The Only Instrumental Banned On American Radio

Rumble is one of those songs that hit at the right place in the right time, and it influenced some of the most legendary rock musicians out there. It's is one of the best riffs ever written, and it was truly a pivotal moment in rock and roll history.
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[@jeremycraft8452]

Writing an instrumental song that gets banned for its content is god-tier musicianship.

[@LondonFogg]

When I saw the thumbnail, I immediately thought it was Gary Glitter's Rock and Roll Part 2. I believe stations began banning that song after his arrest. I don't want to say more bcuz I can't remember all the details that went down.

[@ricklane]

It's a dangerous statement that places anyone on the same level/tier with The Creator of all things. Just saying.

[@jerometaperman7102]

@@ricklane- Fine for you but most of the rest of us are not afraid of your imaginary friend. There is no danger at all.

[@jeremycraft8452]

@@ricklane God’s a myth. Just saying.

[@harrychristian4291]

@@ricklane Atheists think that they are God and that they even create life through procreation, procreation being a word that is seldom heard anymore. They also think that they are naturally moral which is self righteousness at its height. Part of being moral I guess, is to blaspheme unabashedly for no other reason in their minds, I suppose, than to upset some of God's creations (people). And that's really moral too, I guess. AND I guess to show that there is no God by acknowledging God enough to blaspheme Him. AND they think that Christians, by acknowledging the obvious truth, are somehow trying to get into their pocket or make them skeared. (True Christians are never trying to get into your pocket. Church is not the answer). It may sound like I am not being nice, but an honest look will show that I am just telling the simple truth, which is the only thing that has the chance to begin working. God is my real Friend and He can be anyone's who will open up his heart wide enough to let Him in. Just saying.

[@thomasdequincey5811]

It's the attitude of the 'Rumble' riff that sets it apart. Its slow tempo conveys its menace perfectly.

[@thesjkexperience]

Menace is the perfect definition of this song!

[@immikeurnot]

It doesn't come off menacing to me. More relaxed. Perfect to kick back and drink a beer while listening.

[@kshred3043]

"Menace". Yep. You nailed it.👍

[@daveoelke857]

@@immikeurnot I agree, but in 1958 it was hard-core sounding.

[@channelsixtyeight068_]

You listen to _Rumble_ and it immediately invokes a menacing "tough guy" imagery, and it didn't even need lyrics.

[@guitarzack]

Saw him play Rumble live and met him after his show at a small blues club in Pittsburgh- Loudest concert I was ever at up to that point- and his amps were cranked and facing the back walls haha- I said something like this to Link, “I been covering a couple of your tunes at my shows with my band and want to ask if you thought that’s ok?” He replied “F#%^ Ya!” Hahahhaa he was so cool and such a nice guy! He also signed my Danelectro!

[@FloridaManRacer]

put that guitar in a glass case! I'm all for playing it, but that thing needs to be protected big time when not in use!

[@MichaelWinter-ss6lx]

An instrument needs be played. The museums which keep Paganini's violins have high payed musicians playing these two or three times a week, to prevent the violins die. Protect it for the rest of time. Some artists put hairspray over a finished picture. Hairspray is an ultra thin protective lack. I use it myself (front- & rear-panels), also to protect details from the coating. 🚀🏴‍☠️🎸

[@tomlinnenkugel2658]

.

[@bobmarlowe3390]

What's your band's name? Rick Miller from Southern Culture on the Skids plays a Danelectro, too. I saw him play with Link at Cat's Cradle in Chapel Hill.

[@kingswing00]

I saw him in Detroit just a few years before he died with Lee Rocker from the Stray Cats and he killed it! He played dirty, loud and was still punk as hell

[@themerrillmiller]

Rumble was eye opening for me as a Native American. It was an affirmation for me to pursue music.

[@Frankie5Angels150]

What does being born on US soil have to do with it?

[@derekdomino2928]

​@Frankie5Angels150 you couldn't even make it 3 minutes in to the video 😂

[@peacefulpossum2438]

@@Frankie5Angels150 Representation matters.

[@scottbaker1800]

Rumble stirs my blood. I'm just a white half-assed guitar player wanna be

[@6j6666]

​@@Frankie5Angels150Wray was a Shawnee native American.

