History
part 4
Yardbirds 1968-2004
Keith Relf
After leaving Yardbirds, Jim McCarty and Keith Relf continued as the folk music duo Together. One year later they started Renaissance. Besides Keith Relf and Jim McCarty the other members were Jane Relf (Keith’s sister) on vocals, bass player Loui Cennamo and keyboard player John Hawken. Renaissance disbanded in 1971 but a new Renaissance with other members had some success during the 70:s. After Renaissance, Keith Relf worked as a producer for Medicine Head among others. In 1975 he was a member of the short-lived heavy rock band Armageddon. In 1976 he was planning to start a new band with Jim McCarty called Illusion. But 14 may 1976 Keith Relf was found dead in the living room of his home in west London. He had died from an electric shock from his guitar. A tragic end for Keith Relf, the excellent singer and harmonica player. It was also a great loss for the whole world of rock.
Jim McCarty
After Renaissance Jim McCarty continued with bands like Shoot, Illusion and Ruthless Blues. In 1984 he started Box Of Frogs together with his old Yardbirds colleagues Chris Dreja, Paul Samwell-Smith and ex. Medicine Head singer John Fiddler. This band, which was as close you can get to a Yardbirds reunion made two albums. The first, which was a real good album had Jeff Beck as guest artist on four tracks. The second album, which was a failure had Jimmy Page on one track. Jim McCarty was very active during the 80.s. he had his own band, The McCarty Band and was also involved in some other projects like Stairway (with Jane Relf and Loui Cennamo) and British Invasion All Stars (which included a lot of famous British rockers). In 1995 he started up the Yardbirds again together with Chris Dreja.
Chris Dreja
Chris Dreja quit the New Yardbirds (which later on became Led Zeppelin) after only a couple of rehearsals. Then he worked as a photographer for many years. He was a member of Box Of Frogs during their existence and later on he played occasionally with the McCarty Band and also participated in some Yardbirds-reunion gigs. In 1995 he and Jim McCarty started the Yardbirds again. More of that later on in this story!
Paul Samwell-Smith
Paul Samwell-Smith has been working as a record producer after leaving Yardbirds in 1966. He has produced records for Jethro Tull, Renaissance, Cat Stevens, Carly Simon, All About Eve and many others. Besides his stint with Box Of Frogs he has only played sporadically.
Anthony "Top" Topham
Anthony "Top" Topham went back to the music after finishing school. He made a solo album in 1970, "Ascension Heights". Since then he has worked with music as a session man on other artists records. He was a member of the McCarty band for some years and now he is playing in a new band.
Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton left the Yardbirds when the band got the big break. He joined John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers and played with them for about one year. In 1966 he founded Cream together with Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker. Cream, which was one of the best bands of all time had a lot of success in their brief existence. After Cream split, Clapton formed Blind Faith together with Ginger Baker, Steve Winwood and Rich Grech but that band lasted only for one year. Then Clapton played shorter periods with Derek and the Dominoes and Delaney, Bonnie and Friends. After some years with heavy drug-and alcohol problems Clapton has recovered, both as artist and person and he is now more popular and successful than ever. A living legend and one of rocks great artists.
Jeff Beck
Jeff Beck started his career after Yardbirds with some rather mediocre hit-singles which gave him some limited success. Then he formed the Jeff Beck Group in the middle of 1967. It was an excellent band with Beck on guitar, Rod Stewart (vocals), Ron Wood (bass) and Mickey Waller (drums). Unfortunately this band only lasted two years. After a serious traffic accident, which put Beck out of action for two years, he formed a new Jeff Beck Group which had Cozy Powell on drums. But that band wasn’t as good and successful as the first. When that band split, Jeff Beck formed Beck, Bogert And Appice 1973. But this good heavy rock band lasted only one year. After that Beck has worked as a solo artist and have had a lot of success with some of his experimental jazz-rock solo albums. He has also played guitar on many other artists albums and he can be heard on albums with Rod Stewart, Tina Turner, Mick Jagger, John Bon Jovi and many others. Together with Jimi Hendrix he’s the one who have meant most for the development of guitar playing and for the use of the electric guitar. He hasn’t really got the credit he deserves, mainly because of his low profile and long periods of inactivity. New Jeff Beck-album were released in 1999 and 2001.
Jimmy Page
Jimmy Page had great success with Led Zeppelin, one of rock music’s best, most popular and most influential bands. Led Zeppelin split up in 1980 because of John Bonhams tragic death and after that Jimmy page has been involved in a lot of different projects. He made the soundtrack to the movie "Death Wish II" played with short-lived The Firm and released a good solo album "Outrider". He also cooperated with Whitesnake’s singer David Coverdale in the short-lived project Coverdale-Page. In 1994 he reunited with his old Led Zeppelin-colleague Robert Plant and they have been working together since then. Two albums and a lot of touring around the world is what these Zeppelin-legends have done until this day.
Yardbirds was without doubt one of the most creative bands in rock history and a lot of other artists were influed by their music. Among today’s hard rock and heavy metal heroes, there are a lot of people who have Yardbirds as their great favorites. Musicians like Richie Blackmore (Deep Purple, Rainbow), David Coverdale (Whitesnake), Steven Tyler (Aerosmith), Ian "Lemmy" Kilminster (Motörhead), Alice Cooper and Gary Moore are all Yardbirds fans. There is a great interest in Yardbirds music and the result of that is that almost everything the band ever recorded is available on CD and vinyl. Their music still sounds fresh and interesting despite the fact that it was recorded a long time ago with rather primitive equipment. Therefore it’s a shame that Yardbirds hasn’t really got the credit they deserve, at least not among rock journalists. A band that created so much interesting music and also had three of rock music’s greatest guitar players as members deserves all the credit it can possibly have.
In 1991, Yardbirds finally got some credit for their contribution to rock music when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of fame in Cleveland, USA. That led Jim McCarty and Chris Dreja to do a serie of Yardbirds reunion gigs in London 1992. Two members of the former McCarty band, Rod Demick (bass) and John Idan (lead guitar) completed the line-up. In 1997, Yardbirds was officially reunited. After some changes the band members between 1997 and 2004 were: Jim McCarty (drums, vocals), Chris Dreja (guitar), John Idan (bass, lead vocals), Gypie Mayo (lead guitar) and Alan Glenn (harmonica). They have since then toured with success both in USA and Europe. In 2003 the band released a new album, "Birdland" with both old and new material and with guest appearances from famous musicians as Jeff Beck, Brian May, Slash, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Jeff Baxter and John Rzeznik.
In the beginning of 2004 harmonica player Alan Glenn left the band and was replaced by Billy Boy Miskimmin, a former member of Nine Below Zero. In the end of 2004, Gypie Mayo left the band to pursue a solo career and was replaced by Jerry Donahue who has been a member of Fairport Convention and hellecasters The new line-up have continued to tour in Europe and the US.
Further changes in the line up occurred in 2005 when Jerry Donahue left and was replaced by Ben King. In 2008 Billy Boy Miskimmin left the band and was replaced by Alan Glen who returned to the band for a brief stint. In 2009 long-time member John Idan left the band and was replaced by David Smales. Alan Glen also left the band and was replaced by Andy Mitchell who also took over the role as lead singer.
And the story continues………..
Yardbirds at the CC Pub in Gävle, Sweden in March 1998. From left to right: Alan Glenn, Gypie Mayo, Jim McCarty, John Idan, Chris Dreja