Greatest Rock Guitar Riffs

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When you are a teenager and first learn to play electric guitar, Iron Man by Black Sabbath or Day Tripper by the Beatles are some of the easier and more popular Riffs to play. A rock guitar riff is what makes the song catchy, not only to make you want to hear it over and over again, but entices you to act it out verbally or like air guitar etc. Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Eddie Van Halen and Keith Richards have created some of the best known guitar riffs of all time.

Below is the top 100 greatest rock guitar riffs from www.digitaldreamdoor.com. I frequently quote their lists because they are pretty accurate compared to other published lists. Though we all don't exactly agree about the songs or order on the list. For example, I don't see Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer" or Pat Benatar's "Hit Me with Your Best Shot". My number 1 riff is based on being the very first in rock 'n roll, which is "Johnny B Goode by Chuck Berry". The list below is not about technique or level of difficulty it is all about popularity. Please comment on your favorite rock guitar riffs. - Kenny Leibow

Technical Definition of a Riff

In music, a riff is an ostinato figure: a repeated chord progression, pattern, refrain or melodic figure, often played by the rhythm section instruments orsolo instrument, that forms the basis or accompaniment of a musical composition. Though they are most often found in rock music, Latin, funk and jazz, classical music is also sometimes based on a simple riff, such asRavel's Boléro. Riffs can be as simple as a tenor saxophone honking a simple, catchy rhythmic figure, or as complex as the riff-based variations in the head arrangements played by the Count Basie Orchestra.

Greatest 100 Rock Guitar Riffs

1. Smoke On The Water - Deep Purple
2. (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction - Rolling Stones
3. Sunshine Of Your Love - Cream
4. Layla - Derek And The Dominos
5. Oh Pretty Woman - Roy Orbison
6. Iron Man - Black Sabbath
7. Johnny B Goode - Chuck Berry
8. Heartbreaker - Led Zeppelin
9. You Really Got Me - The Kinks
10. Sweet Child O' Mine - Guns N' Roses
11. Purple Haze - Jimi Hendrix Experience
12. Day Tripper - The Beatles
13. Walk This Way - Aerosmith
14. In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida - Iron Butterfly
15. Whole Lotta Love - Led Zeppelin
16. Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd
17. Voodoo Child (Slight Return) - Jimi Hendrix Experience
18. Paranoid - Black Sabbath
19. Crazy Train - Ozzy Osbourne
20. Back In Black - AC/DC
21. Foxey Lady - Jimi Hendrix Experience
22. Frankenstein - Edgar Winter
23. Aqualung - Jethro Tull
24. Bad To The Bone - George Thorogood & Destroyers
25. Brown Sugar - Rolling Stones
26. Summertime Blues - Eddie Cochran
27. Money For Nothing - Dire Straits
28. Jumpin' Jack Flash - Rolling Stones
29. American Woman - Guess Who
30. Wild Thing - The Troggs
31. Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana
32. Black Dog - Led Zeppelin
33. Rebel Rebel - David Bowie
34. Roadhouse Blues - The Doors
35. Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley
36. Breaking The Law - Judas Priest
37. Runnin' With The Devil - Van Halen
38. Enter Sandman - Metallica
39. The Hellion/Electric Eye - Judas Priest
40. Outshined - Soundgarden
41. Eye Of The Tiger - Survivor
42. Hells Bells - AC/DC
43. La Grange - ZZ Top
44. Master Of Puppets - Metallica
45. Kashmir - Led Zeppelin
46. Sultans Of Swing - Dire Straits
47. Rusty Cage - Soundgarden
48. Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love - Van Halen
49. Bring It On Home - Led Zeppelin
50. Man On The Silver Mountain - Rainbow
51. Panama - Van Halen
52. Maybellene - Chuck Berry
53. N.I.B. - Black Sabbath
54. Pinball Wizard - The Who
55. China Grove - The Doobie Brothers
56. Stranglehold - Ted Nugent
57. Ace Of Spades - Motorhead
58. Wipeout - The Surfaris
59. Paradise City - Guns N' Roses
60. Don't Fear The Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult
61. Five Minutes Alone - Pantera
62. All Day And All Of The Night - The Kinks
63. Up Around The Bend - Creedence Clearwater Revival
64. Bulls On Parade - Rage Against The Machine
65. Life In The Fast Lane - The Eagles
66. Start Me Up - Rolling Stones
67. Walk - Pantera
68. Welcome To The Jungle - Guns N' Roses
69. I'm Broken - Pantera
70. All Along The Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix Experience
71. Under The Bridge - Red Hot Chili Peppers
72. Working Man - Rush
73. Are You Gonna Go My Way - Lenny Kravitz
74. Pride And Joy - Stevie Ray Vaughan
75. The Boys Are Back In Town - Thin Lizzy
76. Whipping Post - Allman Brothers Band
77. Aenima - Tool
78. You Shook Me All Night Long - AC/DC
79. School Day - Chuck Berry
80. Born To Run - Bruce Springsteen
81. Honey Don't - Carl Perkins
82. Moby Dick - Led Zeppelin
83. Rockin' In The Free World - Neil Young
84. Wake Up Little Susie - Everly Brothers
85. Taxman - The Beatles
86. The Ocean - Led Zeppelin
87. Lola - The Kinks
88. Hangar 18 - Megadeth
89. Sharp Dressed Man - ZZ Top
90. Thunderstruck - AC/DC
91. Politician - Cream
92. The Trooper - Iron Maiden
93. I Feel Fine - The Beatles
94. Spirit Of Radio - Rush
95. Hallowed Be Thy Name - Iron Maiden
96. Man On A Mission - Van Halen
97. Fear Of The Dark - Iron Maiden
98. Raining Blood - Slayer
99. Scuttle Buttin - Stevie Ray Vaughan
100. Hysteria - Muse