[@vicentedelhom1]

The first time I listened to this song was in Pulp Fiction. I bought the soundtrack because of the music. I loved this song in particular. Greetings from Spain.

[@assmane999]

Me too. Quentin has a real gift for picking the perfect tune to match the mood of certain scenes.

[@Troppa17]

I remember the 'uncomfortable silence' scene for sure but was way to young to see it in cinema so I bought the soundtrack and I swear it wasn't on there. In the dark ages I lent it to a friend of mine and never got it back. So I bought the Collectors Edition of the soundtrack years later. Its actually funny that that is the only CD to this day with that song despite the literally wall of compilations with recordings from the last 100 years I own.

[@romarssieverything9667]

Same, it was prolly circa 2017-2018 for me.

[@jelly7310]

Same here

[@GooGooMuck72]

Same,Tarantino always has good soundtracks.

[@RJ_Groot]

the best riffs are always the simplest. The tone and timing create the magic.

[@mylarus]

Yep which is one of many reasons AC/DC rock so hard.

[@FloridaManRacer]

There's is proof of that happening right now... Love Is a Long Road by Tom Petty just went on a rocketship ride into mainstream popularity 30+ years after being recorded because GTA 6 uses it for the song in the trailer... It's a simple B,D,A- E,D,A chord progression. Originally an overlooked B Side to Free Fallin' people went NUTS for it because the song finally found the right time and place to make its mark...

[@RJ_Groot]

such a classic, it brings back so many memories. 100 million GTA trailer views will certainly have that effect.@@FloridaManRacer

[@Piaseczno1]

"...the best riffs are always the simplest..." -- Precisely, which is why this video is excess analysis.

[@jamesslick4790]

@@Piaseczno1 This video was HARDLY excess....

[@johncox2552]

Wray’s daughter has been petitioning for years. I am so glad he was finally inducted. Truly a great piece of music.

[@mvp019]

He does deserve it, but it's a damn shame the RRHOF is such a political clown show.

[@lisagulick4144]

@@mvp019 🎯

[@roberthunerberg1509]

Jimmy Page played Rumble at his induction in the RRHOF. Great stuff!!!

[@jamesslick4790]

@@mvp019 Is the RRHOF even about Rock? 🤔There were "rappers" in before Wray and MANY, MANY other ACTUAL Rock artists. 😫

[@mvp019]

@@jamesslick4790 It's BS.

[@sfeddie1]

I started playing rock and roll guitar in 1960. Rumble was the first 45 I bought. It was one of those “Man o’ man, I gotta have that record” songs. Probably the first song I learned to play. I still have that 45. It’s still a great song.

[@johnplunkett2004]

It is important to remember songs like this in their context. At the time music listeners would have been bombarded with orchestral country numbers and bubblegum pop - so if you heard this song it would deliver a legitimate shock and you'd either want to hear it immediately again... or call for it to be banned as dangerous.

[@asmrbuddha9033]

I saw some people criticising Jimmy Page’s choice when he played this the other week. Sure it’s old fashioned and “simple”, but it’s got such a swagger. Rock and roll is about more than riffs and solos

[@mikesalmo]

I love history and I try to always view it from its own context. I try to avoid projecting my place, time, knowledge, morality, etc. on to the past. This is especially the case with music. Yes, it’s a bit of an academic exercise. But when you listen with fresh ears, you get more out of the experience. It’s just cooler. It’s also interesting to listen from the perspective of a typical radio listener, a musician, and a full headphones dive into the mix.

[@dixydo]

I don't think that modern kids can feel something similar nowadays. It is not bad, it is not good, nevertheless.

[@motormaker]

The closest thing may have been fall of ‘91 when nirvana dropped “smells like teen spirit “.

[@ErgonBill]

Agreed. It probably dealt out a similar shock value as Punk, Death Metal, Grunge etc in its day.

[@ThomBoecker]

Link's riff captures and encapsulates the spirit of rock and roll like very few others do, right up there with what Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley did. As for the "Rumble" documentary about the influence of Native Americans on the genre, it deserves to be a lot more popular than it seems to be, as it adds a whole new perspective to the history of contemporary music, from blues and jazz through rock to hip hop.

[@TealScarab]

I often find myself calling Rumble the very first Hard rock tune, I mean it literally taught me the E minor Pentatonic scale!!

