The best start to a rock song ever..

equalsql

For me it's AC/DC for the start of 'For Those About To Rock'.

It really is just stunning, so powerful and incredibly exciting.. just a master class in revving up a track.

Followed closely by 'The Rocker' by Thin Lizzy, a superb intro that just states completely what's coming.

What's yours?

DrCornelius

While lotta love without doubt !

vasselmeyer

I'll throw a couple out there...

Won't Get Fooled Again by The Who

Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana

Both of these are calm before the storm intros.

In terms of our live set, the ones at the end of the night that really rev the audience up are Place Your Hands by Reef and Teenage Kicks.

MikeB

VH. Panama. 

End of

munckee

Elephant stone, stone roses and dire straits money for nothing spring to mind. Perhaps even the black parade by my chemical romance. 

Funkfingers

The snare crack at the beginning of Like A Rolling Stone.

drofluf

All Right Now. The intro is a real statement of intent. 

tone1

Whatever you want - Quo
https://youtu.be/67_Ult97kk8
Gone Shootin - AC/DC 
https://youtu.be/WWF4fyte3Oo
Noise pollution- AC/DC 
Alive - Pearl Jam
Plush -STP
Phantom of the Opera - Iron Maiden
https://youtu.be/D4YTB5FZeHQ
Rock and Roll - Zep
Custard Pie - Zep
Ten Years gone - Zep
Everyday is like Sunday - Morrissey
https://youtu.be/d0LeL9BUPtA
 Lemon Song - Zep
Baba O’reilly - Who
Highway to Hell - AC/DC 
Back in Black- AC/DC 
Wonderful Land - Shadows 
Tush - ZZ top
https://youtu.be/-jB_QM73Slk
Move it - Cliff Richard 
https://youtu.be/I-kwmxGjynM
Plug in Baby - Muse
https://youtu.be/XCUZSS54drI
Streets have no name- U2
Sanctuary- Cult

LastMantra

You Could Be Mine GNR

AlexC

Mick Ronson’s sustained howl of feedback at the beginning of Bowie’s Width Of A Circle.

ICBM

Queen - We Will Rock You

fandango

Despite not being into AC/DC, the start to For Those About to Rock is a very good candidate indeed. Great choice.

I'll submit a few (you'll have to do you own Youtube search, sorry) ...... Hawkwind's version of Lost Johnny, The Allman Brothers' Whipping Post, Budgie's Young is a World, and Deep Purple's Space Truckin'.

Frank Zappa surely must have something to consider as 'best' - maybe the spoken intro to Illinois Enema Bandit from the double album 'Live in New York'? And if you think spoken intro's count, I also suggest Hawkwind's Valium Ten.

Bellycaster

How about starting a Rock song with the most awesome Guitar Riff and Hard Rock Tone. In your face would be an undergarment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e88tIT3tppc

This is a real classic intro as well and different I suppose.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bl4dEAtxo0M

Did they use Car Horn for that?

scrumhalf

20th Century Boy - T Rwx

Almost everything Hendrix did.

proggy

When The Levee Breaks - Led Zep

Freebird

GoldenEraGuitars

Bloody hard question!

I was gonna say “For those about to rock” but I think a lot of that is due to def Leppard using it as a stage entry song a few years back. Sounds mega in an arena at those volumes. 

Can’t pick a definitive but I can certainly shortlist a few...

Queen - Gimme the prize (this entire song is best played as loud as possible)

Van Halen - Poundcake 

Def Leppard - God’s of war 

Moe_Zambeek

equalsql said:

Followed closely by 'The Rocker' by Thin Lizzy, a superb intro that just states completely what's coming.

What's yours?

I’ve not heard much Lizzy apart from the usual suspects, that one i haven’t heard before and is much better than I had expected. I have to say though, I hadn’t realised how much Hendrix there was in Lynott’s vocal delivery. Must listen to some more.

I really like Beating around the bush by AC/DC, can’t find a good vid though.

This might be my favourite though:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TDkhl-CgETg

Octafish

AlexC said:

Mick Ronson’s sustained howl of feedback at the beginning of Bowie’s Width Of A Circle.

Good choice, I'd go with Cracked Actor for Bowie/Ronson...

Nitefly

Reelin' In The Years, Steely Dan.  Nuff said.

Octafish

This...