White Lion - When the Children Cry

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White Lion was a pop metal band in the 1980s; and unlike most bands in their genre they recorded songs of social and political issues. "When the Children Cry" is a song about children suffering under a war ridden country. You even hear the song today on YouTube videos of children who suffer in Palestine and Iraq. Songs like "Cry for Freedom" was about apartheid; "Broken Home" was about the effect of divorce on children; "Little Fighter" was about a Greenpeace ship that was destroyed by the French intelligence service; and even their third album cover "Big Game" in 1989 featured a lion's head hidden in tall grass with the White House in the background.

It's interesting, that I probably saw White Lion in concert and didn't even know it. Back in 1987 I was briefly living in Miami Beach at my grandmother's condo. Ace Frehley's, "Frehley's Comets", were performing on tour at the infamous Cameo Theater on Washington Avenue. I was a "Kiss" fan so I bought tickets to the show. I remember seeing a few opening bands, and supposedly White Lion was on tour with Frehley's Comets at the time.

Below you can read the complete bio of White Lion., and watch the original MTV video of "When the Children Cry", a song that even has significance today. You can also follow along with the lyrics of "When the Children Cry". Not all of White Lion's songs were about social or political issues. Their first hit "Wait" is a love rock ballad. Check out the original "Wait" video below. White Lion's best selling album was "Pride", which featured their biggest hit "When the Children Cry". - Kenny Leibow

White Lion - When the Children Cry

Sources: The Legend of Rock
Hair Metal Mansion
LetsSingIt

Lyrics - "When the Children Cry"

Little child

Dry your crying eyes

How can I explain

The fear you feel inside

´cause you were born

Into this evil world

Where man is killing man

and no one knows just why

What have we begun

Just look what we have done

All that we destroyed

You must build again

When the children cry

Let them know we tried

´cause when the children sing

Then the new world begins

Little child

You must show the way

To a better day

For all the young

´cause you were born

For the world to see

That we all can live

with love and peace

No more presidents

And all the wars will end

One united world

under God

When the children cry

Let them know we tried

´cause when the children sing

Then the new world begins

What have we begun

Just look what we have done

All that we destroyed

You must build again

No more presidents

And all the wars will end

One united world

under God

When the children cry

Let them know we tried

´cause when the children fight

Let them know it ain´t right

When the children pray

Let them know the way

´cause when the children sing

Then the new world begins..

