3 Long Classic Rock Intros That Are Worth the Wait

Many classic rock songs ignore the don’t-bore-us-get-to-the-chorus crowd. Beginning in the 1960s, artists such as Bob Dylan and The Beatles challenged convention with longer and more complex arrangements. Now, with slow-build classics like “Time” by Pink Floyd and “War Pigs” by Black Sabbath, listeners have proved they have the patience to endure lengthy songs with long intros.

So let’s look at three long classic rock intros that are worth the wait.

“Cochise” by Audioslave

Supergroups look good on paper. And some better than others. But when the members of Rage Against The Machine announced a new band with Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell, the thought of Cornell’s screams over Tom Morello’s shredding riffs was an exciting one. They did not disappoint. “Cochise” is the opening track on Audioslave’s self-titled debut. And if you’re going to write an intro this good, you’d better back it up with a banger of a payoff like “Cochise”. Crank it!

“Forty Six & 2” by Tool

Now I won’t attempt to explain what this song is about. You are free to google it and enjoy the rabbit hole. Here, Tool’s persistent epic features one of rock’s finest guitar riffs. But it takes a while to get there. And like others on this list, it’s well worth the wait. The guitar and bass arrangement offers a spiraling motif that echoes Maynard James Keenan’s anxiety over a lurking shadow. The track then reaches peak alchemy with Danny Carey’s explosive drum fills. It’s hard to make complex music groove. But then there’s only one Tool.

In my shadow,
My shadow,
Change is coming through my shadow.

“Master Of Puppets” by Metallica

One way to keep attention spans focused on a long intro is to fill it with crushing riffs. Decades before “Master Of Puppets” had a revival in The Upside Down in Stranger Things, it appeared as the title track to Metallica’s third album. The Bay Area legends hadn’t yet become the heavy metal Beatles, but they were quickly approaching the title. This track finds James Hetfield leading his band through a sprawling eight-plus minutes of Wagner, Motörhead, and Black Sabbath virtuosity.

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