

Tristan, Austin, Texas

Enter Sandman, Metallica has got to be a contender.

Bullet in the Head, Rage against the machine

Staying Alive, the Bee Gees...?

Simon, London, England

What about the opening of
Whatever You Want-- Status Quo

and of course Chuck Berry who was inspiration for so many and is still touring !

Gerry B, Crawley, UK

What about "Wanted Dead or Alive" by Bon Jovi

Lisa, Liverpool,

It's quaint that someone thinks that's the possible top 10 riffs of all time.

Kyle, Cape Town, South Africa

Here here! Had I not doubled over in mirth I might have actually been able to submit my vote. Some worthy riffs, of course, but to have included the likes of the the White Stripes and Arctic Monkeys in the same poll as the Stones, Zeppelin, Purple, Cochran etc is utterly inappropriate!

L. Owen, London,

who picked these songs, bungle from rainbow, get some AC/DC in there,

Arctic monkeys, are you having a laugh......

brett, Gloucester, UK

These choices show a derisory lack of commitment to the cause. Not only has he omitted "undeniably" great riffs but the shortsighted inclusion of 7nation army and A.Monkeys makes this a risible attempt. Contemptible and insulting if it were not so laughable. What a joke (and a shame).

Sam Ormiston, Edinburgh,

Has anyone out there heard 'Unchained' by Van Halen? Eddie Van Halen, one of the greatest guitar players of all time playing one of the greatest riff's !!

Glyn, Bolton, UK

What about "Enter Sandman" or "Master of puppets" by Metallica, true classic's.
Also there is nothing from great's like, AC/DC, Dire Straits, Queen, Black Sabbeth etc

Carl Priestman, Burscough, Lancs, UK

Clearly Will Hodgkinson had a dealine when drawing up the list, and think too hard about some enties in the list - particularly the La's. The choice of favourite music is often about personal tastes, but where is "Purple Haze" by Hendrix or "Back in Black" by AC/DC - big, dumb and fantastic.

Richard Garner, Nottingham, UK

you are forgetting Knights of Cydonnia by Muse, Everlong by Foo Fighters, Enter Sandman by Metallica, and why oh why has no one mentioned Eruption by Van Halen,
i mean smoke on the water is famous but simple

Robin Taylor, Norwich,

God Save The Queeen by the Sex Pistols?
Rebel Rebel by Bowie? Jean Genie? The Man Who Sold The World?
London Calling by The Clash?
Now I'm Here by Queen?
Marquee Moon by Television?
The Fly by U2?
Day Tripper by The Beatles?

Tony, Liverpool, UK

How Soon Is Now? by The Smiths
Tattoed Love Boys - The Pretenders
Pyjamarama - Roxy Music

Tony, Liverpool, UK

Riffs. Well ok. Not 'solos' or the foundation part of solos. How could you not include Sunshine of your Love. Or, The Kinks. In the Presence of the Lord - Eric Clapton, but then you can't rip out a riff from that, can you.

Mark Macklam, Edmonton, Canada

The live version of Robert Johnson's Crossroads by Cream has everything - the riff and two simply sensational solos. But if it can't be a live recording, then it has to be Layla. Slowhand's the man.

Jamie, Sydney, Australia

You have to be joking. Yoiu cannot leave out Layla by Derek and the Dominoes

AW, Burnham On Sea

Alan Waddell, Burnham On Sea, UK

As any follower of true riff-inspired rock will gladly inform you there are literally hundreds of masterpieces out there. Here are just a few:

Highway to Hell - AC/DC
Slither - Velvet Revolver
Jane - Jefferson Starship
Wheels of Steel - Saxon
Living After Midnight - Judas Priest

Jeremy Weltman, UK,

Is this the entire collection of rock at Times? Go away!

S K LIn, Hong Kong,

I think the comment writers have won hands down here! This is a shamefully poor list for greatest guitar riff ever. Was it written by someone who has ever listened to rock music? Also what about the unforgettable, understated brilliance of the guitar in the TEMPTATIONS' My Girl

Peter Kline, Hong Kong, Hong Kong

You missed the best out! "Brown Sugar" by the Stones and The Kinks 'You Really Got Me". I assume that listing 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' is a joke!