White Lion - Wait








Band Members 1987

• Mike Tramp - lead vocals
• Vito Bratta - guitars
• James LoMenzo - bass
• Greg D'Angelo - drums

Pride Tracks:

	Title	Composer	Time
1	Hungry	Bratta, Tramp	3:55
2	Lonely Nights	Bratta, Tramp	4:11
3	Don't Give Up	Bratta, Tramp	3:15
4	Sweet Little Loving	Bratta, Tramp	4:02
5	Lady of the Valley	Bratta, Tramp	6:35
6	Wait	Bratta, Tramp	4:00
7	All You Need Is Rock N Roll	Bratta, Tramp	5:14
8	Tell Me	Bratta, Tramp	4:28
9	All Join Our Hands	Bratta, Tramp	4:11
10	When the Children Cry	Bratta, Tramp	4:18

White Lion - Bio

Fighting to survive
After moving from Denmark to New York in 1982, vocalist Mike Tramp (ex-Mabel,ex-Studs) met Brooklyn guitarist Vito Bratta (ex-Dreamer) and decided to form a band. The two recruited drummer Nicki Capozzi and bassist Felix Robinson (formerly of Angel) and named the group White Lion.

White Lion was signed by Elektra Records in 1983 and recorded their debut Fight to Survive. However, Elektra was unhappy with the final recording, and after refusing to release the album, terminated their contract.

Both Capozzi and Robinson soon left the band. Nicki Capozzi was replaced by former Anthrax drummer Greg D'Angelo, and Felix Robinson was replaced by bassist Dave Spitz (brother of Anthrax guitarist Dan Spitz). Within a month of joining, however, Dave Spitz left to play bass with Black Sabbath and was replaced by James LoMenzo.

The album Fight To Survive was eventually picked up by RCA and released in Japan in 1984. The small US independent label Grand Slamm records finally released Fight To Survive in the US on November 9, 1985. A few months later, Grand Slam records went bankrupt.

In early 1986, White Lion, with a fictitious "female" member, had a brief part in the Tom Hanks/Shelley Long movie The Money Pit.


The road to success
Early in 1987, the band was signed by Atlantic Records (which ironically is a sister label to Elektra) and on June 21, 1987, their breakthrough album, Pride, was released. The first single, "Wait", was released on June 1, 1987, but did not make waves for nearly seven months.

The Pride tour started in July 1987 as White Lion opened for Ace Frehley's 80s band Frehley's Comet. The next year and a half was filled with constant touring, opening for such bands as Aerosmith, Ozzy Osbourne, Stryper, KISS and in January 1988 White Lion landed the opening slot for AC/DC on their Blow Up Your Video American tour. While touring with AC/DC, the Pride album and "Wait" single finally charted, due in no small part to MTV airing the "Wait" music video in regular rotation - nearly seven months after the single's release. "Wait" hit #8 on the singles chart, while Pride hit #11 on the album charts. Pride would remain on the top 200 Billboard album charts for a full year.

In August 1988, the album's second single "Tell Me" hit #58. Around the time this single was released, White Lion played at the Ritz club in New York City. Like Guns N' Roses before them, White Lion's show at the Ritz was filmed and later aired on MTV.

The Pride album's third single, a gentle acoustic ballad titled "When the Children Cry", made it all the way to #3 with heavy MTV rotation, making Pride one of about 20 hard rock albums to ever have multiple top 10 hits.

