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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[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!

[jeremycraft]

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

[thomasdequincey]

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

[wcourson]

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

[TealScarab]

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

[sfeddie]

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.

[jeffberg]

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

[larry-wnsn]

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

[vicentedelhom]

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.

[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!

[johncox]

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

[johnryan-oczj]

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.

[johnplunkett]

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.

[johnytwotimes]

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

[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.

[timford]

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.

[RJ_Groot]

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

[tim]

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.

[bfishryuhayabusa]

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.

[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.