AC/DC's Thunderstruck Named Most Memorable Rock Intro of All-Time by Classical-Music.com

The most unforgettable rock intro of all time announces itself before you even have time to prepare. There is no buildup, no easing in — just a single guitar, moving at a pace that barely seems human, before the rest of the band crashes in and the whole thing ignites. For those reasons, it might be one of the most appropriately named songs in existence.

According to classical-music.com, that intro belongs to AC/DC's "Thunderstruck" — the 1990 hard rock anthem that has been stopping people in their tracks for more than three decades.

The publication singled out the rapid-fire guitar riff that opens the track as a display of "absolute technical wizardry," noting that it is "not to be attempted by the faint-hearted." Accompanied by a driving hi-hat, the guitar line creates what classical-music.com describes as a "high-octane, pulsating intro" — one that sets the tone for everything that follows.

The Riff That Started 'Thunderstruck'

The intro to "Thunderstruck" is built on a single-note picking technique that requires both speed and precision to pull off cleanly. Lead guitarist Angus Young (the man responsible for the moment) executes the rapid-fire run with a clarity that belies just how technically demanding it actually is. For guitarists who have tried to replicate it, the experience tends to be humbling.

What makes the intro so effective is the tension it creates. The single guitar line, unaccompanied at first, builds anticipation note by note before the drums and rhythm guitar arrive to release it. By the time Brian Johnson delivers his first "Thunder," the listener is already fully committed.

The "Thunderstruck" Effect

"Thunderstruck" was released as the lead single from AC/DC's 1990 album The Razors Edge and quickly became one of the band's signature songs, which is saying something for a band whose catalog includes "Back in Black," "Highway to Hell" and "Hells Bells."

In the decades since, the song has taken on a life well beyond rock music. It has become a staple of sporting events worldwide and most notably, it became one of the most iconic features of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders' repertoire.

Thirty-five years on, the intro hits just as hard as it did in 1990.