If You Want To Know How To Begin a Stadium Rocker, This List Is for You

A quality entrance is of the utmost importance if you want to make an impression.

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It’s also a prerequisite if you dream of writing a stadium anthem. Think of U2’s “Where the Streets Have No Name,” Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.,” or “Gimme Shelter” by The Rolling Stones.

You must have a great intro. Jimmy Page understood this with “Whole Lotta Love” and so did Pete Townshend when he crafted “Baba O’Riley.” The intro matters.

To celebrate great stadium rock intros, here are three examples of how it’s done.

I can’t stand it, I know you planned it
I’ma set it straight, this Watergate.

“Can’t Stop” by Red Hot Chili Peppers from By the Way (2002)

For guitarists, the key of E remains one of the most useful for writing stadium-thumping riffs. John Frusciante has spent his career updating a kind of Hendrixian sound by way of punked-up funk. “Can’t Stop” perfectly illustrates this approach, and stadiums of RHCP fans have chanted the iconic riff since it arrived in 2002.

Chad Smith, Flea, and Frusciante often begin their shows with an extended jam, leading to the frenetic song intro to “Can’t Stop.” They drag it out, whipping listeners into a rapturous frenzy before Anthony Kiedis takes the stage and utters one of his finest lyrics: Use two sticks to make it in the nature.

“Lyla” by Oasis from Don’t Believe the Truth (2005)

You might think Oasis’ best work exists in the early and heady days of Britpop. And if you checked out after the ’90s, there’s one post-Britpop Oasis album you need to hear. Don’t Believe the Truth remains every bit as strong as the first two albums, and its lead single “Lyla” has one of rock’s best intros.

There aren’t many rock stars who walk on stage with more swagger than the Gallagher brothers. And the intro to “Lyla” gives the vibe of Muhammad Ali stepping into the ring. It helps to have Ringo Starr’s son Zak Starkey pounding the drums, and his bashing drum fills will provoke a sea of Adidas bucket hats to nod along at Wembley.

“Master of Puppets” by Metallica from Master of Puppets (1986)

After Eddie Munson’s shredding performance of “Master of Puppets” in Stranger Things, Metallica’s heavy metal anthem raced up the charts nearly 40 years after its release. Though it introduced the blistering track to a new generation, Metallica die-hards were already aware of its power. Any guitarist who’s attempted “Master of Puppets” understands the level of skill and stamina required to make it through this eight-plus minute thrashing epic.

But the complexity hasn’t kept fans from fist-pupping through it. Looking at the stabbing intro, several riffs blow by you in 60 seconds before James Hetfield begins singing. If you haven’t experienced this live, find the 2022 YouTube clip of Metallica performing “Master of Puppets” at Lollapalooza. An overhead camera zooms in on Lars Ulrich as he absorbs the crowd’s kinetic energy. It’s a master class in rocking a stadium.

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