BBC Radio 2 presenter Simon Mayo (Monday-Friday, 5pm-7pm) has launched an audience vote to find the Radio 2 Top 100 Greatest Guitar Riffs of all time.
Since May this year, Radio 2’s Guitar Season has been celebrating this incredible instrument and now it’s time to stop those guitars from gently weeping and get them wailing as listeners vote for their favourite axe riffs at bbc.co.uk/radio2.
The 100 riffs have been selected by a panel of music experts including Radio 2 and 6music DJs, music critics and record producers. The ultimate Top 100 countdown, which is being produced by Wise Buddah and as chosen by listeners, will be revealed in the Guitar Season finale on Bank Holiday Monday (25 August) from midnight to 5pm – across a whole host of shows including Will Gompertz (sitting in for Janice Long), Alex Lester, Ken Bruce, Jeremy Vine and Jo Whiley (sitting in for Steve Wright).
Jeff Smith, Head of Music Radio 2, and also on the expert panel, said: “We’ve all been brought up with the most amazing guitar riffs throughout the history of pop music, but our trusty panel have drawn up a strong and eclectic mix we know our Radio 2 listeners are going to love.”
So, finger tapping, hammer-ons and whammy bars at the ready, let the shredding commence as the 100 riffs to vote for are revealed:
20th Century Boy
T. Rex
A Girl Like You
Edwyn Collins
Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love
Van Halen
Alive
Pearl Jam
All Right Now
Free
Apache
The Shadows
Are You Gonna Be My Girl
Jet
Are You Gonna Go My Way
Lenny Kravitz
Atomic
Blondie
Back In Black
AC/DC
Beat It
Michael Jackson
Block Buster!
Sweet
Bo Diddley
Bo Diddley
Bohemian Like You
The Dandy Warhols
Boom Boom
John Lee Hooker
Born To Be Wild
Steppenwolf
Born To Run
Bruce Springsteen
Boys Don't Cry
The Cure
C'mon Everybody
Eddie Cochran
Cannonball
The Breeders
Cigarettes & Alcohol
Oasis
Day Tripper
The Beatles
Do I Wanna Know?
Arctic Monkeys
Don't Fear The Reaper
Blue Oyster Cult
Don’t believe A Word
Thin Lizzy
Down Down
Status Quo
Enter Sandman
Metallica
Every Breath You Take
The Police
Eye Of The Tiger
Survivor
Fools Gold
The Stone Roses
Get Lucky
Daft Punk
Good Times
Chic
Hocus Pocus
Focus
How Soon Is Now?
The Smiths
I Can't Explain
The Who
I Can't Get No Satisfaction
The Rolling Stones
I Love Rock 'n' Roll
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
Jack & Diane
John Mellencamp
Johnny B. Goode
Chuck Berry
Killing in The Name
Rage Against The Machine
Layla
Derek And The Dominoes
Life In The Fast Lane
Eagles
Livin' On A Prayer
Bon Jovi
Lonely Boy
The Black Keys
Long Live Rock 'n' Roll
Rainbow
Loser
Beck
Ma-Ma-Ma Belle
Electric Light Orchestra (ELO)
Mannish Boy
Muddy Waters
Marquee Moon
Television
Milk and Alcohol
Dr. Feelgood
Misirlou
Dick Dale
Money
Pink Floyd
Money For Nothing
Dire Straits
Motorcycle Emptiness
Manic Street Preachers
Mr Tambourine Man
The Byrds
My Sharona
The Knack
Need You Tonight
INXS
No One Knows
Queens of The Stone Age
No Surprises
Radiohead
Oh, Pretty Woman
Roy Orbison
Oh Well
Fleetwood Mac
One Vision
Queen
Paranoid
Black Sabbath
Peter Gunn
Duane Eddy
Pretty Vacant
Sex Pistols
Pride (In The Name Of Love)
U2
Purple Haze
The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Rocks
Primal Scream
Rumble
Link Wray
Run To You
Bryan Adams
Running Down A Dream
Tom Petty
September
Earth, Wind & Fire
Seven Nation Army
White Stripes
Shakin' All Over
Johnny Kidd & The Pirates
Sharp Dressed Man
ZZ Top
She Sells Sanctuary
The Cult
Should I Stay Or Should I Go
The Clash
Smells Like Teen Spirit
Nirvana
Smoke On The Water
Deep Purple
Song 2
Blur
Spoonman
Soundgarden
Stay With Me
Faces
Sunshine of Your Love
Cream
Sweet Child O' Mine
Guns N' Roses
Sweet Home Alabama
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Take Me Out
Franz Ferdinand
That Lady
The Isley Brothers
The One I Love
R.E.M.
The Riverboat Song
Ocean Colour Scene
The Spirit Of Radio
Rush
Theme From Shaft
Isaac Hayes
There She Goes
The La's
Unbelievable
EMF
Under The Bridge
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Walk This Way
Aerosmith / Aerosmith & RUN-D.M.C.
Wheels
Foo Fighters
Whole Lotta Love
Led Zeppelin
Words of Love
Buddy Holly
You Really Got Me
The Kinks
Ziggy Stardust
David Bowie
The Guitar Season has featured a range of in-depth documentaries, features and live music performances across the Radio 2 schedule, all celebrating the fascinating history of the guitar, its impact on popular culture and its importance to all music genres - from folk to country, rock to classical and beyond.
