The Yardbirds are an English blues rock band from London. Formed in May 1963, the group originally included lead vocalist Keith Relf, lead guitarist Anthony "Top" Topham, rhythm guitarist Chris Dreja, bassist Paul Samwell-Smith, and drummer Jim McCarty. In October, Topham was replaced by Eric Clapton. He remained until 13 March 1965, when he left due to creative disagreements. Clapton recommended Jimmy Page to replace him, but he declined and Jeff Beck took over. Page later joined on bass the following June, after Samwell-Smith abruptly quit; Dreja later took over the role, allowing Page to join Beck on guitar. This lineup was short-lived, however, as Beck left in November 1966. The group continued as a four-piece until July 1968, when Relf and McCarty left due to creative differences, primarily with Page. Dreja initially remained, but by August, Page formed a new group under the name The New Yardbirds, with vocalist Robert Plant, bassist John Paul Jones and drummer John Bonham, who later renamed themselves Led Zeppelin.
McCarty and Dreja reformed the Yardbirds in 1992, adding new members "Detroit" John Idan (lead vocals, lead guitar) and Rod Demick (bass, harmonica, backing vocals) from the drummer's eponymous band. Months later Demick left the band, Ray Majors joined on lead guitar, and Idan moved to bass, Laurie Garman also joined on harmonica. A recording of the Jim McCarty Band featuring Demick and Idan was released under the Yardbirds name as Reunion Jam. In 1996, Majors was replaced by Gypie Mayo, and later Garman was replaced by Alan Glen. This lineup remained stable for seven years, releasing the band's first new studio album since 1967, Birdland, in 2003. Shortly after the album's touring cycle, Glen left the Yardbirds and was replaced by Billy Boy Miskimmin. Mayo also left the band at the end of 2004, with Jerry Donahue taking his place. Donahue remained for a year, before he was replaced by Ben King.
In 2008, Glen returned to replace Miskimmin, although only remained for a year before leaving again. Also in 2009, Idan left the Yardbirds after 14 years as the band's frontman. To replace Glen and Idan, the group added Andy Mitchell on lead vocals, acoustic guitar and harmonica, with David Smale joining on bass. The band's lineup remained stable until early 2012, when Dreja was forced to stop performing after suffering two strokes. The following July, it was announced that Dreja would be leaving the band, with original member Top Topham taking his place. On 30 January 2015, this lineup played its final show at the 100 Club in London. A few days later, it was announced that McCarty and Topham would return with former lead singer and guitarist Idan, bassist Kenny Aaronson and Myke Scavone on harmonica and percussion.
Within a month of announcing a new lineup in February 2015, the Yardbirds postponed all tour dates due to "health concerns and extenuating circumstances". In May, guitarist Earl Slick was added to the band's lineup in place of Topham, and the shows were rescheduled for later in the year. However, due to "scheduling conflicts" Slick was unable to tour with the group, and on 12 August 2015 Johnny A. was announced as the band's new lead guitarist. Johnny A. remained until July 2018, when he was replaced by Godfrey Townsend.
Members Current members ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsJim McCartyall Yardbirds releasesJohn IdanKenny Aaronson2015–presentbassnone to dateMyke ScavoneGodfrey Townsend2018–present
Former members ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsChris Dreja all Yardbirds releasesKeith Relf1963–1968 Paul Samwell-Smith1963–1966Anthony "Top" Topham noneEric Clapton1963–1965Jeff Beck1965–1966 Jimmy Page1966–1968Rod Demick1992–1995noneLaurie Garman1995–1996harmonicaRay Majors1995–1996 Gypie Mayo 1996–2004 Alan GlenBilly Boy Miskimmin2003–2008Live at B.B. King Blues Club (2007)Jerry Donahue2004–2005lead guitarnoneBen King2005–2015Andy Mitchell2009–2015Making Tracks (2012)David SmaleEarl Slick 2015lead guitarnoneJohnny A. 2015–2018
Timeline Original run (1963–1968)
Reunion (1992–present)
Line-ups PeriodMembersReleasesMay–October 1963Keith Relf – lead vocals, harmonica Top Topham – lead guitar Chris Dreja – rhythm guitar Paul Samwell-Smith – bass, backing vocals Jim McCarty – drums, percussion, backing vocalsnoneOctober 1963 – March 1965Keith Relf – lead vocals, harmonica Chris Dreja – rhythm guitar Paul Samwell-Smith – bass, backing vocals Jim McCarty – drums, percussion, backing vocals Eric Clapton – lead guitar, occasional lead vocalsFive Live Yardbirds (1964) For Your Love (1965) Having a Rave Up (1965) Sonny Boy Williamson and the Yardbirds (1966) London 1963: The First Recordings (1981) Live! Blueswailing July '64 (2003) Glimpses 1963–1968 (2011)March 1965 – June 1966Keith Relf – lead vocals, harmonica Chris Dreja – rhythm guitar, piano Paul Samwell-Smith – bass, backing vocals Jim McCarty – drums, percussion, backing