[@tim196868]

You forgot to mention that my uncle Link invented the power cord. I like his instrumentals but also loved his later albums. For examples the song Back woods preacher man which was also covered by Lynyrd Skynyrd. Fire and brimstone which is also covered in the movie lawless. The song I got to ramble. And Good time Joe. When he was still riding and working on this home good time Joe. He stopped by our house told my dad this new song he was writing. Played the riff but he said he hadn't got the baseline figured out yet for the song. My dad went and grabbed his bass guitar and said what about this link any played the baseline for his song. Link got so excited he said that's it that's it that's the baseline. Memory sitting there watching them to work on that song was so cool. I grew up watching him and my father sit around in my living room playing music to three and 4:00 in the morning. Watching them both trade licks on their guitar it was good times.

[@SilkyMilkyOriginal]

You're his nephew?

[@tim196868]

@@SilkyMilkyOriginal Links oldest daughter Beth Wray Webb is my aunt her and my father's baby brother were married over 40 years till death do you part. I grew up calling him Uncle Link cuz he was like an uncle to me. Him and my father were very very good friends and family as well. Even between his concert if he was close by he would stop by to see my dad and they would spend all night till 3:00 or 4:00 in the morning playing music and talking. My father gave him the ideal for the baseline on backwoods preacher Man setting in my living room. Lots of good memories. He wasn't linked the rock star to me and he was just unclean member of the family it was a really cool dude.

[@SilkyMilkyOriginal]

@@tim196868 Wow, that's awesome!

[@tim196868]

@@SilkyMilkyOriginal It's so funny I was having this conversation a few days ago. And my aunt Links oldest daughter came and stayed the night with me last night lol And showed me the Hall of Fame trophy and also to let me know that they put her dad in the Smithsonian. For his instrumental Rumble that was banned by the radio for in fear it would incite balance in the youth. Lol

[@bobdavis4848]

Cool! But you seem to be describing Link inventing the power chord, not the power cord, and bassline, not baseline.

[@jeffberg8015]

Rumble is so cool that it was one of the things I had to learn when I first started playing guitar.

[@midnightmosesuk]

When I was a kid, back in the '70s, I found a copy of this in amongst my dad's old record collection. It was in there with some Duane Eddy, The Shadows, Eddie Cocheran and a whole bunch of other old stuff. He used to let me play them when it was too wet or cold outside to go and play. Rumble stood out to me from all the other discs, it was just dripping with rebellious attitude, and I loved it.

[@yobbboy]

The first 45 single I ever bought. But you never mentioned one of the key features that drew me to that recording, the gradually increasing tremolo! Through most of the song there is just the slightest hint of tremolo effect at the end of each phrase. Then in the last 30 seconds or so, Wray (or somebody in the studio) gradually cranks up the effect on his amp. By the end as the songs fades, the tremolo is going full force and chops the guitar sound into a thick buttery ripple. I loved it!

[@plynbass1292]

Never noticed that. I will check it out.

[@larry-wn1sn]

I'm a 60 year old rock musician still playing today. I hear so many people credit songs and groups as being pioneers of rock. I disagree with most because for me it was instrumentals that pioneered rock music. And this one is the best examples of that. Thanks for bringing this out of the collection. Rock on man

[@wcourson11]

I am now 75 years old, and I have loved this song forever! Thank you for this video. It brought back so many memories.

[@bfish89ryuhayabusa]

I remember reading that the second guitar in "Immigrant Song" that comes in alongside the verse was based on how "Rumble" is played. Really cool detail. I saw Bob Dylan a few years back, and he did "Cry A While" set to a version of "Rumble" altered to fit the chords/melody of the other song. Even played the same guitar solo. I thought that was such a cool moment.

[@johnryan-oc4zj]

Love this song, bought the record back in 1958 and still have it. Recently started playing the guitar {i'm 82} and learned how to play Rumble, I wont say I'm real good but you would know what I was playing. I believe it when people say Rumble helped start heavy metal, it sure started something different when it came out in 1958.