The success of "When the Children Cry" would eventually push sales of Pride over the two million mark. In addition, Vito Bratta was recognized for his instrumental talents by racking up Best New Guitarist awards with both Guitar World magazine and Guitar For The Practicing Musician magazine.

In the spring of 1989, the Pride tour finally ended, but rather than take a break, they instead chose to record the next album, a decision the group later came to regret due to the effects of fatigue from heavy touring on the final product.


Life after MTV
In August 1989, White Lion released their third album, Big Game, a musically eclectic follow-up to Pride that featured the singles "Little Fighter" (which peaked at #52), "Cry for Freedom" (did not chart), and a cover of Golden Earring's "Radar Love" (which peaked at #59). The album quickly went gold, but without a hit single, slowly declined, with a peak of #19 on the album charts.

After two years of writing and recording, the new album, Mane Attraction was released. During the recording sessions for this album, their record company allowed the band to make exactly the album they wanted to. As a result, the album is usually viewed as a mixed effort, where the band is trying to do too many things at once. The album charted at #61. This may also be due to the general public's shifting tastes towards grunge.

Greg D'Angelo and James LoMenzo left the band soon after the album's release, citing "musical differences", but White Lion carried on with bassist Tommy T-Bone Caradonna and drummer Jimmy DeGrasso (Megadeth, Alice Cooper, Suicidal Tendencies, Y&T, Fiona). After briefly touring in support of Mane Attraction, Tramp and Bratta decided to call it a day, their last show being held in Boston at the Channel in September 1991.


Social issues

Unlike most bands of their genre, White Lion recorded occasional songs that addressed social or political issues such as apartheid ("Cry for Freedom") and the effect of divorce on children ("Broken Home"). The song "Little Fighter" was about the Rainbow Warrior, a ship owned by the environmental group Greenpeace that was illegally destroyed by operatives of the French intelligence service. This concern for political and social issues was also hinted at in the cover art to their album Big Game, which featured a lion's head hidden in tall grass with the White House in the background.



After White Lion

Mike Tramp went on to form Freak of Nature. Freak of Nature released three albums, Freak of Nature, Gathering of Freaks, and Outcasts. Mike Tramp went on as a solo artist. He has released four studio albums and one live album so far; Capricorn, Recovering the Wasted Years, More To Life Than This, and Songs I Left Behind as studio efforts, with Rock n' Roll Alive as his sole live album. Today, Tramp continues his solo career, recording and releasing his own music. Through his website, fans can find media from his solo career, as well as White Lion.

James LoMenzo and Greg D'Angelo joined Zakk Wylde's band, Lynyrd Skynhead in the mid 90's which became the band Pride & Glory when Greg D'Angelo was replaced by Brian Tichy. Pride & Glory released one album, then James LoMenzo left the band. James went on to record and tour with ex-Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth and toured with Zakk Wylde's band Black Label Society. In February 2006, James joined the legendary thrash band Megadeth on a permanent basis. Greg D'Angelo was the drummer for the band AntiProduct in 2006. Greg D'angelo is also filling in on drums for Britny Fox on 2007 US/European tour since their drummer Johnny Dee is unable to tour.

Vito Bratta stayed briefly with Atlantic Records to help produce an album for CPR, and later tried to form a new music group that never panned out. Sadly, despite a very dedicated worldwide following of guitar aficionados, Vito was not seen or heard from publicly since 1994 until his interview by Eddie Trunk live on February 16, 2007.

The New White Lion and legal issues

In 1999 Mike Tramp with new musicians released Remembering White Lion also released as The Last Roar and Ultimate White Lion which featured new versions of some of White Lion's classic songs and then in October 2003, Mike Tramp announced a White Lion reunion with the original line up. This statement was quickly denied by the other former members. Later Tramp said that Vito Bratta wanted nothing to do with a reunion. With summer festivals in Europe already booked, Tramp attempted to put together a "new White Lion" featuring former members James LoMenzo, and Jimmy DeGrasso, along with Warren DeMartini of Ratt. Vito Bratta filed suit claiming partial ownership of the name, and the tour was scrapped. Tramp later revealed that despite his willingness, "There will never be an original White Lion reunion".

