The Yardbirds Biography
This pivotal UK R&B outfit was formed in London in 1963 when Keith Relf (22 March 1943, Richmond, Surrey, England, d. 14 May 1976; vocals, harmonica) and Paul Samwell-Smith (b. 8 May 1943, Richmond, Surrey, England; bass), both members of semi-acoustic act the Metropolis Blues Quartet, joined forces with Chris Dreja (b. 11 November 1944, Surbiton, Surrey, England; rhythm guitar), Tony "Top" Topham (lead guitar) and Jim McCarty (b. 25 July 1943, Liverpool, England; drums). Within months Topham had opted to continue academic studies and was replaced in October by Eric Clapton (b. Eric Clapp, 30 March 1945, Ripley, Surrey, England). The reconstituted line-up forged a style based on classic Chicago R&B and quickly amassed a following in the nascent blues circuit. They succeeded the Rolling Stones as the resident band at Richmond's popular Crawdaddy club, whose owner, Giorgio Gomelsky, then assumed the role of group manager. Two enthusiastic, if low-key singles, "I Wish You Would" and "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl', attracted critical interest, but the quintet's fortunes flourished with the release of Five Live Yardbirds. Recorded during their tenure at the Marquee club, the set captured an in-person excitement and was marked by an exceptional rendition of Howlin" Wolf's "Smokestack Lightning".
Clapton emerged as the unit's focal point, but a desire for musical purity led to his departure in March 1965 in the wake of a magnificent third single, "For Your Love". Penned by Graham Gouldman, the song's commerciality proved unacceptable to the guitarist despite its innovative sound. Clapton later resurfaced in John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and Derek And The Dominos before establishing a highly successful solo career. Jeff Beck (b. 24 June 1944, Surrey, England), formerly of the Tridents, joined the Yardbirds as the single rose to number 1 in the UK's New Musical Express chart. Gouldman provided further hits in "Heartful Of Soul" and "Evil Hearted You", the latter of which was a double-sided chart entry with the band-penned "Still I'm Sad". Based on a Gregorian chant, the song indicated a desire for experimentation prevailing in the raga-rock "Shapes Of Things", the chaotic "Over Under Sideways Down" and the excellent Roger The Engineer. By this point Simon Napier-Bell had assumed management duties, while disaffection with touring, and the unit's sometimes irreverent attitude, led to the departure of Samwell-Smith in June 1966. Respected session guitarist Jimmy Page (b. James Patrick Page, 9 January 1944, Heston, Middlesex, England) was brought into a line-up that, with Dreja switching to bass, now adopted a potentially devastating twin-lead guitar format. The experimental "Happenings Ten Years Time Ago" confirmed such hopes, but within six months Beck had departed during a gruelling USA tour. The Yardbirds remained a quartet but, despite a growing reputation on the American "underground" circuit, their appeal as a pop attraction waned. Despite late-period collaborations with the commercially minded Mickie Most, singles, including "Little Games" (1967) and "Goodnight Sweet Josephine" (1968), failed to chart. The disappointing Little Games was denied a UK release but found success in the USA. They followed with two bizarre successes in America: "Ha Ha Said The Clown" and Nilsson's "Ten Little Indians". When Relf and McCarty announced a desire to pursue a folk-based direction, the band folded in July 1968. Page subsequently founded Led Zeppelin, Dreja became a highly successful photographer while the remaining duo forged a new career, firstly as Together, then Renaissance. The legacy of the Yardbirds has refused to die, particularly in the wake of the fame enjoyed by its former guitarists. Relf was fatally electrocuted in 1976, but the following decade McCarty and Dreja joined Samwell-Smith - now a respected record producer - in Box Of Frogs. When this short-lived attraction folded, the former colleagues reverted to their corresponding careers, with McCarty remaining active in music as a member of the British Invasion All-Stars and the Yardbirds Experience. In 1992, McCarty and Dreja performed a series of reunion concerts in London to commemorate the Yardbirds election to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. The two men reunited once more in 1996, this time on a more permanent basis, and in the new millennium they began working on a studio album. Birdland was released by the Favored Nations label in 2003 with a number of famous names helping to bolster the line-up. The addition of Steve Vai, Jeff Baxter and Slash to new versions of the old hits made little impression. The allure of the Yardbirds still flourishes and they remain acclaimed as early practitioners of technical effects and psychedelic styles. The "blueswailing" Yardbirds have maintained enormous credibility as true pioneers of primal British R&B, classic experimental pop and early exponents of heavy rock.
Source: The Encyclopedia of Popular Music by Colin Larkin. Licensed from Muze.
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