[@audiophileman7047]

Link Wray being inducted into the R&R HOF is long overdue and so well deserved. He's also credited with developing the power chord. Rumble is such a great song for beginning guitarists to learn. It is the first song I learned to play all the way through in the same way Link played it in 1958. It's easy to play and sounds great. For someone just starting out, you get a lot of satisfaction and encouragement when you play the song. You think to yourself: wow, I just played a great song. I can really see why people like Jimmy Page and Pete Townshend were so encouraged to learn how to play guitar. Once you get Rumble, the sky's the limit. 🎸🎸🎸

[@lisagulick4144]

I wondered about that. Power chords are the audio equivalent of the floor joists in a house - not something you really think about, but they sit on top of the foundation (bass and drums) and support the rest of the song!

[@audiophileman7047]

Yes, and they're such an important part of hard rock and metal. If for no other reason, Link Wray should be in the R&R HOF for inventing power chords. @@lisagulick4144

[@gospyro]

I use to have a 1958 Corvette and loved playing this song while driving around with the top down!!! I hear it now and I'm back in that car!!!

[@thomasmiller5502]

In the early ‘60s Link lived in Washington DC. He often played the college party circuit. That is how I got to meet him and his band. At Cornell in during this time we had 3 party week ends and Frats would book bands that to play Friday and Sat at many locations. Our house contracted him for multiple years and I was able to get to know him. He and the band members were easy to talk to and made the party a life time experience; We had brothers that would sit in and play with him and sing along with some songs. Our dates were impressed out of their minds. I have party pictures with him.

[@woopa66]

I was immediately pulled in by the “slap your face” tremolo level in the last few bars of the song. Such an influential jam

[@carlo6485]

1974-ish, I went and saw Link Wray in Austin, a large indoor venue into the next day with many groups playing. Link's turn, he comes onstage and sonic-booms a single 'warmup' chord, instantly paralyzing the crowd into full attention. During the short count into Rumble, Link only THEN steps on some kind of 8 kabillion megaton ancient alien tech planet-annihilation boost pedal and BAMMMMM!, into the song. I can still hear today....pure soaring joy was the in-concert built-in antidote. Thanks forever Link and gracious alien crew.

[@silvanonaretto]

Thanks Rhett! For us old european guys these rock history pills are very much appreciated. Keep on.

[@cyl742]

An artist ahead of his time. Amazing the influence he had on music and the song is still great sounding today.

[@ironmikezero]

Saw an interview (maybe 20 years ago or so) with Link and a group of Native North American musicians in which he recounted the origin story of Rumble and added that after he was signed, he rather liked playing Dsus (rather than DMajor) in the verse because it had a slightly sinister tone to it, but he was already getting enough grief from certain industry authority figures (about the time of the radio bans) so no "official" changes. Otherwise, he did what he pleased, when he pleased. Rock on, Link!

[@daveoelke857]

It sounds like a Dsus2.

[@timford3599]

Nice job Rhett. I've loved this song ever since I heard it back in the early 1960's and you did a marvelous job of explaining the chords and what makes this Hall Of Fame song so timelessly POWERFUL. The phrase that the bass and drums "That lets the guitar just float on top" is an epic description.

[@jimz68]

There is a video from November 1974 of Link playing "Rumble" at Winterland in San Francisco. I was at that show and was standing right up front. Link was just plain Badass. And LOUD. It was wonderful!

[@SISSYKAY]

That video is great. I've watched it a zillion times.

[@Swampfox612]

I was 8 years old back in the spring of '73 when I heard Rumble for the first time, from a 45 my mom put on our old Philco stereo/tv. I got the fever. Begged my parents for an electric guitar and amplifier, but we were pretty poor. But I did extra chores and saved up my allowance all year. I finally got a cheapo electric and a cheapo amp from Sears Roebuck. The first song I learned to play was Rumble- and my dad showed me the chords. Man, what a great memory.

[@davesims7917]

“Honey hide the children someone just played 2 chords that’s going to start a riot!”

[@thomasprislacjr.4063]

And then, of course, 30 years later, it becomes, "it'll convert our children to satanism!!"

[@josephzummo9685]

Great story. You're right! It has influenced countless musicians over the years. Booker T and the MG's also comes to mind. Instrumentals touch musicians in many ways. Great video

[@billydeewilliams9104]

Love watchin Wray walk around chewing bubble gum and blowin the speakers out. Legendary.

[@johnytwotimes4072]

That means someone heard this and made them feel so emotional they couldn't describe it and it scared them so badly they thought no one else should hear this. Rock and Roll

[@jackpijjin4088]

That's actually a really good way to describe that! Art moves people in different ways, be it simple or complex.

