Top 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs (60-41)

Yes, I'm slacking. But it has been a pretty hectic week. Part 3 of my commentary on a stupid list (Why am I even doing this? Boredom and underemployment, I guess. And to exemplify my music snobbery). I'm including some videos here for sheer entertainment value, and because I can. Thanks, YouTube!

Here we go:

60. 18 and Life-Skid Row: I think this is on the list to throw a bone at Sebastian Bach, since the only publicity (or work) he probably gets is on these VH1 shows.

59. The Stroke-Billy Squier: “Stroke me, stroke me!” I’ll pass. Go dance around in a pink tank top.



58. Interstate Love Song-Stone Temple Pilots: Definitely one of their best songs, even if I don’t really give a shit about STP anymore.

57. You Really Got Me-The Kinks: They should be higher. They were definitely the best band of the British Invasion, and were definitely responsible for the creation of hard rock. I’d put “All Day and All of the Night” in my Top 10.

56. Cherry Pie-Warrant: SHE’S MY CHERRY PIE! TOO BAD I DON’T LIKE THESE GUYS! THESE GUYS ARE So UNMETAL IT MAKES ME CRY! SWEET CHERRY PIE!

55. Don't Fear the Reaper-Blue Oyster Cult: Should be higher. This song is just fantastic.

54. Epic-Faith No More: I never really got Faith No More. Supposedly Mike Patton is metal’s version of Frank Zappa, but I find him kind of pretentious. This song is good though, and so is “Falling To Pieces.”

53. Born to Be Wild-Steppenwolf: The penultimate biker anthem. My dad is obsessed with Steppenwolf, so if I never heard this song again, it’d be too soon.

52. Cherry Bomb-The Runaways: Launched the careers of Joan Jett and Lita Ford, and showed that all-girl bands could party with the boys.

51. Peace Sells-Megadeth: Pretty fuckin’ good song. If I compiled a list of best hard rock songs, my Megadeth pick would be reserved for “Holy Wars.”

50. Give It Away-Red Hot Chili Peppers: Not big on the Chili Peppers. Maybe if I didn’t hear this song all the time, I’d have more positive things to say about it.

49. Search and Destroy-The Stooges: You will all bow down to the Stooges! Iggy Pop, at the ripe old age of 61, has more energy and charisma than people half his age. If you want heavy, listen to the original David Bowie-produced fuzzfest mix of Raw Power! It’ll knock the metal spikes off of Iron Maiden! RIP, Ron.



48. Freak on a Leash-KoRn: The 7th grade me loved KoRn. The 23 year old me finds them KoRny.

47. Bawidabata-Kid Rock: Get me the puke bucket! This spent piece of white trash ranked higher than The Stooges? Ohhhh no! This list is officially retarded!

46. Madhouse-Anthrax: Out of the 4 thrash metal bands to really make it (Metallica, Anthrax, Slayer, Megadeth), I never really got into Anthrax. But I respect ‘em. BTW, how come there are NO Slayer songs on this list? Pussies.

45. Slow Ride-Foghat: SLOW RIDE! TAKE IT EASY! This song will always make me think of that scene in Dazed & Confused where that chick is rolling up a joint, blasting this song on headphones (parodied on Family Guy, with the Evil Monkey rolling up a joint and crankin’ up the Foghat!).

44. Sunshine of Your Love-Cream: Should be higher, because Cream were one of the first archetypes of hard rock, along with the Who, the Kinks, and Hendrix.

43. Holy Diver-Dio: I hate admitting this, but I like this song! I’ve come to appreciate Ronnie James Dio a little bit in my old(er) age. Even the cheesy keyboard in “Rainbow in the Dark.”

42. Should I Stay or Should I Go-The Clash: Not my top pick for the Clash at all. Such a great band, though. I’m still pissed as hell that Joe Strummer died, and there was talk of a Clash reunion around that time. Anyway, as for Clash songs that could’ve made this list: “Rock the Casbah,” “London Calling,” “White Riot,” “Clash City Rockers,” “Clampdown.” (see video below)



41. Cum on Feel the Noize-Quiet Riot: I think Quiet Riot gets credit for being the first metal band to top the Billboard charts, but musically they had nothing to offer. Never mind the fact that 2 out of 3 songs I know from them were Slade covers.