The 1980s: A Timeline of Guitar Riffs

Special thanks to those who suggested songs to include in this one. I was bit overwhelmed by the idea of tackling this huge decade of guitar riffs and was putting it off for ages. Tried to include as many as possible but I'm sure there's plenty more great ones not featured here. Feel free to suggest others that you may have included.
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#1980s #guitar #rock
TRACKLISTING (dates taken from wikipedia)
1980 0:00
The Ramones - Do You Remember Rock ’n’ Roll Radio (04 February) 0:00
The Cure - A Forest (08 April) 0:08
Judas Priest - Breaking The Law (14 April) 0:13
Black Sabbath - Heaven and Hell (21 April) 0:19
AC/DC - Back In Black (25 July) 0:28
Echo & The Bunnymen - The Puppet (14 September) 0:34
Ozzy Osbourne - Crazy Train (20 September) 0:40
Motorhead - Ace of Spades (07 October) 0:46
1981 0:49
Rush - Limelight (12 February) 0:49
Van Halen - Unchained (29 April) 0:57
Siouxsie And The Banshees - Spellbound (22 May) 1:04
The Rolling Stones - Start Me Up (14 August) 1:11
Queen & David Bowie- Under Pressure (26 October) 1:18
New Order - Dreams Never End (13 November) 1:22
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts - I Love Rock ’n Roll (18 November) 1:29
Black Flag - Rise Above (05 December) 1:35
1982 1:39
Iron Maiden - Run To The Hills (12 February) 1:39
Asia - Heat Of The Moment (18 March) 1:46
The Beat - Save It For Later (02 April) 1:51
Duran Duran - Hungry Like The Wolf (04 May) 1:59
The Clash - Should I Stay Or Should I Go (14 May) 2:04
Survivor - Eye Of The Tiger (31 May) 2:09
George Thorogood & The Destroyers - Bad To The Bone (09 August) 2:16
Michael Jackson - Beat It (30 November) 2:21
1983 2:27
Def Leppard - Photograph (20 January) 2:27
U2 - Sunday Bloody Sunday (28 February) 2:35
David Bowie - Let’s Dance (14 March) 2:40
ZZ Top - Sharp Dressed Man (23 March) 2:44
Iron Maiden - The Trooper (16 May) 2:50
The Police - Every Breath You Take (20 May) 2:56
Metallica - Seek & Destroy (25 July) 3:04
AC/DC - Nervous Shakedown (15 August) 3:11
1984 3:19
Van Halen - Panama (09 January) 3:19
Scorpions - Rock You Like A Hurricane (07 February) 3:26
Ratt - Round and Round (27 March) 3:31
Killing Joke - Eighties (?? April) 3:39
Twisted Sister - I Wanna Rock (10 May) 3:46
Ray Parker Jr. - Ghostbusters (08 June) 3:55
Prince & The Revolution - Let’s Go Crazy (25 June) 4:01
U2 - Pride (In The Name Of Love) (01 October) 4:07
1985 4:16
The Smiths - How Soon Is Now? (28 January) 4:16
Dire Straits - Money For Nothing (13 May) 4:22
The Cult - She Sells Sanctuary (17 May) 4:30
Huey Lewis & The News - The Power Of Love (?? June) 4:37
The Replacements - Bastards Of Young (18 September) 4:42
Husker Du - Divide and Conquer (?? September) 4:49
Queen - One Vision (04 November) 4:55
The Jesus And Mary Chain - The Living End (18 November) 5:01
1986 5:07
Robert Palmer - Addicted To Love (?? February) 5:07
The Psychedelic Furs - Pretty In Pink (28 February) 5:16
Metallica - Master Of Puppets (03 March) 5:22
Crowded House - Don’t Dream It’s Over (01 August) 5:31
Bon Jovi - Livin’ On A Prayer (18 August) 5:37
Huey Lewis & The News - Hip To Be Square (20 August) 5:40
Slayer - Raining Blood (07 October) 5:47
Beastie Boys - No Sleep Till Brooklyn (15 November) 5:53
1987 6:00
U2 - Where The Streets Have No Name (09 March) 6:00
Whitesnake - Still Of The Night (21 March) 6:05
The Cure - Just Like Heaven (05 May) 6:10
Motley Crue - Girls, Girls, Girls (11 May) 6:17
Guns N’ Roses - Sweet Child O’ Mine (21 July) 6:23
Def Leppard - Pour Some Sugar On Me (03 August) 6:30
R.E.M - The One I Love (24 August) 6:39
INXS - New Sensation (12 October) 6:47
1988 6:53
Pixies - Bone Machine (21 March) 6:53
Poison - Nothin’ But A Good Time (06 April) 7:00
Jane’s Addiction - Mountain Song (23 August) 7:08
Metallica - One (07 September) 7:14
Dinosaur Jr. - Freak Scene (?? September) 7:21
Sonic Youth - Teen Age Riot (18 October) 7:28
Soundgarden - Flower (31 October) 7:34
The La’s - There She Goes (31 October) 7:42
1989 7:50
Pixies - Monkey Gone To Heaven (20 March) 7:50
Tom Petty - Runnin’ Down A Dream (24 April) 7:57
The Stone Roses - Waterfall (02 May) 8:03
Nirvana - About A Girl (15 June) 8:10
Aerosmith - Love In An Elevator (15 August) 8:15
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Knock Me Down (16 August) 8:23
Motley Crue - Kickstart My Heart (28 August) 8:30
Neil Young - Rockin’ In The Free World (02 October) 8:36

