The Joy of the Guitar Riff
Documentary tracing the ebb and flow of the guitar riff - the DNA of rock 'n' roll - over the last 60 years of popular music, from Chuck Berry through to The White Stripes.
The guitar riff is the DNA of rock 'n' roll, a double helix of repetitive simplicity and fiendish complexity on which its history has been built. From Chuck Berry through to The White Stripes, this documentary traces the ebb and flow of the guitar riff over the last 60 years of popular music. With riffs and stories from an all-star cast including Brian May, Dave Davies, Hank Marvin, Joan Jett, Nile Rodgers, Tony Iommi, Robert Fripp, Johnny Marr, Nancy Wilson, Kevin Shields, Ryan Jarman, Tom Morello and many more. Narrated by Lauren Laverne.
Last on
Clips
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Brian May talks about the Tie your Mother Down riff
Duration: 01:11
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Kelley Deal talks about the Cannonball riff
Duration: 01:24
Music Played
Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes
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00:00AC/DC
Back In Black
![]()
00:01The Kinks
You Really Got Me
![]()
00:01Brian May
Bohemian Rhapsody
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00:01Michael Jackson
Beat It
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00:02Johnny Marr
This Charming Man
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00:02Nirvana
Smells Like Teen Spirit
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00:02Ludwig van Beethoven
5th Symphony
Orchestra: New York Philharmonic. Conductor: Leonard Bernstein.![]()
00:02Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
1812 Overture
Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Sian Edwards.![]()
00:02Howlin’ Wolf
Smokestack Lightnin'
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00:03Muddy Waters
Mannish Boy
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00:04Chuck Berry
Johnny B Goode
![]()
00:05Little Richard
Lucille
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00:07Chuck Berry
Johnny B. Goode
![]()
00:10Link Wray
Rumble
![]()
00:11The Shadows
F.B.I
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00:12The Shadows
Apache
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00:14The Kinks
You Really Got Me
![]()
00:16The Who
I Can't Explain
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00:16The Rolling Stones
(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
![]()
00:17Led Zeppelin
Communication Breakdown
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00:18The Kinks
You Really Got Me
![]()
00:18Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
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00:21Black Sabbath
War Pigs
![]()
00:23King Crimson
21st Century Schizoid Man (incl. Mirrors)
![]()
00:24King Crimson
Larks' Tongues in Aspic Part 2
![]()
00:24King Crimson
Larks' Tongues in Aspic Part 1
![]()
00:24Yes
Roundabout
![]()
00:25Giacomo Puccini
Madame Butterfly: Un bel di vedremo
![]()
00:26Queen
Bohemian Rhapsody
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00:28Queen
Tie Your Mother Down
![]()
00:29Deep Purple
Smoke On The Water
![]()
00:31Thin Lizzy
The Boys Are Back In Town
![]()
00:31Aerosmith
Walk This Way
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00:31AC/DC
Highway to Hell
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00:32The Runaways
Cherry Bomb
![]()
00:32Thin Lizzy
The Boys Are Back In Town
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00:33The Runaways
Cherry Bomb
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00:33The Runaways
Wasted
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00:35Heart
Barracuda
![]()
00:36Funkadelic
I Got a Thing, You Got a Thing, Everybody Got a Thing
![]()
00:36Chic
Le Freak
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00:38Chic
Good Times
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00:38The Sugarhill Gang
Rapper's Delight
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00:38Queen
Another One Bites the Dust
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00:39The Clash
This Is Radio Clash
![]()
00:39INXS
Need You Tonight
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00:41Michael Jackson
Beat It
![]()
00:43Bon Jovi
Livin' on a Prayer
![]()
00:43Def Leppard
Photograph
![]()
00:45The Smiths
This Charming Man
![]()
00:46The Smiths
What Difference Does It Make?
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00:46The Smiths
Nowhere Fast
![]()
00:47Sonic Youth
Silver Rocket
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00:48My Bloody Valentine
Breathe
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00:50My Bloody Valentine
To Here Knows When
![]()
00:51Mötley Crüe
Girls Girls Girls
![]()
00:51Poison
Unskinny Bop
![]()
00:52Nirvana
Smells Like Teen Spirit
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00:55The Kinks
You Really Got Me
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00:55King Crimson
21st Century Schizoid Man (incl. Mirrors)
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00:56The White Stripes
Seven Nation Army
Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Director | Sam Bridger |
| Producer | Sam Bridger |
| Narrator | Lauren Laverne |
Broadcasts
- Fri 18 Jul 201421:00
- Sat 19 Jul 201400:50
- Sun 20 Jul 201423:30
- Sat 22 Nov 201422:45
- Mon 29 Dec 201423:45
- Tue 3 Feb 201523:00
- Fri 8 May 201521:00
- Sat 9 May 201500:00
- Sun 10 May 201523:30
- Fri 4 Sep 201523:30
- Mon 7 Sep 201500:30
- Sat 9 Apr 201623:00
- Sun 10 Apr 201602:35
- Fri 15 Apr 201600:00
- Sat 27 Aug 201600:45
- Sun 2 Apr 201701:15
- Fri 14 Jul 201723:00
- Sat 15 Jul 201702:35
- Sun 28 Jan 201802:05
- Fri 13 Apr 201822:30
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