Members Of The Yardbirds Then And NowMany famous names have been members of the Yardbirds. In the 1960s, bands frequently changed personnel. There were lots of “one-hit wonders” and it was common for musicians to play in more than one group. The five founding members of the band started in the Metropolitan Blues Quartet in 1962. Anthony “Top” Topham, Keith Relf, Chris Dreja, Paul Samwell-Smith and Jim McCarty became The Yardbirds in 1963. Between October 1963 and October 1966, three of the world’s greatest rock/blues guitarists cycled through: Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page. Let’s take a look at each of those musicians during their tenure with The Yardbirds and beyond. Top Topham and Paul Samwell-SmithThese were the first founding members of The Yardbirds to leave the nest. Top Topham played lead guitar. At fifteen, he was the youngest member of the rhythm’n’blues band. They were gigging almost every night! His parents wanted him to take art college more seriously so he soon quit and was replaced by Eric Clapton. Topham has said that, like Clapton, he probably would have left when The Yardbirds migrated from blues to rock. Top Topham always got drawn back to music, playing with Captain Beefheart, Marc Bolan, Yes and doing session work for Mike Vernon’s Blue Horizon label. He later teamed up with fellow Yardbird Jim McCarty in his band. Top’s still gigging. Bassist Paul Samwell-Smith left the band on good terms in June 1966 to embark on a successful career as record producer. He produced albums for Cat Stevens, Murray Head, Carly Simon and Jethro Tull, to name but a few artists. He was musical producer on 1971’s classic cult film, Harold and Maude. In the 1980s, he played in a Yardbirds reunion band, Box of Frogs. In 1990, he was involved with Postcards from the Edge, starring Meryl Streep. Eric “Slowhand” ClaptonGuitarist Eric Clapton was recruited by members of The Yardbirds Keith Relf and Paul Samwell-Smith to join their group in October 1963. At the time, he was all the rage on the rhythm’n’blues pub circuit in London. His personal history and brooding, introspective nature created in him a deep-seated affinity for Amercian blues music. He studied its artists and their techniques in great depth. Yardbirds manager, Giorgio Gomelsky, nicknamed him “Slowhand”. He was anything but! Clapton left The Yardbirds after eighteen months, when the group chose psychedelic rock over his beloved blues. He joined John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers. During this period, he also recorded with a studio band called The Powerhouse, which included John Paul Jones. His later bands included Cream with Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce; Blind Faith with Steve Winwood, Baker and Rick Grech; a stint with Delaney (Bramlett) & Bonnie & Friends and, finally, Derek and The Dominos. After conquering heroin addiction and alcoholism, Clapton made a spectacular comeback as a solo artist and composer of film scores. He’s the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s only triple inductee. He has also won or shared in eighteen Grammys. In 1998, he opened the Crossroads Centre in Antigua – a rehab facility to treat drug and alcohol abuse.
Jeff Beck, Innovative Guitar GeniusWhen Clapton quit, the remaining members of The Yardbirds wanted Jimmy Page to replace him. But Page declined and recommended his friend, Jeff Beck. His visceral, experimental style was largely what earned the group’s reputation for innovation. The group only recorded one album during Beck’s 18-month tenure and Jimmy Page eventually did join the band along with him. Together, they pioneered the concept of dual lead guitar that would inspire later groups like Aerosmith and Lynryd Skynyrd. Forming the Jeff Beck Group, the guitarist recorded two very influential albums: Truth (1968) and Beck-ola (1969). Beck gradually moved from hard rock to jazz fusion. He continues to innovate, record and tour. Keith Relf, Out In FrontVocalist and harmonica-player, Keith Relf, was among the founding members of The Yardbirds. Although the group covered a lot of American blues artists’ songs, Relf and bandmate Jim McCarty also penned original material. When The Yardbirds disbanded in July 1968, the duo created the group, Together ,then a classical folk rock band called Renaissance. Keith’s sister, Jane who, according to interviewee Jerry Ritz had run The Yardbirds Fan Club, sang with Renaissance. Relf later performed in the groups Saturnalia, Amber and Medicine Head. While on stage rehearsing for the re-formed Renaissance under a new name of Illusion, he was accidentally electrocuted on May 14, 1976. Jim McCarty, As Upbeat As EverPercussionist and songwriter Jim McCarty was a driving force among the members of The Yardbirds. When the group called it quits and after his collaboration with the late Keith Relf, McCarty continued with his own band. In 1970, he was playing guitar with a group called Cactus. Composed of ex-Vanilla Fudge members Carmine Appice (drums), Tim Bogert (guitar) and Jimmy Kunes (former Savoy Brown vocalist ), the band was often referred to as “The American Led Zeppelin”! These days, Jim McCarty does a lot of touring with both Cactus V and The Yardbirds, which he and Chris Dreja brought back to perform to a whole new generation.
Chris Dreja, Man Of Many TalentsIt’s interesting that most members of The Yardbirds either attended art college or demonstrated artistic talent in addition to musical ability. Chris Dreja was no exception. When The Yardbirds called it quits in 1968, the former rhythm guitarist turned bassist was Jimmy Page’s first choice to join him in forming Led Zeppelin. But Dreja declined the offer, opting instead to pursue a career in photography. It is Dreja’s photo of Led Zeppelin that graces the back cover of the group’s self-titled debut album. One of my interviewees told me that he was fascinating to talk to because of his in-depth knowledge of world music. Judging by the photographs taken around the globe which appear on his website, Chris Dreja expanded and indulged this passion through extensive travels. He continues to tour with Jim McCarty as part of The Yardbirds, reunited. Last but certainly not least, Jimmy Page was among the members of The Yardbirds. But you can read about him in greater detail elsewhere on this site!
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