[@postpunk6947]

I think their undisputed masterpiece is "Hip to be Square", a song so catchy, most people probably don't listen to the lyrics. But they should, because it's not just about the pleasures of conformity, and the importance of trends, it's also a personal statement about the band itself. Hey Paul!

[@davidirvine4279]

Excuse me, I have to return some videotapes.

[@robertminnis3244]

🤣

[@user-qs7ip6we5m]

Do you like Phil Collins? 😏

[@tomasfabianserrut466]

Impressive, very nice.

[@davidirvine4279]

@@user-qs7ip6we5m Been a big Genesis fan, ever since the release of their 1980 album, Duke. Before that, I really didn't understand, any of their work, too artsy, too intellectual .. It was on Duke, where, uh, Phil Collins presence became more apparent .. I think "Invisible Touch" is the group's undisputed masterpiece .. It's an epic meditation on intangibility .. at the same time it deepens and enriches the meaning of the proceeding three albums

[@yadavmohip117]

I love how you show the best of the different worlds of popular guitar music… alternative, rock, punk, metal… some were mainstream at the time and some were more deeper cuts. Awesome year by year highlights.

[@bloxsy_]

Thanks man.

[@danieldemoro2743]

Because he’s not pretentious like lots of these music snobs out there.

[@paulsandor3522]

Agree 100% My comment says basically the same thing

[@yadavmohip117]

@@danieldemoro2743 correct his content always grabbed me for that reson. Man I don’t listen to all these songs now but I know most of them and respect all of them in one way or the other so to see someone play them with this kind of precise honour is nothing but a joy

[@TimothyYshurakhuno]

@@danieldemoro2743 yeah i like that humble and chill vibe here

[@paulsandor3522]

As someone who loves all rock- everything from heavy metal to classic rock to punk to alternative to prog and pop- it's good to see Sabbath, Van Halen, The Smiths, Black Flag, Rush, Crowded House etc represented here. Eclectic and well played

[@bloxsy_]

Thanks mate! Yeah I tried to get a bit of everything in there.

[@coolbeans8435]

Dont forget Metallica!!❤️

[@paulsandor3522]

@@coolbeans8435 yes, he played too many favorites to mention them all

[@pvt_mtbl9516]

You forgot nirvana

[@paulsandor3522]

@@pvt_mtbl9516 yes, you're right. Actually, there are too many bands for me to list. That's why I love this channel so much!

[@P-Bass_Pete]

I love that you included The Cure, Echo & The Bunnymen, Siouxsie etc along with all the great rock riffs. So often everybody forgets how much of an influence British Post Punk and New Wave had on rock and roll music.

[@irfanindrianarsyah1013]

yes sir!

[@BudSchnelker]

@@irfanindrianarsyah1013 And great choices, "A Forest", "Spellbound", "Dreams Never End", "Save It For Later", etc. The variety in this entire video is spot on.

[@postpunk6947]

Thank you for remember of "She Sells Sanctuary" and "How Soon is Now".

