Some were released decades after they were first written
Rarely is a song introduced by a drum, yet some of popular music's most memorable tracks do, in fact, open with a drumbeat. By letting the drummer lead the way, artists and bands can elevate their music to a whole new level. And a song with a standout drum sound quite often beats a path to the top. So, what are pop and rock music's greatest drum intros?
Click through and sound out the best songs opened by a drumbeat.
Larry Mullen Jr. sets the scene for 1983's 'Sunday Bloody Sunday' with an urgent military-style drumbeat, a rattle that underscores the song's deliberate political overtones. The song's lyrics describe the horror felt by an observer of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, specifically the 1972 Bloody Sunday shooting by British soldiers of 26 unarmed civilians.
'In the Air Tonight', released in 1981, is, of course, known for its thunderous drum solo midway through the track. But the song opens with far more subtle drum work from Collins, a line that sounds almost like a heartbeat.
Recorded in 1997 and widely regarded as one of the Foo Fighters' best songs, 'My Hero' is also considered one of the highlights of Dave Grohl's drumming career. The song opens with heavy toms and a thumping backbeat.
The "drum" line in 'We Will Rock You' is actually the result of foot stamping and hand clamping by all four members of Queen. The result is a "stomp, stomp, clap" rhythm set in a cappella form. It's one of the most recognizable percussive intros in rock music.
A band often cited for Eddie Van Halen's mesmerizing guitar work, Van Halen released 'Hot for Teacher' in 1984, only this time it's Alex Van Halen who steps out of his brother's shadow to create one of the most iconic drum intros in rock.
Chad Smith works his magic on 'Dani California,' taken from the band's 2006 album 'Stadium Arcadium.' It's a loose groove introduction that locks in perfectly with Flea's funky bass line.
'Superstition' features one of the most memorable drum openings in pop music history. And guess what? It's Stevie Wonder himself playing, inspired no less by another unlikely drummer, guitar supremo Jeff Beck, who often jammed behind a drum kit. The song was released in 1972 and is known for its funky clavinet riff.
Joey Kramer provides the introduction to 'Walk This Way,' his two measure drum beat quickly followed by Joe Perry's equally memorable guitar riff. Released in 1975, 'Walk This Way' enjoyed a makeover in 1986 when Aerosmith collaborated with hip-hop outfit Run-DMC for a cover version that became an international hit.
Released 1983, 'Billie Jean' was the second single taken from 'Thriller,' and another mega hit for the "King of Pop." The track opens with drummer Leon "Ndugu" Chancler's deceptively simple but instantly recognizable groove.
The only song recorded by the Beatles featuring a notable drum intro, 'She Loves You' gets straight to the point with Ringo's quick two-count roll followed by the famous "She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah" hook. Released in 1963, the song remains the Fab Four's best-selling single in the UK.
Drummer Bruce Gary is responsible for providing 'My Sharona' with its instantly recognized stuttering pulse, which helped make the song the biggest US single hit of 1979.
A catchy hi-hat followed by the main beat embellished by a small snare pattern introduces Rihanna's 2007 mega R&B hit 'Umbrella.' Interestingly, Blink-182's Travis Barker taught Rihanna to drum, and it was Barker who remixed 'Umbrella' to turn it into more of a hard rock song.
The drum lick opening Michael Jackson's 1979 hit 'Rock With You' is provided by John Robinson. The intro is one of the most recognized of any Jackson song, but is far more pop than rock. It's also regarded as one of the last hits of the disco era.
'Two Princes,' a huge hit in 1992 for American rock group Spin Doctors, opens with Aaron Comess' precision snare drum intro underscored by a thumping kick drum pattern.
Arguably Charlie Watts' greatest drum intro is complemented by a cowbell played by producer Jimmy Miller. 'Honky Tonk Woman' was released in the UK on July 4, 1969— the day after the death of founding member Brian Jones.
The short but engaging drum intro performed by Mick Fleetwood on 'Dreams' is made up of a snare and tom pattern. It's over in a blink of an eye, but sets the pace for the band's second single from 1977's 'Rumours,' one of the most successful albums of all time.