Edward D, Bristol,

How could you not include Crazy Train by Ozzy Osbourne and Randy Rhoads? Classic riff!

HC Brown, London,

The Who (e.g Pinball Wizard, I can see for miles)
Hendrix (P.H.)
Stones (Any track from 'Get your Ya-yas Out')
Cream (Sunshine of your TV adverts)
Free (Alright Now)
Faces (Small or otherwise)

"The rest is silence".. or should be silenced

Malcolm , Bodden Town, Cayman Islands

The lack of the Kinks' "You Really Got Me" and The Who's "I Can't Explain" render this list fatally flawed. So does the lack of Black Sabbath's "Iron Man" and Cream's "Sunshine of Your Love". Thumbs down.

Tim Eimiller, Orchard Park, USA

'Greatest riff' implies the strongest, earthiest piece of guitar chord work, the foundation of a song - characterising a particular guitarist.

Nothing from Tony Iommi, Gary Moore, Angus Young, Eddie Van Halen, Eddie Clarke, Stone Gossard, Kim Thayil, Billy Corgan?

A trivial piece of fluff.

JW, China,

Criminal that Jumpin Jack Flash isn't in the list. Surely Keef's greatest riff. Swaggering unfussy brilliance. Probably best heard on Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out.

Jason, Bristol, England

steve harley and cocknet rebel.....come up and see me make me smile........never heard of that one?

lewis smith, st. clair, trinidad & tobago

Whole Lotta Love, maybe this one should really have Willie Dixon's name after it and not Led Zepplin. They did pay him money in court over it.

malcolm Kinnear, ios, Cyclades, greece

Motherless Children by Eric Clapton, from 461 Ocean Boulevard album

Chris Walter, maidstone, England

Albert Lee of Heads Hands & feet - Calling out the band

Chris Walter, maidstone, England

Jessica - Allman Bros

Chris Walter, maidstone, England

Pink Floyd!!! DSOM!! The Wall! Animals! etc! the list goes on!

plus Any list without Hendrix isn't truly looking for a great guitar riff!

cara harvey , Liverpool, England

Completely pointless, I mean Arctic Monkeys for goodness sake...Was this list compiled by a 10 year old?

Garry, Milton Keynes, UK

These songs aren't even the best riffs by those bands.

It's just a popularity contest, as top ten lists all too often are.

The Arctic Monkeys and The La's shouldn't even be anywhere near the top ten greatest riffs of all time.

Matt, Bristol,

How can you have a list of riffs with nothing there from Chuck Berry or Bo Diddley?
And if you are going to mention Whole Lot Of Love, why not mention Willie Dixon whose You Need Loving was re-vamped by the Small Faces and then that version was virtually copied by Led Zep.

Dave Proctor, Leeds,

You Really Got Me (Kinks), Sweet Home Alabama (Lynyrd Skynyrd), Highway to Hell (AC DC), Louie Louie (Kingsmen), Hoochie Coochie Man (Muddy Waters), Twist and Shout (Beatles / Isley Brothers)........... ad nauseam.........

Bill Aitken, oxford, uk

You want killer simple? 1) The Louie Louie (the Pharohs 1957; the Kingsmen 1963) 2) La Bamba (1958) 3) Gloria (Them) etc, etc... go back, young man!

LR, Victoria, Canada

Is this a joke?

Leon, London,

I Can't Explain - The Who
Recycled notably in Clash City Rockers
Peter Gunn
Sweet Jane - VU
Your Really Got Me
& All Day and All of the Night - Kinks
The original James Bond Theme, not the melody, but the lurking introductory bass line.
Rock Lobster - B52s
Pretty Vacant - Los Sex Pistoles

Simon Lewis, Saskatoon, Canada

From an oldie the "motorbike" from Bat out of Hell or The Who begining of Talking 'bout my Generation

Roy, Carshalton, England

Listen to the guitar on "Goodby to love" by the Carpenters Played by Richard Carpenter

Joe Meakin, Stockport,

Sunshine Of Your Love by Cream is better than the ten that you have chosen.

David Searle, Warminster, England

What about Alright Now by Free..... a classic!

John, London,

Why pick Joan Jett's recording og "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" and not the original version by The Arrows? Or is it because she's trying to make a comeback just now and is fashionable in a select area of Londinium?