[@WhatJeanWants]

I love Link Ray’s music and I was lucky and got to see him play at the Variety Playhouse in Atlanta on July 19, 2002. I still have the ticket stub. His son played bass but I don’t recall the drummer’s name. It was such a great show and experience. His wife was his guitar tech extraordinaire. Link was one of a kind for sure! Thanks for reminding us about Link and his rock-n-roll impact, Rhett!!

[@richardmoser6051]

You are so right the riff, the time period, the influence are all so important. Thanks for posting.

[@tonye9045]

Fantastic to see Link highlighted Rhett. He’s amazing, check out his work with Robert Gordon. 👌

[@dtc343]

Link Wray and the Wraymen's song "Rumble" arguably changed Rock music forever, introducing "Surf," "Grunge" and "Garage." In it's incredibly powerful simplicity, Link was the innovator of both the sound and the "Power Chord." Many bands were either influenced by this, or emulated this sound, particularly "The Cramps," and who else really knows. Wray's "Rawhide" is arguably the first Surf Instrumental, and "Deuces Wild" is just incredible!

[@reethkitchards]

It is legitimately the first "tough riff" of Rock & Roll. It pointed to the "toughness" that was to come. Which is what Rock & Roll needed to point it in the right direction.

[@daveoelke857]

👍 It took the bubble gum out of rock and roll.

[@davidjfoster2133]

I can't even describe how much I've always loved this song. It stirs such raw emotion.

[@Stands-In-The-Fire]

"Not because of the technical prowess or how hard it is to play..." Another music channel I watch and quite enjoy is from a musician who comes from a background of a lot of more "complex" genres like jazz/progressive etc. And recently I watched them evaluating parts from a punk song, and just so many comments along the lines of "when there's this few pieces, every little change you make has such a huge impact". And being me, I'm watching thinking to myself "Well, &*^$ing Duh!" while also having to bear in mind that there are a lot of musicians who write off anything with fewer than 4 key changes, 3 time signatures, a minimum number of swept arpeggios, etc etc. When you strip down to the bare bones, every little thing matters so much more. Complex song? Something can be 'meh' but don't worry, blink and you've missed it, something else is happening now. Something like this? Every choice carries weight. Minor variations equate to big changes. The little drags across the beat of the drums, where the guitar and even bass drag just a hair behind the beat now and then? They don't pass by in the blur of a million other *things*, they add weight and tension because they're *right there*.

[@pulaski1]

I don't think you're describing "12 Tone", but I think you'd probably enjoy that channel too.

[@Stands-In-The-Fire]

@@pulaski1 12 tone is a great channel, definitely. Highly recommend dude's breakdown of songs and composition/structure.

[@seanmckelvey6618]

very well said

[@rfichokeofdestiny]

Art is all about making choices. You always have options. That long series of decisions makes the final product what it is.

[@davepx1]

"when there's this few pieces, every little change you make has such a huge impact" indeed: that's the beauty of minimalism: each part retains its own identity, and a varied (or even botched) note, a delayed beat or an instrument momentarily dropping out can make all the difference!

[@TomBrown-ij3jk]

Rumble was not banned in my state of Florida! It was played all the time on WLOF

[@sonnercampbell1702]

Rumble is the first song I learned to play on guitar that sounded like the recording. It was my first “I can do this” moment in learning to play guitar

[@docjeffry]

This is the first song I learned on guitar. I believe Jimmy Page said the song was "life changing".

[@ThatBaritoneGuitarGuy]

The first time I heard Rumble was when I was recruited by a blues-rock band. Rumble was the first song they played. I was instantly hooked. Even today, it is one of my favourite songs to play.

[@gsdfan8455]

My dad had Rumble on a 45. I first heard it as a kid in the 70’s and fell in love with it.