In John Bonham, rock music had one of its finest drummers ever. Likewise, 'Rock and Roll,' released in 1971, showcases one of the most celebrated drum intros ever devised. "Bonzo" was apparently inspired by the drum intro to the 1957 song 'Keep A-Knockin' by Little Richard.
A headbanger favorite, 'Dr. Feelgood' was the lead single from Mötley Crüe's fifth studio album of the same name, released in 1989. Tommy Lee Jones opens the number with a phenomenal groove, soon complemented by Nikki Sixx's reverberating bass line.
'Lust for Life' was released in 1977 as the second solo studio album by punk godfather Iggy Pop. The single of the same name was co-written by David Bowie, who plays on the track. But it is drummer Hunt Sales who steals the show, his stomping intro based on The Supremes' 'You Can’t Hurry Love.' 'Lust for Life' gained renewed popularity 20 years later after being featured in the 1996 British film 'Trainspotting.'
Drum intros needn't be loud, thumping, and urgent. Just listen to Steve Gadd's subtle introduction to Paul Simon's '50 Ways to Leave Your Lover.' Released in 1975, the song features Gadd's soft, repeated, and technically flawless drum riff throughout.
Drummer Ian Paice kicks off 'Fireball,' released as a single in 1971 from the album of the same name. When he played the song live, Paice employed the use of a double bass drum to emphasize an especially low pitch.
One of drummer Matt Sorum's finest moments, 'You Could Be Mine' features in James Cameron's 1991 film 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day.'
'Painkiller' features drummer Scott Travis, who replaced long-time Judas Priest drummer Dave Holland in 1989. His heavy use of double kicks gave the band a new sound and heavier edge, clearly apparent in the opening few seconds of this 1990 release, taken from the album of the same name.
An instrumental and the title track from the band's second album, 'Reggatta de Blanc' features some truly exceptional drum work from Stewart Copeland, the complex interplay between the hi-hat and cross-sticking apparent from the start. Released in 1979, 'Reggatta de Blanc' includes two of the Police's biggest hits, 'Message in a Bottle' and 'Walking on the Moon.'
The Rolling Stones were in the ascent when 'Get Off My Cloud' was released in 1965. The song opens with a drum intro by Charlie Watts, who plays the same beat-fill pattern throughout, never once veering off course.
Clive Burr was the drummer on the 1982 studio release of 'Run to the Hills,' his distinct opening drum groove evolving into booming toms to place the drums at the forefront of the track.
'Rosanna' is noted for the half-time shuffle, which drummer Jeff Porcaro developed for the song, released in 1982. 'Rosanna' remains one of Toto's biggest hits.
This classic instrumental released in 1963 catches an early wave with Ron Wilson's energetic riff—a sound so striking it became the yardstick for every aspiring young drummer in the early '60s.
Benny Goodman's 1937 instrumental version of Louis Prima's 'Sing, Sing, Sing (With a Swing)' benefits from a thunderous drum pattern played by Gene Krupa, whose opening bars redefined this big band swing era classic. Goodman and the legendary drummer are seen performing the track in the movie 'Hollywood Hotel,' released the same year.
British rock band XTC released 'Making Plans for Nigel' in 1979. The opening drum pattern was apparently discovered by accident, with drummer Terry Chambers experimenting with drum tones and accents to devise an industrial beat in keeping with the song's subject matter.
A short but blistering drum solo by skins maestro Cozy Powel kicks off Rainbow's 'Stargazer,' the fifth track from the band's second studio album, 'Rising' (1976).
Sources: (New York Post) (Showbiz Cheat Sheet) (The Guardian)
Popular music's greatest drum intros
The best songs opened by a drumbeat
MUSIC Instruments
Rarely is a song introduced by a drum, yet some of popular music's most memorable tracks do, in fact, open with a drumbeat. By letting the drummer lead the way, artists and bands can elevate their music to a whole new level. And a song with a standout drum sound quite often beats a path to the top. So, what are pop and rock music's greatest drum intros?
Click through and sound out the best songs opened by a drumbeat.