List of the Yardbirds members

The Yardbirds
The Yardbirds, 1966. From left: Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Chris Dreja, Keith Relf and Jim McCarty.
Background information
Genres Blues rock, psychedelic rock, rhythm and blues
Years active 1963–1968, 1992–present
Members Jim McCarty
John Idan
Kenny Aaronson
Godfrey Townsend
Myke Scavone

The membership of the Yardbirds has seen many lineup changes ever since the English rock band formed in the 1960s. The band's original run lasted from 1963 to 1968. There were two very brief reunions in the 1980s until the band reformed fully in 1992.

Members

Current

Jim McCarty

Jim McCarty, drummer (1963-1968, 1992-present)
Active: 1963-1968, 1992-present
Instruments: drums, backing vocals
Studio contributions: all The Yardbirds studio releases
Live contributions: all The Yardbirds live releases

John Idan

John Idan (left), lead vocalist, bassist, rhythm guitarist (1992-2009, 2015-present); Chris Dreja (right), rhythm guitarist, bassist (1963-1968, 1992-2013)
Active: 1992-2009, 2015-present
Instruments: lead vocals, guitar, bass
Studio contributions: Birdland (2003)
Live contributions: Reunion Jam (1999), Reunion Jam Vol. II (2006), Live at B.B. King Blues Club (2007)

Myke Scavone

Active: 2015-present
Instruments: harmonica, percussion, backing vocals
Studio contributions: none
Live contributions: none[1]

Kenny Aaronson

Active: 2015, 2016-present
Instruments: bass
Studio contributions: none
Live contributions: none

Godfrey Townsend

Active: 2018-present
Instruments: lead guitar
Studio contributions: none
Live contributions: none

Former

Chris Dreja

Active: 1963-1968, 1992-2013
Instruments: rhythm guitar, bass, backing vocals, piano
Studio contributions: all The Yardbirds studio releases
Live contributions: all The Yardbirds live releases[2]

Keith Relf

Active: 1963-1968
Instruments: lead vocals, harmonica, percussion, rhythm guitar
Studio contributions: all The Yardbirds studio releases sans Birdland (2003)
Live contributions: Five Live Yardbirds (1964), Sonny Boy Williamson and the Yardbirds (1965), Live Yardbirds: Featuring Jimmy Page (1971), London 1963 – The First Recordings! (1984), BBC Sessions (1999), Live! Blueswailing July '64 (2003)[3]

Paul Samwell-Smith

Active: 1963-1966
Instruments: bass, backing vocals
Studio contributions: For Your Love (1965), Having a Rave Up with The Yardbirds (1965), Roger the Engineer (1966)
Live contributions: Five Live Yardbirds (1964), Sonny Boy Williamson and the Yardbirds (1965), London 1963 – The First Recordings! (1984), BBC Sessions (1999), Live! Blueswailing July '64 (2003)[4]

Anthony "Top" Topham

Active: 1963, 2013-2014
Instruments: guitar
Studio contributions: none
Live contributions: none[2]

Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton, lead guitarist (1963-1965)
Active: 1963-1965
Instruments: lead guitar
Studio contributions: For Your Love (1965), Having a Rave Up with The Yardbirds (1965)
Live contributions: Five Live Yardbirds (1964), Sonny Boy Williamson and the Yardbirds (1965), London 1963 – The First Recordings! (2984), Live! Blueswailing July '64 (2003)[5]

Jeff Beck

Jeff Beck, lead guitarist (1965-1966)
Active: 1965-1966
Instruments: lead guitar, backing vocals, occasional lead vocals
Studio contributions: Having a Rave Up with The Yardbirds (1965), Roger the Engineer (1966), Birdland (2003) [1 song]
Live contributions: BBC Sessions (1999)[6]

Jimmy Page

Jimmy Page, lead guitarist (1966-1968)
Active: 1966-1968
Instruments: lead guitar, bass
Studio contributions: Little Games (1967)
Live contributions: Live Yardbirds: Featuring Jimmy Page (1971), BBC Sessions (1999)[7]

Rod Demick

Active: 1992-1993
Instruments: bass, harmonica, backing vocals
Studio contributions: none
Live contributions: Reunion Jam (1999), Reunion Jam Vol. II (2006)[8]

Laurie Garman

Active: 1994-1996
Instruments: harmonica
Studio contributions: none
Live contributions: none