[@dlux703]

I was 15 when that song hit the radio and there were already electric guitar pioneers like Mickey and Sylvia, and Duane Eddy, who had altered my expectations of what guitars could sound like, so Link Wray just added to the potential "symphonic" & gigantic role that sustained & distorted guitar could play in a relatively small band. That combined with my exposure to blues artists who pushed guitar to still another place, was an inspiration for me as a novice guitar player

[@livewire2759]

This song is the perfect example to show the beauty of simplicity. I heard it numerous times when I was a kid, but I never really LISTENED to it until I was a teenager. The mother of a friend always listened to "golden oldies" on the radio, and one day while visiting his home, this song came on. I stopped whatever I was doing and listened to the song in its entirety. I didn't catch the name of it, the DJ had apparently said it before playing the song, so I asked her what it was and she laughed, amused that I was interested in such an old song, but she told me and I made a mental note to look it up as soon as I got a chance. That was back in the early days of the internet, and my family didn't even have a computer, so I had to go to the local library for internet access. When I found that it had been banned simply because of the title and it's attitude, it became (and still remains) one of my favorite songs.

[@Mark-fo3hx]

I watched the live version from ‘74 a while back. One of the most bone crushing fuzz tones I’ve ever heard. Great song

[@tone1798]

I love that doc IT MIGHT GET LOUD. It’s a must watch for guitarist and music lovers. I agree Rhett, amazing kool song! Thank you for sharing and covering this gem!

[@paulbloyer1300]

Simple, instructive, efficent, quick and to the point. Just like this riff, definitly a cool video 🤟

[@harmonic3350]

The riff and tempo builds up SO much tension! No wonder everyone from the crowd wanted more and the DJs wimped out. The song title was icing on the cake.

[@pi-sx3mb]

Love it. It creates an instant mood similar to how the intro in "Gimme Shelter" gives your mind the space to float.

[@HuskerLoon]

81 yrs old & still listen to this!!!!

[@cybermanne]

Spot on! This is such a cool riff, and song. It also doesn't really sound outdated at all to this date. Not many songs from that era still sound as good.

[@baabaabaa-yp2jh]

Johnny Burnett & the Rock n Roll Trio were full on in their day!

[@LeStraTele]

Link Wray. Nice to see him getting some of the recognition he deserves. Now it's Lonnie Mack's turn.

[@charleybarley914]

Yes it is Lonnie's turn, and Stevie Ray Vaughn would totally agree too

[@carterruff3657]

I wouldn't say it's despite the lack of technical difficulty, but rather precisely because of its simplicity and accessibility. It opened the door for so many people to get started.

[@carterruff3657]

I'll add: the space he allows in the timing -make a statement, let it sit- communicates a confidence that is ultimate badass.

[@clutteredchicagogarage2720]

The feel and the attitude of this song is amazing. The timing is what makes it amazing. The sound of the drums, the syncopation of the drum beat, and the fractional difference of where the drum beats vs the guitar chords and notes land on the beat was, to me, groundbreaking for 1958. I don't think anything sounded quite like this at the time. My interpretation is that the drums have a native-american spirituality to them, but then the guitar is like a raw Rock&Roll sound that I cannot point to in any other song released before Rumble. I think a lot of the Blues in the 1950s was more straight-up 12-bar blues. It didn't start on the flat-7th chord. The ordering of the chords in Rumble makes it sound intoxicated and off-balance. I have huge respect for early American Rock & Roll and also American 12-bar blues. I love Muddy Waters. I love Chuck Berry. I love Pink Anderson and Gary Davis. Link Wray took some of the chords from 12-bar blues and the harmonies from it, but then he mixed them up in Rumble to get a very different feel that didn't quite exist in country, blues or other early rock at the time.

[@bytornsnowdog1347]

Finally!!! Someone gives credit where credit is past-due. First hard/metal rock and Roll song, THE FIRST in 1958!

[@cloudconnect]

Gotta agree. Easy to play and you learn to actually hold back on it a bit, so a great song for a beginner to feel inspired by.

[@kelvinwilson9217]

It's so nice to see that this iconic track is still appriciated.

[@db5837]

The progressively louder, fast tremolo towards the end of the instrumental deserves mention. I still have the original 45 rpm.

[@louiebee6745]

I do too it just oozes menace off the turntable!😎

[@chrisegg7936]

couldn't argue against it if I even wanted to. Absolutely iconic, still the first thing I play every time I pick up a guitar.

[@seant13]

Some songs will be cool forever.

[@mybingobrain]

Friends of mine and I partied with Link Wray after his performance in a small club in Hof, Germany. I think it was 1985 or so. He bought us beers and told us stories including his time spent in San Francisco hanging with John Cippolina of Quicksilver Messenger Service. "Hell of a guitar player", he said of Cippolina. We closed the place and promised to meet for breakfast the next morning. We woke up in our hotel room so hungover that we couldn't make it. I saw him play again in Berlin, Germany ten years later and met up with him backstage. He asked what happened because they waited for us. When I explained, he just laughed, remembering his old R&R days. Great guy!

