The Yardbirds

In a short, five year career, The Yardbirds built up a tremendous reputation for themselves as one of the most influential R&B groups in Britain in the 1960s. At one time the band featured three of the world's most accomplished, and prolific lead-guitarists in rock music history - Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page - though not all at the same time.

The group was formed as the Metropolis Blues Quartet at Kingston Art School, in Surrey, in 1963, playing raw, uncomplicated rhythm and blues. They soon built p a large following in and around the London area. and not long after their formation - now working as The Yardbirds - they took over the Rolling Stones' residency at the Crawdaddy Club in Richmond.  It was here that Eric Clapton joined them, replacing Anthony 'Tops' Topham on lead guitar.  Shortly afterwards, they signed a recording contract with Columbia Records and released their first album Five Live Yardbirds and then followed The Stones again, into their former residency at London's Marquee Club. A year later, they toured Britain and Europe with Sonny Boy Williamson, which spawned the album Sonny Boy Williamson And The Yardbirds.

The group's first single Good Morning Little Schoolgirl was released in the autumn of 1964 and just scraped into the lower reaches of the British Top Fifty.  At the beginning of 1965, however, they recorded For Your Love which gave them their first Top Ten hit. They followed this success with Heart Full of Soul (which reached Number 2 in 1966) and Evil Hearted You (Number 3). In 1966, Clapton decided to leave and later joined John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, to be replaced by Jeff Beck.  Beck's guitar experiments with fuzz tone, feedback, and distortion helped revolutionize British rock. In addition, the Yardbirds began incorporating Georgian Chant and world-music influences into their music.

The same year, following successful tours of America they had two more British hits - Shapes of Things and Over Under Sideways Down. Paul Samwell-Smith left the group, Chris Dreja filled in on bass, while Jimmy Page was brought in on guitar.  The band responded with what became their last hit single Happenings Ten Years Ago.

Before long, Jeff Beck parted company with the band.  The Yardbirds continued as a quartet and were featured in the movie Blow Up.  They enjoyed several visits to America during this time where their album Live Yardbirds was recorded in 1968.

The group officially disbanded in July of that year, with Jimmy Page retaining control of the name Yardbirds.  He resurfaced shortly afterwards fronting the New Yardbirds, which later re-emerged as Led Zeppelin. 

Jim McCarty and Chris Dreja reformed the Yardbirds in the 1990s, with John Idan handling bass and lead vocals, and touring regularly since then with a number of guitarists and harmonica players passing through their ranks.

See the Yardbirds perform For Your Love: http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=EuFdreMPBug

For the latest news on The Yardbirds visit their official website at:: http://www.theyardbirds.com/