The Yardbirds

Lore & Background

The band formed in the southwest London suburbs in 1963, originally as the Metropolitan Blues Quartet. After adding members and changing their name to the Yardbirds—possibly derived from Jack Kerouac's novel On the Road or jazz saxophonist Charlie 'Yardbird' Parker—they became the house band at the Crawdaddy Club, succeeding the Rolling Stones. Their early repertoire drew from Chicago blues artists such as Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters. Original lead guitarist Anthony 'Top' Topham was replaced by Eric Clapton in October 1963. Under manager Giorgio Gomelsky, the Yardbirds toured as backup for Sonny Boy Williamson II and signed to EMI's Columbia label in 1964.

Clapton left in March 1965 after the band's first major hit 'For Your Love,' which he disliked for its commercial approach. Jeff Beck replaced him on the recommendation of Jimmy Page, who had declined the role. The Beck-era Yardbirds produced groundbreaking singles like 'Heart Full of Soul,' 'Shapes of Things,' and 'Over Under Sideways Down,' and the album 'Yardbirds' (popularly known as 'Roger the Engineer'). Beck's use of fuzz tone, feedback, and Middle Eastern influences helped pioneer psychedelic rock. The band split in 1968; Relf and McCarty formed Renaissance, and Page formed Led Zeppelin.

Reader's Guide

The Yardbirds' significance lies in their role as a crucible for three of rock's most celebrated guitarists—Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page—all of whom ranked in the top five of Rolling Stone's 2011 list of 100 greatest guitarists. Beyond launching these careers, the band itself was innovative: they broadened from blues into pop, psychedelic rock, and early hard rock, and their 'rave-up' instrumental breaks and electric guitar innovations influenced later punk, progressive rock, and heavy metal. Their mid-1960s hits, including 'For Your Love,' 'Heart Full of Soul,' and 'Shapes of Things,' showcased a blend of blues, Eastern scales, and studio experimentation. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 and ranked No. 89 on Rolling Stone's '100 Greatest Artists of All Time.' Their legacy endures through the work of their famous alumni and their own recordings, which remain touchstones of 1960s British rock.

Did You Know?

• The band's name may have come from Jack Kerouac's novel On the Road or from jazz saxophonist Charlie 'Yardbird' Parker.
• Eric Clapton left the Yardbirds in March 1965 because he disliked the commercial direction of the hit single 'For Your Love.'
• Jeff Beck's guitar riff on 'Heart Full of Soul' helped introduce Indian-influenced guitar stylings to the UK singles chart in 1965.
• After the Yardbirds split in 1968, Jimmy Page formed Led Zeppelin, and Keith Relf and Jim McCarty formed Renaissance.