[@JoeMama410]

The first time I saw video of Link performing this he had to be around 7 and looked kinda silly (so I thought). Recently I saw footage of him back in the 1970s and he had such incredible swagger that it put the whole song in a new light for me.

[@Priestbokmei1]

Yeah, and that riff came to him in an instant!! Just fascinating! Congrats making the R&R Hall of Fame! Deserved!

[@timbaxter9932]

This riff most definitely was the mother of hard rock. There was nothing else like it before and it took some time after the till someone picked up on it. Dave Davies of the Kinks found it and the rawness of his playing showed thru. No question he was inspired by Linc.

[@cjmacq-vg8um]

i would've never herad of, much less heard, "rumble" if some corporation didn't recently play it in one of their commercials. i've discovered some GREAT music from movies and even commercials. i've been a record collector, exclusively albums, for 50 years and i'm still finding some excellent sounds i never heard before from the 50s, 60s and 70s. mainly thanks to youtube. its about the only thing YT is actually good for. thanks for the video.

[@oldtimetv65]

In the early 70s, Rumble was used as the opening theme for an early version of the Svengoolie show.

[@mikedraia3422]

Screaming Yellow Theater with the original Svengoolie Jerry G Bishop.

[@jekku4688]

"Rumble" truly is the embodiment of rock and roll: very in your face, full of street swagger, slicked back hair, cigarette box rolled up in your white tee-shirt sleeve, toothpick dangling from your lip, leather jacket slung over your shoulder, Ray Bans hiding a smoldering look....just daring someone to piss you off enough to start a rumble! (if only the musical guitar variety)

[@BennettMarks]

Me and my band covered Rumble when we first started out. Rumble is a classic and really started the wave of guitar solos and riffs as we know them.

[@OrthodoxReview]

Rumble blew my mind when I heard it as a kid. Been chasing this song for almost 30 years.

[@brucehartnell1475]

Link also had lung issues, which is why he played instrumentals. His brother was the lead singer and went by the name of Ray Vernon, which is a reversal of his given name.

[@darrylgoodwin7947]

I saw Link in his later years. A tone and volume that turned the air to cottage cheese. It was beautiful.

[@schumanhuman]

As well as 'Rumble' Link cut many other great instrumentals, 'Comanche' 'Deuces Wild' 'Jack the ripper' 'Bo Diddley' and though not much of a vocalist himself his band did provide backing on cult rockabilly classics like 'Boo hoo' by Marvin Rainwater and 'The girl can't dance' by Bunker Hill which is undoubtedly one of the heaviest sounding rock and roll records of its or any era.

[@InventorZahran]

Also 'Rawhide', it's similar to 'Rumble' but has more actual melody going on.

[@donniemoyer9261]

thankyou. I was 7 years old when Rumble came out. I don't remember when I 1st heard it, it was so long ago but seems like every time I hear it, which is kinda often, it always gives me goosebumps and takes me back to a time when music was evolving. just a year or so earlier, when I was listening to pop Disney songs on my little record player, when finding a box of big black thick records that said 78 rpm on them which turned out to be Little Richard and Elvis and that experience changed my life til this day over 55 years ago..don't kno what my life would be without music...good job!

[@stickmanmusic5840]

I've loved this song since the 1960's, and I saw Link Wray live. Your mix needs more bass; that walking line was hypnotic!

[@druwk]

The context of Native Americans contributions to R&R can’t be overstated. That documentary you site, blew my mind, and made so much sense. Not to take away anything from every culture that made R&R happen. Passing the torch along is why music is so special. It doesn’t belong to anyone. It belongs to EVERYONE!

[@U_ever]

I think its bullshit that it took the RRHOF so long to induct Link Wray and the fucking Beastie Boys were in there in 2012, and Eminem was in 2022. That's fucked up.

[@audiophileman7047]

You want to hear really great music? Listen to people who haven't received BS awards like a grammy.

[@andrewfallon7963]

I 've always liked Rumble, but I think hearing you play it in this video with modern fidelity and clarity of sound made me understand it in a whole new way. That big, crunchy, aggressive feeling just leaps out of my headphones.