In 2005, with legal battles finally out of the way, Mike Tramp again organized a group of unknown musicians and named the act Tramp's White Lion. 'TWL' (White Lion 2) played White Lion songs, touring and releasing a double-live CD entitled Tramp's White Lion: Rockin' The USA. In November and December 2006, Tramp's White Lion played several dates in Europe including Sweden, Norway, Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark. The UK dates with Crimes of Passion were abandoned due to illness.

On February 16, 2007, Vito appeared on "The Eddie Trunk" radio show in New York, stating that despite what Mike Tramp said, he had never turned down any offer to reform White Lion or refused a White Lion reunion, stating that what Mike Tramp had said was not true, but, rather, that at the time Mike had approached him, Vito's father was sick and dying and he could not leave him to do a reunion tour at that time. He added that he would still be open to the idea and has not closed the door to returning to the music industry again. Trunk also made it clear that Vito's involvement in the show was something that he had wanted to happen since White Lion first broke up in 1991. Vito took calls and answered questions from fans for almost 3 hours. On Friday April 6 and 7, 2007, at the L'Amours Reunion Shows in New York (the club that made White Lion), Vito made his first public musical appearances at both Friday and Saturday night's shows in over 15 years. Mike Tramp was not present.

Three weeks later Mike Tramp called the same show from Australia, speaking about Vito and the band's new album, including the tour dates that Tramp's White Lion had recently confirmed. Tramp said that he was thankful that Vito had finally answered fan's questions, the same questions he himself had been bombarded with over the past 15 years. He also stated that he felt uncomfortable answering on Vito's behalf, and that he was upset that Vito had withdrawn himself from the music industry.

A White Lion Definitive Collection album was released in 2007. Summer of 2007 Tour featuring Tramp's White Lion opening up for Poison and Ratt was canceled after threatened legal action by Bratta caused them to be dropped by the promoter.

This threatened legal action however did not stop the band from appearing at Rocklahoma in Pryor, Ok on July 13, 2007 with Poison, Ratt, Quiet Riot, Slaughter, Y&T,Gypsy pistoleros, Dirty Penny, Greg Leon Invasion and Zendozer. After this they also toured the US. A new studio album entitled "Return of the Pride" was released on March 14, 2008. The band are currently on a World tour to support the album.

Van Halen Monsters of Rock 1988

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As summer is ending here in 2010, it's a great time to remember the Monsters of Rock Tour from the summer of 1988. Monsters of Rock tours were very popular in the USA and worldwide back in the 1980s. Some of the best rock and metal bands played together on tour. In the summer of 1988, you could see 20,000 fans in Akron, Ohio withstanding the 100 degree plus heat just to see Van Halen headline the Monsters Tour at the "Rubber Bowl". Check out the cities and tour dates listed below. Van Halen had just released their "OUO812" album, which is a good album in the post David Lee Roth - Van Halen era. The Monsters Tour was a great warm up to Van Halen's "OU812" tour that followed. There were also other great bands like Dokken, The Scorpions, and Metallica on the Monsters Tour '88. Dokken was hitting the road even before Monsters of Rock that same year like with concerts in Buffalo, New York playing their newest and biggest hit "Dream Warriors".

