Few rock songs arrive with the sheer sense of grandeur and inevitability as Led Zeppelin’s 1975 epic "Kashmir." Now, the towering track has been ranked among the top "unforgettable riffs" of all time.
Released on the band's 1975 double album Physical Graffiti, “Kashmir" opens with a riff that feels less like a guitar line and more like the soundtrack to something monumental cresting the horizon. The central motif, written by guitarist Jimmy Page, is deceptively simple on paper, which is a hallmark of many of classic rock's most enduring riffs. But in execution, it's anything but basic.
"It was just [John Bonham] and myself,” said Page. "He started the drums, and I did the riff and the overdubs, which in fact get duplicated by an orchestra at the end, which brought it even more to life. It seemed so sort of ominous and had a particular quality to it."
Bassist and multi-instrumentalist John Paul Jones elevated the song's hypnotic pulse by layering orchestral textures using Mellotron strings and brass arrangements. Those elements subtly mirror Page's guitar line, giving "Kashmir" its sweeping, almost cinematic quality. The result is an orchestral triumph that feels massive without ever dipping into chaotic territory.
The band themselves have long held the track in especially high regard. Frontman Robert Plant once told Louder that he considers it one of the group’s defining achievements. “I wish we were remembered for 'Kashmir' more than 'Stairway to Heaven.' It's so right; there's nothing overblown, no vocal hysterics. Perfect Zeppelin."
That sentiment speaks to what makes "Kashmir" endure nearly 50 years later. Unlike some of the band's more in-your-face hits, the song builds slowly and deliberately. Its power lies in restraint, in that steady, foreboding riff and the layered textures that swirl around it.
While classics like "Whole Lotta Love" and "Stairway to Heaven" often dominate conversations about Led Zeppelin’s legacy, "Kashmir" occupies a singular space in their catalog. It's grand without being over the top, heavy without relying on speed, and epic without losing control.
Decades on, that opening riff still feels like an event that lingers long after the final note fades.
Related: 1973 Hit Ranked Best ‘American Rock Song’ of All Time
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