3 Epic Guitar Riffs From the 1980s You Probably Forgot About

From AC/DC and Metallica to The Smiths and Dinosaur Jr., there was no shortage of epic guitar riffs in the 1980s. With so many iconic six-string phrases, it’s understandable if you’ve forgotten a few gems. Allow this list to serve as a reminder of three riffs you’ll want to remember.

So grab your guitar and dial up YouTube for the tabs.

“Drop Dead Legs” by Van Halen

So, Eddie Van Halen, one of rock history’s most transformative guitarists, landed his biggest hit with the keyboard song “Jump”. But the same album, 1984, also includes shred touchstones “Panama” and “Hot For Teacher”. If you only know the hits, you may have overlooked “Drop Dead Legs”. With a sludging drum groove from Eddie’s brother Alex, the track features a slinky riff that powers David Lee Roth’s peacock Romeo and cartoonish infatuation (“Nice white teeth / Betty Boop”).

“Behind The Sun” by Red Hot Chili Peppers

When Hillel Slovak convinced his high school pal Flea to pick up the bass, it proved to be a consequential request. Soon, the Fairfax classmates joined forces with frontman Anthony Kiedis and drummer Jack Irons to form what became the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Fast-forward to 1987 and The Uplift Mofo Party Plan to hear what may be Slovak’s best riff: “Behind The Sun”. A psychedelic jam with gorgeous chords, setting a path for Slovak’s musical descendant, John Frusciante, who replaced the guitarist following his death in 1988.  

“Fools Gold” by The Stone Roses

Casual American listeners may only know “Love Spreads”. But long before John Squire dropped that bluesy riff, the Manchester band had already transformed British indie rock in the 1980s. “Fools Gold” was released as a double A-side with “What The World Is Waiting For” in 1989. A 10-minute Madchester jam, Squire, bassist Gary “Mani” Mounfield, and drummer Alan “Reni” Wren bring the sound of acid house to rock audiences with a hypnotic groove and wah-wah guitars. Meanwhile, Ian Brown sings in subdued spoken word about destructive greed as Squire layers a psychedelic mix of hazy textures.

Photo by Paul Bergen/Redferns