I was at the Orange Bowl with friends in Miami, Florida that summer in June, 1988 going to the Monsters Tour where I saw Van Halen for the second time. It was loud, packed, and one giant party while the bands jammed and got the crowd off their seats screaming! It was difficult to find any professional videos of the 1988 Monsters of Rock Tour. I did find on YouTube a couple of cool commercials, and one amateur poor quality audio/video of Van Halen in San Francisco performing "Summer Nights" as their first song opening the Monsters of Rock concert. Please share your memories of Monster Tours you have attended. When I went tt wasn't a big expensive event like you may see today, however it was a memorable experience listening to big named bands with great raw metal music and lots of fun sharing with friends. - Kenny Leibow

1988 (year with most Monsters of Rock events - including a touring one in the USA)
Bands included Kingdom Come, Dokken, Metallica, Scorpions and Van Halen
• United Kingdom
• France
• Germany
• Italy
• The Netherlands
• Spain
• USA (toured - played several dates in several states)


Monsters of Rock Cities and Dates in the USA 1988
Pre-tour warmup gigs
• 23 May 1988: Los Angeles, California - The Troubadour (Metallica only)
• 24 May 1988: Los Angeles, California - The Troubadour (Metallica only)

Tour
• 27 May 1988: East Troy, WI - Alpine Valley Music Theater
• 28 May 1988: East Troy, WI - Alpine Valley Music Theater
• 29 May 1988: East Troy, WI - Alpine Valley Music Theater
• 4 June 1988: Miami, FL - Orange Bowl
• 5 June 1988: Tampa, FL - Tampa Stadium
• 10 June 1988: Washington DC - RFK Stadium
• 11 June 1988: Philadelphia, PA - JFK Stadium
• 12 June 1988: Foxboro, MA - Sullivan Stadium
• 15 June 1988: Pittsburgh, PA - Three Rivers Stadium
• 17 June 1988: Pontiac, MI - Pontiac Silverdome
• 18 June 1988: Pontiac, MI - Pontiac Silverdome
• 19 June 1988: Orchard Park, NY - Rich Stadium
• 22 June 1988: Akron, OH - Rubber Bowl
• 23 June 1988: Akron, OH - Rubber Bowl
• 24 June 1988: Oxford, ME - Oxford Plains Speedway CANCELLED
• 25 June 1988: Oxford, ME - Oxford Plains Speedway
• 26 June 1988: East Rutherford, NJ - Giants Stadium
• 27 June 1988: East Rutherford, NJ - Giants Stadium CANCELLED
• 2 July 1988: Houston, TX - Rice Stadium
• 3 July 1988: Dallas, TX - Cotton Bowl
• 6 July 1988: Indianapolis, IN - Hoosier Dome
• 8 July 1988: Memphis, TN - Liberty Bowl CANCELLED
• 9 July 1988: Memphis, TN - Liberty Bowl
• 10 July 1988: Kansas City, MO - Arrowhead Stadium
• 13 July 1988: Minneapolis, MN - The Metrodome
• 16 July 1988: San Francisco, CA - Candlestick Park
• 17 July 1988: San Francisco, CA - Candlestick Park CANCELLED
• 20 July 1988: Spokane, WA - Joe Albi Stadium
• 23 July 1988: Los Angeles, CA - Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum CANCELLED
• 24 July 1988: Los Angeles, CA - Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
• 27 July 1988: Seattle, WA - Seattle Kingdome
• 30 July 1988: Denver, CO - Mile High Stadium



Original Monsters Of Rock Commercial – 1988





Van Halen - Summer Nights (live 1988) San Francisco
(Monsters of Rock Tour)





1988 Monsters Of Rock

Judas Priest - Steel Album 30 Years Old

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Judas Priest's 'British Steel' LP is now 30 years old. I remember back in 1980 at age 16, when I bought the Judas Priest 'British Steel' album. I didn't know who Judas Priest was until I first listened to the song "Breaking the Law", even though it was their sixth album. My favorite song from British Steel was "Living After Midnight". All the reviews say that Judas Priest puts on a great show, but I never did get to see them in concert. An interesting trivia note is that the 'British Steel' album was recorded at John Lennon's home in the studio at Tittenhurst in England. The 30th Anniversary release of the album , came with a Live DVD, and a Live CD recorded on August 17th, 2009 at the Seminole Hard Rock Arena in Hollywood, Florida as part of the British Steel 30th Anniversary tour. There are live versions of the British Steel tracks available for the game "Rock Band". Below is an article about the 30th anniversary with Rob Halford describing the making of the album, which is from the New York Daily News website at http://nydailynews.com. Check out the music videos of Judas Priest's "Breaking The Law" and "Living After Midnight". It's great to celebrate a ground breaking album like 'British Steel' from the launch of the 1980s Heavy Metal era. - Kenny Leibow