[@user-ym3ld5ut7b]

One of the more weirder things that happened was The Cult going from the Indie/goth/whatever they were to the hard rock sound they ended up doing .

[@postpunk6947]

@@user-ym3ld5ut7b yes feel same, but mine personal biggest wtf about The Cult is Ian singing with The Doors.

[@SteeeveO]

And for remembering Geordie Walker's contribution....

[@postpunk6947]

@@SteeeveO yes, i was wrote comment about how cool "Eighties" is

[@DanTasticEntertainment]

Granted, the 60s-90s were all amazing decades for riffs, but there was truly something special about the 80s. Love it!

[@acoustic1688]

lets be real you wanted to flex the fender jag... wouldn't blame you

[@jpb1231000]

Butttt... You Could'a got A TELE!!!

[@mmonsterr]

@James Brown I used to think that

[@misakiyoshida]

@James Brown Straight up

[@serenitatis2191]

@James Brown volume knob is waaayy too close to the bridge for my taste

[@danejurus69]

Jaguars are overrated. Tele's are better.

[@scottyshot]

80s is really the golden age of riffs

[@daikirai285]

I think 90s is better

[@glitaldi]

You probably know it, but you are a fucking great guitarist, my friend. I've been watching you for a month or more and watching you playing made me playing guitar again after some years. Thank you for these masterpieces and inspiring me to do something I loved when I was younger. Greetings from Brazil!

[@bloxsy_]

Thanks! I really appreciate you watching.

[@MrPhins]

Huey Lewis into Slayer. I think I pulled a muscle. Nice work. 🤣Bonus points for Echo and the Bunnymen and Jesus and Mary Chain.

[@ireallyshouldntbehereltd7814]

I could genuinely talk for hours with this guy about music based souly on his choices here! I know every. single. song.

[@findantu]

Not all of em but I would definitely like to hear more of the obscure ones

[@jamessullenriot]

I hope everyone appreciates the video editing that went into this one.

[@forksknivesstudios513]

You know something’s good when it starts with Ramones

[@rogerowo]

Breaking the law will forever be one of the most iconic hard rock/metal riffs ever. And I'm not even a Judas Priest fan but it's just that epic 🔥

[@davidmreyes77]

Damn, you really represented the 80s. From U2 to Sonic Youth and so many others. Good job.

[@junkhead_92]

1987 is one of the best years for rock.

[@codeling2552]

1988 too

[@josephgledhill7046]

yeah and 84, 85, and 86

[@fleshrags]

and 77. and 67.

[@geordiedog1749]

Tell you what, matey…. You picked some tricky bloody riffs in that lot and did a great job in them!

[@bloxsy_]

Cheers mate!

[@geordiedog1749]

@@bloxsy_ I thought you’d bottled it when the timeline passed ‘Message in a Bottle ‘ but you actually choose the even harder Police riff! Fair play!:)

[@austrianguy1833]

5:42 Lets see Paul Allens riff

[@scottyshot]

lmao

[@mungofinalfi4480]

I think This Charming Man should've been included.

[@mauriciodominguez595]

yessss, that riff is too recognizable and gives good vibes

[@stefanoaquino5158]

I like how you, unlike other youtubers, remember punk exist.

[@aviationlba747]

Nice to see Eighties by Killing Joke! Most of my favourites bands are in this video.

[@_eric_torres_music_8116]

Ok, but can we agree that the tone for Limelight is literally SPOT ON! Great video 🙏

[@gabekarp3008]

Must listen to more Siouxsie, and the Pixies. Not a surprise Neil Young's riff is so heavy.

[@StarWarsMeg]

Major respect for adding each date as time-stamps! 🤘Love the vids!

[@bloxsy_]

Thanks!

[@darrenflaxman7665]

What a fantastic selection, great to hear so many different genres included.

[@TonyLeva]

Man I can’t help but miss rock from the 80s

[@sunangel-rivka]

That Jazzmaster is absolutely gorgeous 😍

[@zepmarq]

That was an awesome trip down memory lane for this Gen Xer. Thanx! 😎

[@_sizzler]

You are my favorite youtube guitarist. Yes, there are much more people on yt who can shred and tap all around at 1000bpm making songs unnecessarily overwhelming, but you can actually play and feel just like us, the common guitarists, i love your vids and sometimes i watch your hands and learn how to play that riff, what is really handy. And all of that precious playing without useless talking and face selling. This is the best guitar channel sorry for any grammar and syntax mistakes, i'm not a native English speaker

[@mrhammettsguitarpick]

Dude, the things I would give up to go back to the 80s..and to stay there forever

[@sectiongang]

This is incredible. I know all these songs. Perfect playing and perfect re-creation of the guitar songs.