Barney McRubble, Edinburgh, Scotland

Er . . . have you heard Sunshine Of Your Love by Cream . . . or Layla by Derek and the Dominos?

Nigel Summerley, London,

What about Queen, REM and Dire Straits - absolute legends and instantly recognisable when you hear them.

Cedryn Parry, Cranfield, Britain

My Sharonna

'nuff said

rick, manchester,

Am surprised Paranoid by Blac Sabbath is not on the list nor Voodoo Child be Hendrix.

Whats the LAs doing on the list?

Matt, Wiltshire,

'BREADFAN' by Budgie
The greatest riff ever.

Martin Farley, Dorking, Surrey

Satisfaction was the first great riff in rock music and it got us on the dancefloor
How about though Louie Louie as THE first riff.
What about Owner of a Lonely Heart or Black Night,or Won't Get fooled Again as being more sophisticated
I agree , lets start this thing again

Ian Skolnick

ian skolnick, London, UK

I don't think there can be a good list without Hendrix being involved, Purple Haze or Vodo would surely top any list to do with guitar riffs. Also Missing: Stone Roses (fools gold)
Dire strights (money for nothing)

Thomas White, Ashford, England

It's a fairly poor list to choose from. Definites should have included:
1) Fleetwood Mac's OH Well
2) Cream - Sunshine of your love
3) Cult's She sells sanctuary
4) REM's mandolin riff on Losing my religion
5) How can you miss Freebird by Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Alek Ninkovic, Huddersfield, England

how about Keith Urban's riffs? they outclass many of these by far

Susan, Centreville, USA

totally agree with wil rogers---also Keith Urban's riffs outclass the listed top ten by far

Susan, Centreville, USA

No competition really, especially without You Really Got Me from The Kinks.

Bill Peter, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Back to Black AC/DC- awesome

all the above suggestion are very valid. Lets change this to the top 50 riffs...... and get rid of the Artic Monkeys

Robert, London,

Ok this was always going to be a controversial one, but I don't really think you tried very hard...

Here's a few I like.

Layla - Derek and the Dominos (Isn't this the best one, really?)
Paranoid - Black Sabbath
Pinball Wizard - The Who
Bitch - The Rolling Stones
Hells Bells - AC/DC
Out of space...

Wil Rogers, Coalville,

Top 10 riffs of ALL TIME and you haven't included Black Sabbath - Ironman????

shame on you!

also would've been nice to see some aerosmith on the list, "love in the elevator" perhaps?

Lewis Robinson, Coventry,

What About "96 Quite Bitter Beings" By CKY That Has A KILLER! And Well Catchy Riff!

Charlie, Norwich, UK

Has no-one remembered Sweet Home Alabama?
As for that Arctic Monkeys track - what riff? I hear no riff!

tim mullin, bolton, uk

Your list of riffs is an injustice to 100's of other great riffs that we should vote on. Allright Now by Free, Highway to Hell ACDC, You really got by the Kinks, Burn Deep Purple, etc etc

Rob Healey, London, UK

Of those, it would have to be Sweet Child of Mine.

But what about Plug in Baby by Muse instead of the Arctic Monkeys?

Phil H, Chelmsford,

Holy Toledo! Cool your boots, tiger... this kind of thing has a place, I am never adverse to riff worship in any medium.

However, there are several pretenders in this list that could have made way for THE king of rock riffs. It is - sorry Purple fans - Iron Man by Black Sabbath.

Jonestown, London, UK

You must be joking not to include "Sunshine Of Your Love" by Cream.

Jonathan Newton, Brussels,

ocean colour scene - riverboat song?

steve, Manchester, UK

Oh come on!
Layla
All right now
Lets vote again... and get it right

Hugh Cousins, Cambridge, England

The La's ahead of "The Ace of Spades" by Motorhead???

You have got to be kidding

Codders, Harrogate, UK

What a pointless exercise! No, worse than that -- just plain dumb, dumbing down, and I suppose I should mention: silly.

pm, Toledo, USA

What?! No way to vote for Chuck Berry, the Original Rock & Roll Guitar Hero from whom all your candidates trace their lineage?! Shame!

T. J. Cassidy, Arlington, Virginia, U.S.A.