Judas Priest - Breaking The Law

Judas Priest - Living After Midnight

Judas Priest Singer Rob Harford on seminole 1980 album 'British Steel', metal's legacy & the parties

New York Daily News

June 1st, 2010

Judas Priest's Rob Halford has been hell-bent for leather since the mid-1970s. But the frontman and his band made a huge leap forward with the release of the seminal album, "British Steel," 30 years ago this year. Now, the Metal God takes the Daily News back in time to the sessions that marked a major breakthrough in heavy metal history and the legendary partying afterwards.

As you're making your music, you're absolutely clueless as to any significance it might have in your career and beyond. But there certainly seems to have been value and importance placed on "British Steel" three decades later.

The '80s were a blur of booze and sex and drugs. Hollywood was absolutely insane, the strip was alive every night. The Rainbow was packed to the gills, night after night after night. It was just a remarkable time. The sixties had the hippy movement, and then the hard rock/metal scene in the '80s, in America especially, was just the opposite end of that scale. Everybody was wondering will I wake up tomorrow and some of us didn't.

The music itself succeeded because of just the simple straight forward manner that it was put together in the very short space of time that we had. Tom Allom, our producer, insisted that we were in and out in 28, 29 days in John Lennon's former house in London, where we recorded the album.

That just seems inconceivable with today's way of doing things. I think from 1980 onward, we were banging out a record every year and a world tour. That's just what young hungry bands do. You get caught up in the excitement and the momentum and all you want to do is play and you'll do whatever you need to do to do that. The "British Steel" sessions were just the next in the process of delivering a release on time to our label. Dates had been booked for a world tour. We don't really have time to think about the situation.

There is a significant amount of fans that have literally been with us since day one – it's heartwarming. It's a bit like supporting your favorite team, whether it's the Mets or the Jets or the Lakers or the Suns. You sort of go through everything together. Then you see, you'll get these young metal heads that are picking on you to be their favorite band and that's mind-blowing.

But it is different era - phrases like "OMG" and "TMI," I mean we live in the speed of light now. I don't think any of us in Priest have become bitter or cynical, which are very easy traps to fall into in the entertainment business. But in fact you probably think it must be really hard now for bands to get a hold on the public's attention and given a fair chance of a listen. Because people are not listening to full releases, they're just going by a download here or a download there. Your body of work, as it was during the early days of Priest, is not being listened to as completely.

Everything changes. I'm going to turning 60 next year, which I can't wait for. I'm determined to be on stage somewhere, preferably in America, screaming out "Painkiller."

I was talking to Motley Crue's Nikki Sixx about that the other day, when I was with Nikki and Ozzy the other week talking abut the upcoming Ozzfest. And Nikki was like, "Man, I'm in bed by ten o'clock and I drive the kids to school." But, I think no matter where you go and what you do, at the end of the day, you just want to be able to walk out on stage and rock out. And do it like you want to do it and do it as the fans want to see you do it.

Not like some kind of decrepit old man trying to squawk a few notes. I'll be the first to hang up the microphone if I can't do my job correctly.

Some of these bands whether it's Priest or ACDC or Kiss or Ozzy, how many years have we been around? And we're still here, we're still doing what we love to do. We're still carrying the essence of rock and roll and people still want to see us.

You just don't want it to stop. I don't think any of us look forward to retirement. What other profession can you get away with having a 59-year-old man going on stage and screaming my lungs out?

The music will still be relevant in another forty years. It's indestructible. The source of it, the sound of it, the essence of what it does to people will always be needed, from generation to generation.