Top Ten Rock Songs That Sound Best Live

The Top Ten
1 Spit It Out - Slipknot

I'm not the biggest Slipknot fan, but this song is amazing when heard live. The original version... Not so much. It's a bore to listen to.

2 Iron Man - Black Sabbath

While this song is absolutely legendary, it is even better when played live. This isn't their best song, but it is their best song to hear live.

3 Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin

Considered to be a work of art by most, this song is mind-blowing live. While being played live, Page has a chance to experiment a little with his guitar, and that makes this song that much better.

4 Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap - AC/DC

This song is very fun to chant along with the singer. AC/DC is very lively at their shows, and this song proves it.

5 The Number of the Beast - Iron Maiden

The original recording sounds great, but the live version is even better. Also, this song requires responses from the audience, which makes it that much better!

6 Rape Me - Nirvana

This song is arguably one of the best off of the album. It has a catchy tune, Cobain's gritty vocals, and has a great message. While the original recording is phenomenal, it is much better live.

7 Seek & Destroy - Metallica
8 The Bard's Song (In the Forest) - Blind Guardian

The live version of this awesome ballad made me a fan of this band. Blind Guardian is known for being great live, with some live versions that are better than the studio versions. Hansi's voice is amazing live, too.

YouTube: Blind Guardian - The Bard's Song (In The Forest) [Imaginations Through the Looking Glass]

9 Ten Thousand Fists - Disturbed

Again, what makes this song so good live is the responses that come from the audience. It's impossible not to chant "ten thousand fists in the air!" during the song!

10 Mistreated - Deep Purple

Sounds awesome live, especially in front of 500,000 people. Deep Purple - Mistreated HD 1974 (Live in California)

The Contenders
11 Victim of Changes - Judas Priest
12 Enter Sandman - Metallica
13 Fear of the Dark - Iron Maiden
14 Back in the Saddle - Aerosmith
15 Knockin' On Heaven's Door - Guns N' Roses

Axl's vocals, which are usually very gritty and energetic, are very peaceful and mind-numbing in this song. He even sounds better live. And Slash does his solos even better when in front of a live audience.

16 Valhalla - Blind Guardian

Just watch this crowd singing the chorus for four minutes (4:30-8:10). The chorus is golden, of course. Hansi Kürsch tried to finish the song several times. It was one of the most amazing moments from a live show I've ever seen. Great band, great crowd.

YouTube: Blind Guardian - Valhalla (Imaginations Through the Looking Glass)

17 Phantasmagoria - Annihilator

Annihilator is known for their riffs, and this song is just awesome live because those riffs sound even better.

YouTube: Annihilator | Phantasmagoria | Live At Masters Of Rock DVD uploaded by anniafan

18 Break Stuff - Limp Bizkit
19 Hallowed Be Thy Name - Iron Maiden

Its live version at the Beast Over Hammersmith (1982) is better than the original and is my favorite version of this song.

YouTube: Iron Maiden - Hallowed Be Thy Name (live) uploaded by Shane Lentz

20 South of Heaven - Slayer
21 Killing in the Name - Rage Against the Machine
22 Sultans of Swing - Dire Straits
23 Tornado of Souls - Megadeth

How could I not include this song? It contains one of the best guitar solos in history!

24 Du Riechst So Gut - Rammstein
25 Du Hast - Rammstein
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