[@chuckwaters4169]

One of the coolest, most honest moments in IMGL is when Page plays air guitar to Rumble. Then he emphasizes the tremolo. That said it all for me! Filthy riff

[@chapero1]

Nice detail.

[@merileopardisaksassa7030]

That video is so gorgeous. The pure joy he exudes while airguitaring that is magnetic. I've always only been a passionate listener but that joy made me want to pick up an instrument.

[@comeflywithme25]

First heavy sounding riff I ever learned. So glad to see you cover this tune and legendary musician, Rhett

[@BobJones-bh9qz]

Heavy?

[@comeflywithme25]

@@BobJones-bh9qz yeah.. heavy. Its a pretty huge sounding song and riff for the time it was released. Why do I need to provide context here?

[@BobJones-bh9qz]

@@comeflywithme25 I disagree, this is a “riff” (its not even a riff its just 3 basic chords) that deserves to be left in the past and forgotten

[@comeflywithme25]

@@BobJones-bh9qz ok man

[@MisAnnThorpe]

@@BobJones-bh9qz . . . along with your comment.

[@seanzinger]

I just realized there are two of Chris and two of Rhett. I love how Chris is hitting that acoustic.

[@kentonpriestley3173]

Excellent job interpreting this arrangement. It helps give me voice to what I am hearing, opening up an avenue for me communicate thoughts on music much better

[@laurametheny1008]

Sock hops. Wow! Hadn't thought of them in years. Some of the best memories of my teen years. Love that riff and the info. Really sad that they had to hide their heritage. Glad he's got a star at least. Thank you! Have a joyful and safe holiday!🎄🙏🏼🤘🏼

[@richardbarksdale3810]

Definitely the greatest Rock riff ever. So good!

[@yonnikfaulkner6782]

Good video, Rhett. My intro to Link Wray was from one of my music mentors (~6 years older...) around '73. Home recording back then, of course, was nothing like today, and we were fascinated by the cover art (photos on a cut-out album) of Wray's "3-track shack" where he evidently had done some music.

[@ricardoacain1391]

I played Rumble many times, it just feels cool to do. It’s that descending back beat bass too.

[@stevengagnon4777]

I need to thank Mark E Smith for introducing me to Link Ray through The Fall . He had mentioned in one of his songs....well more like "Shouts" ; " I don't sing I just shout " ...how he listened to Link Ray on Saturday afternoons. So I made the connection at the used record shop seeing one of Link's CDs in a bin. Naturally I bought it and listened too it right away and totally understood why Mark E Smith made the mention in one of his rambling verses. Link had a gig in town...I certainly made itto the show. He was in his maybe early seventies and played sitting for much of the concert...it didn't mater as he still had it going. I got to shake his hand and thank him after the show...amazing performance and amazing humble man... The Fall's guitarist Brixy is wonderful and worth checking out. Mark you are either going to like or just not like. Not really a middle ground with him.

[@sgholt]

A classic I learned it a long while back, my brother was playing it, when he had a little combo in the late 60s :) Thanks Rhett

[@wayneharrison6621]

I think the first time I really heard this was in the movie “Independence Day” when Randy Quaid’s character walks into the diner. Great song, simple, but to the point.

[@bobwellman9717]

I was 5 years old in 1958 when I first heard, and absolutely LOVED Rumble. 65 years later, it's STILL in my playlist.

[@Buzzkill-wn7tf]

Great shout outs to two fantastic rock and roll documentaries! Watched them both more than once and always pick up on some little nuance missed before. Good stuff good vid.

[@ilikequiet6474]

Agreed. I'm over 70 and still love R&R. The Kinks "who'll be the next in line"

[@shawn-qx4eq]

that song will never go out of style, one that stays with the times.

[@fordsrestorations970]

Thank you thank you thank you for bringing this up that has been buried in my subconscious so many years. This song was absolutely one of the first that brought on the entire movement !

[@Cornan1980]

Rumble was the first real piece of music I learned on the guitar. Still an influential piece of music.

[@monkeyman4131]

Oh hell yes ! I saw Link Ray and The Ray Men preform live in 1964 in District Heights , Maryland . They did Rumble , Jack The Ripper etc . They were Great ! Still great music today . Tom Daytona Beach , FL 18 , May 2024 .