The King of Horror Fiction, good and bad, set out to create an interesting list of strictly Rock 'n' Roll songs and has come up with a unique collection.  That, of course, is the task -- to put one's own stamp on how rock music is perceived.  And it is more difficult than it seems.  But, having sold an astronomical number of books, the King of Horror Fiction is not about to peek off of someone else's sheet.

"I began by throwing out most of those Internet lists, because they're full of ballads ('Tears in Heaven' as rock & roll?  Oh, really?), soul ('When a Man Loves a Woman' is a great song but it's not rock), and tunes that have been played to death."

He takes a big swipe at "draggy" songs, for which he has neither time nor room on his list.

"There's also an amazing number of draggy songs on the lists, like 'Hotel California.'  When would I like to hear that one again?  Uh...how does never work for you?"

Rocktations loves "best of" lists because they provide one more excuse for casual conversation to escalate into a full-fledged, chair-throwing bar fight.

We think that the King of Horror Fiction gives far too much credit to the King.  There are too many Elvis options on this list and a few too many old-school choices as well.  We'll suggest several songs that should've made the list, using the King of Horror Fiction's own guidelines but giving more weight to songs that have stood the test of time (just not three decades' worth of time).

In no particular order and by no means exhaustive:

• Today - Smashing Pumpkins - the carpe diem song for the decade of the 90's.
• Leash -  Pearl Jam - Pearl Jam does irreverance and rebellion as well as anyone ever has.
• Regret - New Order - the perfect title for a band who came out the other side of tragedy better than they were before.
• Supersonic - Oasis - Mancunian anthem of women, speed and drugs with one of the best hooks of all time and some of the weirdest lyrics.
• Search and Destroy - Iggy Pop - one of the penultimate punk songs of all time...ever...in the universe.
• Over the Hill and Far Away - Led Zeppelin - though appearing on a "lesser" Zeppelin album, and though lacking the guitar trickery of the Rain Song, which immediately precedes it, this song flat out rocks.
• Voodoo Chile (Slight Return) - Stevie Ray Vaughn - the virtuoso eclipses Hendrix in this masterpiece of guitar improv.
• Mysterious Ways - U2 - a danceable baseline and the trademark Edge guitar effects make it an unforgettable rock-meets-electronic anthem.