Yardbirds

The Yardbirds are most famous for producing three of England's most famous guitarists, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page. They began as a British Blues band but were, briefly, one of the pioneering psychedelic rock / psychedelic blues bands in the UK. Later they evolved into Led Zeppelin.

The Yardbirds

• Lead Vocals:
  • Keith Relf (<1968),
  • Jim McCarty (<1968, 1992>, rarely)
  • John Idan (1992-2009, 2015>),
  • Andy Mitchell (2009-2015)
• Guitars:
  • Chris Dreja (<1966, 1992-2013),
  • Anthony "Top" Topham (1963, 2013-2015),
  • Eric Clapton (1953-1965),
  • Jeff Beck (1965-66),
  • Jimmy Page (1966-1968),
  • Ray Majors (1995-96),
  • Gypie Mayo (1996-2004)
  • Jerry Donahue (2004-05),
  • Ben King (2004-15)
  • Andy Mitchell (2009-15)
  • John Idan (2015>),
  • Earl Slick (2015)
  • Johnny A. (2015-18)
  • Godfrey Townsend (2018>)
• Bass Guitar:
  • Paul Samwell-Smith (<1966),
  • Jimmy Page (1966 only),
  • Chris Dreja (1966-68),
  • John Idan (1993-2009)
  • Ron Demick (1995 only),
  • David Smale (2009-2015),
  • Kenny Aaronson (2015>)
• Drums: Jim McCarty (<1968, 1992>)
• Percussion:
  • Jim McCarty (<1968, 1992>)
  • Alan Glen (1996-2003, 2008-09)
  • Billy Boy Miskimmin (2003-08)
  • Ben King (2005-15)
  • Andy Mitchell (2009-15)
  • Myke Scavone (2015>)
• Harmonica:
  • Keith Relf (<1968)
  • Ron Demick (1995 only)
  • Laurie Graham (1995-96)
  • Alan Glen (1996-2003, 2008-09)
  • Billy Boy Miskimmin (2003-08)
  • Andy Mitchell (2009-15)
  • Myke Scavone (2015>)

Blues Rock Origins

The Yardbirds began as an early British Blues band. The "pure" blues sound was so important to some of them that Eric Clapton supposedly quit over the song "For Your Love," which he deemed to be a betrayal. However, his departure set in motion a change in sound, as he was replaced by the more radical Jeff Beck, whose experimentation with the guitar would help drive the band into new musical territory.

Psychedelic Blues Rock Innovators

For a brief period between Clapton's departure and Jeff Beck's, the Yardbirds were at the forefront of British psychedelic innovators. They even have a track that is considered by some to be the first ever psychedelic record, "Shapes of Things."