vocals Jeff Beck – lead guitar, occasional lead vocalsFor Your Love (1965) Having a Rave Up (1965) Roger the Engineer (1966) Glimpses 1963–1968 (2011)June–August 1966Keith Relf – lead vocals, harmonica Chris Dreja – rhythm guitar Jim McCarty – drums, percussion, backing vocals Jeff Beck – lead guitar Jimmy Page – bass"Psycho Daisies" (1966) (Beck, Page, & McCarty only) Glimpses 1963–1968 (2011) (3 live tracks from 27/6/1966)August–November 1966Keith Relf – lead vocals, harmonica Chris Dreja – bass, backing vocals Jim McCarty – drums, percussion, backing vocals Jeff Beck – lead and rhythm guitars Jimmy Page – lead and rhythm guitars"Happenings Ten Years Time Ago" (1966) (with John Paul Jones on bass) "Stroll On" (1967)November 1966 – July 1968Keith Relf – lead vocals, harmonica, rhythm guitar Chris Dreja – bass, backing vocals Jim McCarty – drums, percussion, backing vocals Jimmy Page – lead guitarLittle Games (1967) Live Yardbirds: Featuring Jimmy Page (1971) Glimpses 1963–1968 (2011) Yardbirds '68 (2017)Band inactive 1969–19921984 – 1986 Chris Dreja – rhythm guitar, percussion, backing vocals Jim McCarty – drums, backing vocals, percussion, keyboards Paul Samwell-Smith – bass, backing vocals percussion, synthesizer John Fiddler – lead vocals, guitars, percussion, synthesizers
Notable session contributors
Jimmy Page – lead guitar Jeff Beck – lead guitar Ray Majors – lead guitar, backing vocals, percussion Rory Gallagher – lead and slide guitar, electric sitar Mark Feltham – harmonica Steve Hackett – lead guitar Graham Gouldman – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Box of Frogs (1984) Interchords (1984) Strange Land (1986)1992–1995Chris Dreja – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Jim McCarty – drums, percussion, backing vocals Rod Demick – bass, harmonica, backing vocals John Idan – lead vocals, lead guitarnone1995–1996Chris Dreja – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Jim McCarty – drums, percussion, backing vocals John Idan – lead vocals, bass Ray Majors – lead guitar, backing vocals Laurie Garman – harmonica1996Chris Dreja – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Jim McCarty – drums, percussion, backing vocals John Idan – lead vocals, bass Laurie Garman – harmonica Gypie Mayo – lead guitar, backing vocals1996–2003Chris Dreja – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Jim McCarty – drums, backing vocals John Idan – lead vocals, bass Gypie Mayo – lead guitar, backing vocals Alan Glen – harmonica, percussionBirdland (2003)2003 – November 2004Chris Dreja – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Jim McCarty – drums, backing vocals John Idan – lead vocals, bass Gypie Mayo – lead guitar, backing vocals Billy Boy Miskimmin – harmonica, percussion, backing vocalsnoneNovember 2004 – October 2005Chris Dreja – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Jim McCarty – drums, backing vocals John Idan – lead vocals, bass Billy Boy Miskimmin – harmonica, percussion, backing vocals Jerry Donahue – lead guitarOctober 2005 – 2008Chris Dreja – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Jim McCarty – drums, backing vocals John Idan – lead vocals, bass Billy Boy Miskimmin – harmonica, percussion, backing vocals Ben King – lead guitar, percussionLive at B.B. King Blues Club (2007)2008 – May 2009Chris Dreja – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Jim McCarty – drums, backing vocals John Idan – lead vocals, bass Ben King – lead guitar, percussion Alan Glen – harmonica, percussionnoneMay 2009 – July 2013Chris Dreja – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Jim McCarty – drums, backing vocals Ben King – lead guitar, percussion Andy Mitchell – lead vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica, percussion David Smale – bass, backing vocalsMaking Tracks (2012)July 2013 – January 2015Jim McCarty – drums, backing vocals Ben King – lead guitar, percussion Andy Mitchell – lead vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica, percussion David Smale – bass, backing vocals Top Topham – rhythm guitar, backing vocalsnoneFebruary–May 2015Jim McCarty – drums, backing vocals Top Topham – lead guitar, backing vocals John Idan – lead vocals, rhythm guitar Kenny Aaronson – bass Myke Scavone – harmonica, percussion, backing vocalsMay–August 2015Jim McCarty – drums, backing vocals John Idan – lead vocals, rhythm guitar Kenny Aaronson – bass Myke Scavone – harmonica, percussion, backing vocals Earl Slick – lead guitarAugust 2015 – July 2018Jim McCarty – drums, backing vocals John Idan – lead vocals, rhythm guitar Kenny Aaronson – bass Myke Scavone – harmonica, percussion, backing vocals Johnny A. – lead guitarJuly 2018 – presentJim McCarty – drums, vocals John Idan – lead vocals, rhythm guitar Kenny Aaronson – bass Myke Scavone – harmonica, percussion, backing vocals Godfrey Townsend – lead guitar, backing vocals
References
External links The Yardbirds official website