[@mathewcribb1227]

You hit it out of the park with this one can't wait for the 90's 🤘🤘🤘

[@BTNMNKI]

A lot more choice deep cuts than I expected. Well played, sir.

[@ahmadbani1452]

This probably the most riffs you've put in one video. Keep it up!

[@andrewwebb3431]

Videos like this put into perspective how skewed my musical perception of time is. I would never have put How Soon is Now and She Sells Sanctuary in the same year as Money for Nothing and The Power of Love. Yet they were all 1985.

[@neilarnold9662]

Awesome video, every riff sounds spot on

[@rorybrendonbarker1893]

Great playing! Perfect tone! Fantastic song choices

[@deliveredbyjace5977]

Your different effects were awesome. Well played! You covered so many great bands/songs! From Van Halen to The Smiths…very impressive!

[@fuzzcous]

A decade of catchy riffs. Nice selection 👍

[@2isceez]

Love the 80s!! Such a good time for rock music. Glad you included dreams never end

[@danielxh558]

Amazing , a big smile on my face when you played Ratt and underrated songs like unchained and nervous shakedown 🤘🤘

[@rm-cc4pm]

Great selection, You are doing something great for people who have/and want to play, Great Presentation, all others, keep Strumming

[@MGPMusic81]

Great playing and song choices 🎸🎸🎸

[@manboi6852]

6:00, one of my absolute favorites 👌. Great job on doing all these great riffs 👍👍 keep it up.

[@Brandon-bh7pj]

My god this video is bloody good!! Love the riffs man's. You kill it!!

[@andykennard9458]

Much respect for including the Replacements

[@clockworkartist]

Im so glad you included certain songs, you chose the best

[@bloxsy_]

Thank you.

[@-NFG]

awesome video. i appreciate the time it took to make this

[@sigurdholbarki8268]

What an eclectic mix, cheers!

[@aziziabdrahman7756]

Love this video. The 80s really did have some of the greatest riffs in rock music history.

[@richardtravassos7484]

Well done, amazing, every riff perfect played, and interesting list of the 80s music 👏👏

[@bloxsy_]

Thank you.

[@mathumphreys]

Great list!! So diverse!

[@danniedwards5750]

Such amazing riffs from all these amazing bands 🤘

[@chewycenter7690]

That you got The Puppet, How Soon is Now and Teen Age Riot in there alongside Def Leppard... Just wow!

[@4DSCdude]

i'm half way through and liked, subscribed, commenting... this is awesome, great work, thank you for putting in the time and energy to make this video

[@reddeadreddeadtion1172]

Bro I just knew you were gonna include nirvana in 89

[@David_Watts]

VERY well done, Sir....👍👍

[@KatherineOfEden]

Without a doubt the best decade of music in my opinion. I can literally listen to any genre and I'll like it 😌

[@eumesmo3495]

Greaf riff collection ! Missed some Smiths and INXS. for my unsurprise i fall for The Cure JLH like i always did so easily, but surprsingly i had to admit Raining Blood is really a killer. Killer. One.

[@chrisdrake447]

Like re-living my late teens and early 20s all over again. Cheers!

[@RCAnderson42]

Ugh, such good variety!

[@niklase5901]

Wow! That was fantastic!

[@bloxsy_]

Thanks man.

[@millerfamilymayhem389]

So many of my favorite bands here! Yes!!

[@billh4121]

Nice work!

[@TheBigScreenPictures]

The guitar tone for Bastards of Young sounded spot on!

[@romulocordeirokeoma]

0:58 how a powerfull riff! R.I.P EVH❤🙏

[@neptuneknox7729]

this gives me ✨ serotonin ✨, thank you

[@donnyhud]

right on!! nice playin!!!! sounds great!! love the grain on the jag fret board!!! beautiful!!

[@bloxsy_]

Thanks!