Ray Majors

Active: 1994-1995
Instruments: lead guitar, backing vocals
Studio contributions: none
Live contributions: none

Gypie Mayo

Active: 1995-2004
Instruments: lead guitar, backing vocals
Studio contributions: Birdland (2003)
Live contributions: none

Denny Ball

Active: Summer 1998
Instruments: Bass Guitar, backing vocals
Studio contributions: None
Deputy for Gypie Mayo, John Idan took over on guitar

Alan Glen

Active: 1996–2003, 2008–2009
Instruments: harmonica, percussion
Studio contributions: Birdland (2003)
Live contributions: none

Billy Boy Miskimmin

Active: 2003-2008, 2016
Instruments: harmonica, percussion, backing vocals
Studio contributions: none
Live contributions: Live at B.B. King Blues Club (2007)

Jerry Donahue

Jerry Donahue, lead guitarist (2004-2005)
Active: 2004-2005
Instruments: lead guitar, backing vocals
Studio contributions: none
Live contributions: none

Ben King

Ben King, lead guitarist (2005-2014) [Jim McCarty on left, Chris Dreja on right]
Active: 2005-2014
Instruments: lead guitar, backing vocals
Studio contributions: none
Live contributions: Live at B.B. King Blues Club (2007), Making Tracks (2014)

David Smale

Active: 2009-2014, 2015-2016
Instruments: bass guitar, backing vocals
Studio contributions: none
Live contributions: Making Tracks (2014)

Andy Mitchell

Active: 2009-2014
Instruments: lead vocals, harmonica, percussion, acoustic guitar
Studio contributions: none
Live contributions: Making Tracks (2014)

Johnny A.

Johnny A., lead guitarist (2015-2018)
Active: 2015-2018
Instruments: lead guitar
Studio contributions: none
Live contributions: none

1963–1968

Original lineup
(Late May 1963 – October 1963)
Clapton replaces Topham
(October 1963 – February 1965)
  • Keith Relf – lead vocals, harmonica
  • Eric Clapton – lead guitar
  • Chris Dreja – rhythm guitar
  • Paul Samwell-Smith – bass, backing vocals
  • Jim McCarty – drums, backing vocals
Beck replaces Clapton
(March 1965 – June 1966)
  • Keith Relf – lead vocals, harmonica
  • Jeff Beck – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Chris Dreja – rhythm guitar
  • Paul Samwell-Smith – bass, backing vocals
  • Jim McCarty – drums, backing vocals, percussion
Page replaces Samwell-Smith
(June – November 1966)
  • Keith Relf – lead vocals, harmonica
  • Jeff Beck – lead/rhythm guitar
  • Chris Dreja – rhythm guitar, bass
  • Jimmy Page – bass, lead guitar
  • Jim McCarty – drums, backing vocals, percussion
Beck is fired
(November 1966 – July 1968)
  • Keith Relf – lead vocals, harmonica, rhythm guitar
  • Jimmy Page – lead guitar
  • Chris Dreja – bass
  • Jim McCarty – drums, backing vocals, percussion
New Yardbirds
(September – October 1968)
become Led Zeppelin *
  • NOTE: Led Zeppelin, while deriving from the final lineup during the original tenure of "The Yardbirds" is considered a completely different group from the "Yardbirds" dominated by Chris Dreja and Jim McCarty. However, this article views Led Zeppelin as a continuation, in sorts, of The Yardbirds, due to their billing as "The New Yardbirds" for a few live dates during all of 1968 to fulfill contractual obligations.

1982–1983

First reunion including original members
(1982)
  • Mark Feltham – lead vocals, harmonica
  • John Knightsbridge – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Chris Dreja – rhythm guitar
  • Joe Allanson – bass
  • Jim McCarty – drums, vocals
Samwell-Smith rejoins reformed group
(1983)
  • Mark Feltham – lead vocals, harmonica
  • John Knightsbridge – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Chris Dreja – rhythm guitar
  • Paul Samwell-Smith – bass
  • Jim McCarty – drums, vocals

