Killing Joke's "Eighties", probably. I've met people who don't know the Joke from Duran Duran, but that one song is always brought up.

The Rolling Stones "Brown Sugar" and, maybe, "Tumbling Dice".

When Doves Cry

Mark Hansen wrote:The Rolling Stones "Brown Sugar" and, maybe, "Tumbling Dice".

I see that and raise you "Rocks Off" and "Street Fighting Man"

Stooges:

TV Eye
down on the street
Loose
1970
I wanna be your dog
no fun
not right
search and destroy

big_dave wrote:

Mark Hansen wrote:The Rolling Stones "Brown Sugar" and, maybe, "Tumbling Dice".

I see that and raise you "Rocks Off" and "Street Fighting Man"

I see your raise and clean up with "Paint It Black" and "Jumping Jack Flash".

burun wrote:I'm watching that Seven Ages of Rock thing, and they just talked about Ritchie Blackmore writing the opening bars to "Smoke on the Water"

that's funny because that's what immediately entered my head when I saw the title of this thread.

This basically wins, because all the other riffs are not the opening phrase to the song. e.g. teen spirit opens with the drums, wipeout opens with a decrescendo, iron man, born to be wild...

a possible nomination: under pressure

madlee wrote:a possible nomination: under pressure

"Ice Ice Baby" beats it

I know everyone's gonna talk shit but the opening for these two albums are pretty epic:

The Mars Volta - Deloused in the Comatorium
THe Mars Volta - Amputechture

Christopher J. McGarvey wrote:

madlee wrote:a possible nomination: under pressure

"Ice Ice Baby" beats it

ya got me, mcgarvey!