[@samxday]

Great stuff

[@Robv93]

LOVE the fact that you put Divide and Conquer in there. Seriously underrated riff from a seriously underrated band

[@geordiedog1749]

Husker Du - “underrated”? Nah. I know where you’re coming from but I’d say that they have plenty plenty kudos. For once, somebody really genuinely good gets credit I reckon. D and C is in my top five of all time. What. A. Fucking. Riff.

[@jkf9167]

@@geordiedog1749 the whole song is that riff, and each verse is better than the last. My favorite Huskers song.

[@geordiedog1749]

@@jkf9167 Probably in my top three fave songs of all time if I’m honest!

[@bartolmarodi7037]

Well done!

[@nathanielh786]

brilliant. thanks.

[@Normalpeoplestillexist]

It amazes me that songs that came out in 83 (my birth year) are still so widely known and played.

[@romanticg4460]

Dude right now you're my favourite youtuber. Argentina represent

[@SPLENDIDZEN]

We need the playlist of this amazing 80's songs!!!... Excellent work Bloxsy!!!... Greetings from Málaga, Andalusia, Spain!!!...

[@bloxsy_]

Thank you!

[@SPLENDIDZEN]

@@bloxsy_ kzbin.info/aero/PL78-vN67uCSxn7EAkLLSvadTCVVR8RZwj

[@Bewar3them00n]

Awesome selection

[@Simmo_Cars]

I’m so glad you added def leopards photograph in there! As well as nervous shakedown, two very overlooked songs in my opinion! Good job!

[@bloxsy_]

Thanks! Very underrated, I agree.

[@qnnikqs]

One time I heard photograph in my dream

[@sth8119]

Sick. Can't wait for the 90s timeline

[@musicminute2004]

Awesome!

[@jchabo82]

This is literally me in my room in the 90's. Lol!

[@briantwiss9078]

I was getting worried there wouldn’t be any love for the Replacements for a second.

[@diggigada2427]

This is my playlist of songs I need to learn

[@CoolBreeze_Year2024]

Brilliant!

[@MrHubb1]

You're an incredible musician. You have great taste. Good to see some Sonic Youth amongst many other of my favorite songs.

[@mitchellwood4133]

So many essentials. Very cool

[@user-ym3ld5ut7b]

Great job Dude!

[@bloxsy_]

Thanks dude!

[@rebeldetail6134]

Great job man!!!

[@bloxsy_]

Thanks man!

[@rebeldetail6134]

@@bloxsy_ im an 80s guitarist so u know I love all that stuff and u played it well cheers man!!$

[@deepeddyrecords5933]

So great to see the Replacements and Husker Du represented!

[@joecoolgamin7704]

80s riffs blow the 90s out of the water

[@atticusruiz2844]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[@LevinsThe]

Ok boomer

[@venomagent76]

Absolutely!

[@Vanjoy]

Dude your tone is really good

[@mheberling5939]

You pick so many great tunes bro!

[@bloxsy_]

Thanks man!

[@utvolume]

Nice. Thanks. Also just got your 70’s material. New sub

[@utvolume]

Wow. Actually went further into your stuff. Excellent!

[@TwilightCalzone]

A wide range of great riffs, nicely recreated tones, and playing Master of Puppets with only downstrokes. Nailed it.

[@jamesstafford5564]

Awesome variety!! Would love to learn most of these licks. I know a few.

[@bruhmusic5855]

Great choices!

[@abutts02]

Awesome music 👍🤘

[@postpunk6947]

"Life Goes On" and "Come As You Are" are good, but "Eighties" win everything.

[@aleclynner1860]

Oppisate

[@facundoiglesias1060]

Real

[@aleclynner1860]

@@facundoiglesias1060 ?

[@geordiedog1749]

See, I think ‘80s is mint but not really like the other two. ‘Life’ and ‘Come as’ are pretty much the same jam but ‘Eghtirs’ is different enough I’d say. But….. all great songs though.

[@postpunk6947]

@@geordiedog1749 little details makes that song great. It's only one from this three with faster and more mechanical rhythmic. Drums in "Eighties" are great. And additional notes on riff, that's make difference.

[@marymyers4751]

Amazing

[@The.Big.Stumpkowski]

Good video, very entertaining

[@bradoozy]

hitting us with both the replacements and husker du? i love this channel!