10 Greatest Rock Instrumentals

10. Misirlou - Dick Dale

There's probably a good subsect of people who know this tune exclusively from Pulp Fiction. Released at the peak of the surf rock movement, Dick Dale's take on the traditional tune "Misirlou" was one of the starts for the heavier side of rock going forward.

Looking back on it now, surf rock doesn't necessarily seem all that exciting, with most of the records being just plays on one string that kept ascending. However, the magic of "Misirlou" comes in the absolute ferocity with which Dale strikes the string, as if he's trying to choke the life out of his instrument. When asked about his signature style, even Dale didn't consider himself a proper guitar player but rather an artist who banged on his instrument to get the natural sounds he craved.

The tune itself was already intriguing before the guitar was put on, with the melody providing an Eastern alternative to the blues patterns that were typically expected from rock players at the time. The way this tune moved the people made everyone want to play with more grit, which led to higher volumes and eventually the distortion we all know and love. While other surf rock may sound cheesy nowadays, "Misirlou" has aged like fine wine, with a sound that will never cease to excite.