Yardbirds (music group)

The Yardbirds is an English rock band formed in 1963. The group originally consisted of vocalist Keith Relf, guitarist Anthony "Top" Topham, bassist Paul Samwell-Smith, guitarist Chris Dreja, and drummer Jim McCarty. The Yardbirds' lineup repeatedly shifted over the next few years, and at various points involved some of music's greatest guitarists, including Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, and Jeff Beck, all of whom went on to form other rock supergroups. Although the band received less attention than other groups involved in the 1960s British Invasion, the Yardbirds' sound was highly influential to the future of rock music. The band's routinely off-the-cuff live performances also set it apart from its more polished contemporaries. The Yardbirds' groundbreaking use of distorted, fuzz-laden guitar effects in its songs ushered in a new era of rock music that would spawn the genres of psychedelic rock, progressive rock, heavy metal, and punk. The original version of the group disbanded in 1968, but original members McCarty and Dreja reassembled the Yardbirds with singer and bassist John Idan in 1992. The group toured the world over the next few decades, with various musicians filling in on guitar.

Background

The Yardbirds began as a group of teenagers playing in the suburbs of London in the early 1960s. Originally referring to themselves as the Metropolis Blues Quartet, the group members changed the band's name to the Yardbirds in 1963. Topham later left the band due to his parents' disapproval. Eric Clapton took over on guitar. The Yardbirds' members took their cues from classic rhythm and blues (R&B) and blues music, adding their distinct guitar effects to the tunes of long-established musicians such as Son House, Muddy Waters, and John Lee Hooker. The act soon became a popular draw in London's R&B scene and landed a regular gig at the club Crawdaddy, where bands such as the Rolling Stones got their start. The group's time at Crawdaddy included serving as the backup band for American blues musician Sonny Boy Williamson II.

The Yardbirds landed a record deal with Columbia Records in 1964 and released its debut live album, Five Live Yardbirds, that same year. The record included a series of electrically amplified R&B and blues covers, including the Isley Brothers' "Respectable" and Bo Diddley's "I'm a Man." Many of the songs featured improvised material that involved explosive tempo buildups and heated guitar solos. Despite the popularity of its covers, the group soon began to write its own original music. The early singles of the Yardbirds eventually took on a more pop-oriented sound in an effort to appeal to wider audiences. Its first hit single, "For Your Love," was penned by noted pop songwriter Graham Gouldman. The song featured a number of novel composition techniques and included an array of unconventional instruments such as the harpsichord and bongos. The single reached number two in the United Kingdom and number six in the United States.

Despite the band's success, tensions mounted among the bandmates regarding the musical direction of their material. Clapton wanted the group to focus on playing blues-centric music instead of catchy pop tunes. The disagreement eventually led to his departure in early 1965, after which he joined the blues-rock outfit John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers. Clapton's position was first offered to Jimmy Page, one of the best guitarists in London at the time, but Page turned down the offer. Page suggested the group contact his friend Jeff Beck to fill the spot. Although Beck did accept the band's offer, his time with the group only lasted eighteen months. Despite his short-lived involvement, Beck's innovative and experimental guitar style took the band's sound to new heights. Beck's work during this period would become the defining sound of 1960s rock music, solidifying the Yardbirds' place in rock and roll history.

Overview

The group released two albums for the US market in 1965: For Your Love and Having a Rave Up. "Rave ups" were what the band members called their improvisational jam sessions. For Your Love contained the group's eponymous hit single, while Having a Rave Up featured two more soon-to-be-hits, "Heart Full of Soul" and "Shape of Things." The band also recorded a cover of the classic blues song "Train Kept A-Rollin'," which was later used in Michelangelo Antonioni's 1966 film Blow-Up.

The group's next release was a full-length album of all original material titled Roger the Engineer. Prior to recording, bassist Samwell-Smith left the band to act as a music producer, making room for Page to join the lineup. Page subbed in on bass until Dreja learned to play the instrument, after which Page switched to guitar. Roger the Engineer was released in 1966 and spawned some of the group's finest work. Bassist John Paul Jones contributed to several songs, including "Happenings Ten Years Time Ago," which featured Beck and Page doubling up on guitar. Roger the Engineer produced several hit singles and was later named one of the greatest albums of all time by Rolling Stone Magazine.

With a hit album and renowned guitarists, the Yardbirds became a popular live act during the latter half of the 1960s. The Beck/Page duo did not last, however, as the often unreliable Beck was fired from the band following its US tour. The group churned out one final studio album in 1967. Little Games did poorly on the album charts, however. Without Beck, Page gave the Yardbirds a darker, heavier sound that alienated fans and failed to impress the mainstream music industry. The original members gave their last performance together on July 7, 1968.

Page later enlisted bassist Jones, singer Robert Plant, and drummer John Bonham to form a new band he named Led Zeppelin, which went on to become one of the most successful acts in rock history. Dreja became a professional photographer, while Relf, McCarty, and Samwell-Smith started the progressive rock band Renaissance. Samwell-Smith later became a successful music producer for various artists. Relf died in an electrical accident in 1976.

The Yardbirds were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992, with all surviving members performing together at the ceremony. Shortly after, McCarty and Dreja revived the Yardbirds, enlisting the help of John Idan on bass and vocals. Featuring an interchangeable lineup of guitarists, the group released a new album, Birdland, in 2003. The band continued to tour the world over the following decades but did not release new music.

Bibliography

Daly, Andrew. "Jim McCarty Has Seen It All - and Tells All About the Yardbirds." Goldmine Mag, 16 Feb. 2023, www.goldminemag.com/interviews/jim-mccarty-has-seen-it-all-and-tells-all-about-the-yardbirds. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

"Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck: The Death of a Musical Revolution." Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 17 Feb. 2013, www.seattlepi.com/lifestyle/blogcritics/article/Eric-Clapton-And-Jeff-Beck-The-Death-of-a-886843.php. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

"500 Greatest Albums of All Time." Rolling Stone, 31 May 2012, www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-20120531/the-yardbirds-roger-the-engineer-a-k-a-over-under-sideways-down-20120524. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

"The Yardbirds." AllMusic, www.allmusic.com/artist/the-yardbirds-mn0000489303. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

"The Yardbirds." Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, www.rockhall.com/inductees/yardbirds. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

"The Yardbirds Bio." Rolling Stone, www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/the-yardbirds/biography. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

"The Yardbirds Biography." TheYardbirds.com, www.theyardbirds.com/bio.html. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.