All fantastic offerings. I’d forgotten how good the intro to WPOD was. And of course, the Wicked Pickett!
Much as I love it, The Only Ones loses out for fading in. Once it hits, nothing better.
I saw Thin Lizzy at a sports center in Bracknell in ’96 / 97. Clover did an excellent support set in their pre Huey Lewis days and then on came Phil Lynott and his mates accompanied by several thunderflash explosions. The smoke engulfed the audience and, being in a sports centre, had nowhere to go so stayed put. The band played on for two or three songs whilst the back doors were wafted and eventually we, band and audience, could each see each other and carried on.
Anyway the show finished and the audience started to drift away. I said to my wife to be, they’ll be back to do The Rocker and I was right.
by 23 Comments 
The best first 18 seconds of any record ever made. Bloody ever. Anywhere.
Unless you know different 😉
Funnily enough, I happened to listen to 20CB on the way to work this morning and was thinking much the same. Supremely exciting.
Same thrill I get listening to the opening bars of Pretty Vacant & Welcome to the Jungle.
Thrilling. Goosebumps Central 40 and 30 years on
Contender #1. The Tubes “White Punks On Dope”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFltXDMQsQQ
Contender #2: The Clash – White Man In Hammersmith Palais
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkM5lrrnq_Y
The only real contender is another T.Rex single.
Love all of those, but this…
Good answer.
25 seconds though for the full effect.
Therefore disqualified.
Oh, it’s exactly 17 seconds you’re looking for..?
(Beastie Boys – Sabotage)
An “Ow” and an incredible opening 17 seconds. Usually enough to get to the dance floor.
All fantastic offerings. I’d forgotten how good the intro to WPOD was. And of course, the Wicked Pickett!
Much as I love it, The Only Ones loses out for fading in. Once it hits, nothing better.
Keep ’em coming.
OK, its only 13 seconds. But an extra 5 seconds of Bon’s vocal just adds to the thrill
AC/DC – Whole Lotta Rosie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I479175fe4k
“Baby Baby Baaby”
Slade – Cum On Feel The Noize
So good, you’ll want to play it twice
Undertones – Teenage Kicks
The dance floor filler you say?
Fifteen seconds: doobadoobadoobadoo Awwww
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6JLKbSjH3E
Another nomination for the best first fifteen seconds:
The “haaaah” is 55 seconds too late though
Best first thirty-five seconds?
This intro was the one that sprung to my mind.
First heard this at full volume at a rock club night at Camden Palace.
The hairs stood (and still do) stand on the back of my neck whenever I hear it.
Honourable mentions for the PSB’s ‘It’s a Sin’ and The Damned’s ‘New Rose’
I would suggest this as being close to the OP:
I saw Thin Lizzy at a sports center in Bracknell in ’96 / 97. Clover did an excellent support set in their pre Huey Lewis days and then on came Phil Lynott and his mates accompanied by several thunderflash explosions. The smoke engulfed the audience and, being in a sports centre, had nowhere to go so stayed put. The band played on for two or three songs whilst the back doors were wafted and eventually we, band and audience, could each see each other and carried on.
Anyway the show finished and the audience started to drift away. I said to my wife to be, they’ll be back to do The Rocker and I was right.
That should read “a sports centre in Bracknell in ’76 / 77. “