1992–present

First lineup of reformed group
(1992)
  • Chris Dreja – guitar
  • Rod Demick – bass, harmonica
  • Jim McCarty – drums, vocals
Idan Joins
(1992–1993)
  • John Idan – lead vocals, lead guitar
  • Chris Dreja – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Rod Demick – bass, harmonica, backing vocals
  • Jim McCarty – drums, backing vocals
Demick leaves the band, Garman and Majors join
(1994–1995)
  • John Idan – lead vocals, bass
  • Ray Majors – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Chris Dreja – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Laurie Garman – harmonica
  • Jim McCarty – drums, backing vocals
Mayo replaces Majors
(1995–1996)
  • John Idan – lead vocals, bass
  • Gypie Mayo – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Chris Dreja – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Laurie Garman – harmonica
  • Jim McCarty – drums, backing vocals
Glen replaces Garman
(1996–2003)
  • John Idan – lead vocals, bass
  • Gypie Mayo – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Chris Dreja – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Alan Glen – harmonica, percussion
  • Jim McCarty – drums, backing vocals
  • Denny Ball - bass (1998 temporary for Gypie Mayo - John Idan moved over to lead guitar)
Miskimmin replaces Glen
(2003–2004)
  • John Idan – lead vocals, bass
  • Gypie Mayo – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Chris Dreja – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Billy Boy Miskimmin – harmonica, percussion
  • Jim McCarty – drums, backing vocals
Donahue replaces Mayo
(2004–2005)
  • John Idan – lead vocals, bass
  • Jerry Donahue – lead guitar
  • Chris Dreja – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Billy Boy Miskimmin – harmonica, percussion
  • Jim McCarty – drums, backing vocals
King replaces Donahue
(2005–2008)
  • John Idan – lead vocals, bass
  • Ben King – lead guitar
  • Chris Dreja – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Billy Boy Miskimmin – harmonica, percussion
  • Jim McCarty – drums, backing vocals
Glen returns to the band
(2008–2009)
  • John Idan – lead vocals, bass
  • Ben King – lead guitar
  • Chris Dreja – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Alan Glen – harmonica, percussion
  • Jim McCarty – drums, backing vocals
Idan and Glen leave the band, Mitchell and Smale join
(2009–2013)
  • Andy Mitchell- lead vocals, harmonica
  • Ben King – lead guitar
  • Chris Dreja – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • David Smale- bass
  • Jim McCarty – drums, backing vocals
Topham replaces Dreja
(2013–2014)
  • Andy Mitchell- lead vocals, harmonica
  • Ben King – lead guitar
  • Anthony "Top" Topham – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • David Smale - bass
  • Jim McCarty – drums, backing vocals
McCarty changes the lineup
(2015)
  • John Idan - lead vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Johnny A. – lead guitar
  • Kenny Aaronson – bass
  • Myke Scavone - harmonica, percussion, backing vocals
  • Jim McCarty – drums, backing vocals
Smale returns to the band replacing Aaronson
(2015–2016)
  • John Idan - lead vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Johnny A. – lead guitar
  • David Smale – bass
  • Myke Scavone - harmonica, percussion, backing vocals
  • Jim McCarty – drums, backing vocals
Aaronson returns to the band replacing Smale
(2016–2018)
  • John Idan - lead vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Johnny A. – lead guitar
  • Kenny Aaronson – bass
  • Myke Scavone - harmonica, percussion, backing vocals
  • Jim McCarty – drums, backing vocals
A. is fired, Townsend joins replacing him
(2018–present)
  • John Idan - lead vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Godfrey Townsend – lead guitar
  • Kenny Aaronson – bass
  • Myke Scavone - harmonica, percussion, backing vocals
  • Jim McCarty – drums, backing vocals

Timeline

References

  1. ↑ Wardlaw, Matt. "Jim McCarty Talks About New Yardbirds Lineup and Tour: Exclusive Interview". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 2016-12-09.
  2. 1 2 "Topham Replaces Dreja in Yardbirds". Vintage Guitar Magazine. Retrieved 2016-12-13.
  3. ↑ "Keith Relf". keithrelf.com. Retrieved 2016-12-13.
  4. ↑ Eder, Bruce. "Paul Samwell-Smith Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-12-13.
  5. ↑ "1965: Eric Clapton leaves the Yardbirds". History.
  6. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen. "Jeff Beck Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-12-13.
  7. ↑ Prato, Greg. "Jimmy Page Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-12-13.
  8. ↑ Harris, Craig. "Rod Demick Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-12-13.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.