10 Best Rock Guitar Riffs Of The 1980s

This was the UK's most defining sound of the 80's. Coming in just as the decade closed, I Wanna Be Adored welcomed in the '90s in a colourful vortex of MDMA infused dance rock that would have generations of kids bopping about dance floors with a religious enthusiasm.

The Second Summer Of Love was a time when '60s inspired rock music found common ground with electronic acid house, resulting in the rise of rave culture. It was a time of giant house parties in dilapidated mansions and abandoned warehouses, with plenty of uppers thrown into the mix.

By now the allure of this track is well established. We get the simultaneous drop of the rhythm section. The funky stylising of Reni's drum beat is matched by the laid back bass line from Mani. While American rockers were playing hard and fast to showcase their aggression, British guitarists were keeping things smooth. John Squire delivered one of his coolest riffs, with just a hint of distortion and the perfect amount of wah wah pedal to get crowds moving.

This wasn't in your face playing, it wasn't particularly flashy, it just created a vibe to kick back to. This was the sound of '80s Britain.