“You really don’t need a guy in Metallica to tell you it’s one of the greatest rock songs of all time.”

Since rock’s inception, there have subsequently been oodles of classic guitar riffs: “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” “Sunshine of Your Love,” “Whole Lotta Love,” “Iron Man,” “Enter Sandman,” etc. But during a recent chat with Classic Rock Magazine, Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich crowned one particular one as “the definitive hard rock riff.”And that riff is located in Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the Water,” supplied by Richard Hugh Blackmore. Originally released as part of Purple’s 1972 album, “Machine Head,” the tune was not released as a single until a year later, and promptly became a worldwide hit. And more importantly, became the riff that many guitarists would perfect upon first picking up the instrument.

“You really don’t need a guy in Metallica to tell you it’s one of the greatest rock songs of all time and certainly the definitive hard rock riff,” Ulrich admitted. “I don’t play guitar and I can play it, my kids don’t play guitar, they can play it, the three guys walking past me down the street right this minute, who don’t even know who Deep Purple are, can more than probably play it.”

Much has been said over the years concerning Blackmore’s unpredictable personality. Ulrich also addressed the topic when he recalled meeting the guitarist for the first time.

“He was aloof, he was arrogant, he was Ritchie Blackmore. You wouldn’t want him to be any different. I remember the first time I met him was backstage in Sacramento in 1987, on the ‘House of Blue Light’ tour. An assistant introduced us, and I said, ‘Hey, how are you?’ And he looked at me, took a pause, and said, ‘If I said that I’m fine that would be such a conventional answer.’ That was the first thing he said to me. I was like, ‘Dude, you are the coolest person on the planet.’”

A long-time fanatic of the group, one of Ulrich’s first-ever concerts was Purple, which probably took place on December 9, 1973, at the KB Hallen in Copenhagen, Denmark, while the band was supporting their “Who Do We Think We Are” album. But despite his immense appreciation of the band and Blackmore, Ulrich admits there is another Metallica member who may surpass his admiration.

“You have to fight with Kirk [Hammett] on who’s the biggest Ritchie Blackmore fan. I’m pretty sure I have him beat, but he may tell you otherwise.”