As an era slips into dust I once again mourn the loss of a great from the past.
The Yardbirds were a seminal band from the early sixties. They took Chicago Blues and boosted it into an amphetamined speed and intensity.
Back in those early days it seemed that a new great band blasted into existence every five minutes – Who, Smallfaces, Downliners Sect, Rolling Stones, Them, Animals, Spencer Davies, Kinks, Manfred Mann, Sorrows, Measles, Pretty Things, Birds, Bo Street Runners. So many great innovative bands.
Sadly, they are fading away, one by one. Where once we had trendy, dynamic long-haired young men we now have balding old men. They still know their craft though! The music lives!
I was fortunate enough to live through that age. The Yardbirds were one of my favourites! I remember buying Five Live Yardbirds and all those early singles.
Thank you Chris Dreja and the rest of the band. Those were great days.
RIP Chris Dreja
I’m surprised this wasn’t more widely reported.
I saw the Yardbirds at Evesham Town Hall (Worcestershire) in 1965. I can’t remember a great deal about it – except it was one of those ‘dance hall’ gigs, with no seats. I can picture Jeff Beck playing his guitar – he was the main attraction. The pictures in my mind have me and my friend leaning on the edge of the stage. We were heavily into blues/rock in those days, and seeing a group like that at a small, rural venue was thrilling!
I used to love seeing bands play in small clubs. The atmosphere when you’re up close. The sound and beat goes right through you.