From humble beginnings in Richmond during 1963 the YARDBIRDS, then titled METROPOLITAN BLUES QUARTET, would arguably provide the spark that would launch the Hard Rock movement in Britain almost single handedly. The pedigree of the guitarists to have made the band their stepping stone into the public eye is beyond par with ERIC CLAPTON, JEFF BECK and JIMMY PAGE all boasting membership.

The band, with original guitarist Anthony Topham, made their London debut backing legendary Blues man SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON at his residency at the equally renowned Crawdaddy club. This exposure secured a deal with Columbia Records. Topham left to record a solo album before joining ROAD.

The YARDBIRDS at this juncture comprised of vocalist Keith Relf, ex-ROOSTERS and CASEY JONES & THE ENGINEERS guitarist Eric Clapton, rhythm guitarist Chris Dreja, bassist Paul Samwell Smith and drummer Jim McCarty.

A brace of R&B flavoured singles ensued before 1964's 'Good Morning Little Schoolgirl' gave the band their first, albeit lowly, chart placing. The band's placings in the charts did not represent their following on the London club scene though where the YARDBIRDS were packing out venues on a regular basis.

The album 'Five Live Yardbirds' gave an indication to the outside world of Clapton's developing prowess and the act's roots in American Blues including as it did HOWLIN' WOLF's 'Smokestack Lightning' and BO DIDDLEY's 'I'm A Man'. The album paved the way for their first bona fide Pop-Rock hit 'For Your Love' which peaked at number 3. More importantly perhaps the single broke the American charts.

Clapton left to join JOHN MAYALL'S BLUESBREAKERS (and later form CREAM) in mid 1965 and was replaced by former TRIDENTS man Jeff Beck. This was not before Clapton had recommended the teenage session guitarist Jimmy Page fill his vacant role. Page declined paving the way for Beck.

The YARDBIRDS success continued unabated with 'Heart Full Of Soul' and 'Evil Hearted You' both huge hits. Epic Records in America also assembled a mish mash of earlier cuts including songs taken from 'Five Live Yardbirds' to assemble the 'Having A Rave Up With The Yardbirds' album. Beck established himself as a masterful guitarist and was enhancing the band's show with stage tricks such as playing his guitar with his teeth and also behind his head. These were antics that JIMI HENDRIX would pick up on later.

With the band at such a heady peak all was not well within the YARDBIRDS though. Their new guitarist and focal point's behaviour appeared to be extremely erratic. Beck also suffered from terrible headaches and would often miss shows. This culminated in a planned tour of Scandinavia which was scrapped as Beck cited exhaustion.

The band opened up 1966 with a further smash on both sides of the Atlantic with 'Shapes Of Things' before major changes reshaped the band. Beck wanted to inject some life into the band and believed the combination of two over the top guitarists would make the YARDBIRDS unbeatable.

Page's inauguration into the YARDBIRDS was far from easy though. Beck took Page to a college gig in Oxford to check out the band. Relf got drunk, broke his fingers and abused the audience. The band played their second set as instreumentals without him. Surprisingly Page still wanted to join.

The new guitarist had built up an enviable reputation amongst fellow musicians with countless sessions. Page had received numerous offers to join many name bands but until now had turned all such enticements down. Eager to get onto the road and into a real band Page took the opportunity of becoming bassist with the band when Samwell-Smith bowed out debuting at the London Marquee in May 1966.

An American tour followed but at a San Fransico gig Beck refused to play. Unable to cancel the show Page took over on lead guitar as Dreja maneuvered into the bass position. The remaining dates were completed with Beck and Page sharing guitar duties.

With two guitar heroes onboard of such stature it seemed the world was now at the band's feet. The YARDBIRDS recorded music for Michaelangelo Antonioni's movie 'Blow Up'. Relf also took time out to issue two solo singles 'Mr. Zero' and 'Shapes In My Mind'.

The band's standing was such now that the early recordings made with SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON were released on the album 'Sonny Boy Williamson And The Yardbirds Live' by Fontana.

The band's eponymous album (titled 'Over Under Sideways Down' in America' performed well but before the year was out Beck had quit to go solo. On tour in Britain the YARDBIRDS formed part of a package tour with the ROLLING STONES, IKE & TINA TURNER, TERRY REID and THE JAYWALKERS. Tensions began to develop between Beck and Page and a few dates into their next American tour Beck walked out. The YARDBIRDS continued their obligations as a four piece and when they did finally meet up with Beck again in Los Angeles told him his services were no longer required.

JEFF BECK's first solo single, the hit 'Hi Ho Silver Lining', recorded before he left the band, featured Page's composition 'Beck's Bolero' on the flip side and included Page on guitar with session man JOHN PAUL JONES on bass. These recordings session for Beck's B side also include THE WHO drummer Keith Moon who suggested to Page that should any such group get together in reality it would "go down like a Lead Zeppelin". It was a turn of phrase the YARDBIRDS guitarist would remember.

The band plugged the gap with a 'Greatest Hits' album but by their next studio album proper 'Little Games' the band was struggling in the studio. On the live circuit the band was doing better than ever under the new management of Peter Grant. The larger than life manager first had the band touring the far east and AustraliaTouring the lucrative American college circuit Page was already employing elements of tracks such as 'How Many More Times' along with the instrumental 'White Summer' into the set that would strongly figure in his next band's repertoire. The young guitarist had taken the YARDBIRDS into Psychedelia and wowed audiences with his trademark bowing of the guitar violin style.

The YARDBIRDS final album was produced by Pop guru Mickie Most and is widely acknowledged as a disaster. Only Page from the band actually recorded but he was unable to steer the album into the direction he wanted as Most was intent on making a Pop album. Bass for these sessions was taken by John Paul Jones. The album was not even released in England.

Undaunted Grant took the band out on the live circuit in America once again. Taking time out the band witnessed Folk singer JAKE HOLMES playing a song titled 'Dazed And Confused'. The YARDBIRDS liked the track so much they immediately put it into their own live set retitled 'I'm Confused' and with new lyrics from Relf.

The band relocated to Los Angeles to capitalize on the underground profile afforded them by the 'Blow Up' movie. A set of Scandinavian and European shows actually had the band backed by a troupe of dancers billed PAN'S PEOPLE! Further American dates saw McCarty bowing out suffering from a breakdown.

drummer resumed his standing for the YARDBIRDs 1968 American dates. Shows in England ended with a final gig at Luton technical college after which Relf and McCarty walked.

Unfulfilled touring commitments persuaded Page and Dreja to found THE NEW YARDBIRDS but the bassist soon left. Page tried to enlist Terry Reid but the singer had just signed an exclusive contract with Mickie Most. Page persevered drafting a completely fresh act of vocalist ROBERT PLANT, bassist John Paul Jones and drummer John Bonham. This unit soon evolved into the mighty LED ZEPPELIN.

Epic issued the poorly recorded 'Live Yardbirds' in 1971 from a concert at the Anderson Theater in 1968 but this was withdrawn upon threat of legal action from Page.

Relf and McCarty stuck together to forge REIGN for one single, then TOGETHER for a further attempt before the more successful folk flavoured RENAISSANCE.

McCarty teamed up with SHOOT in 1972 for their 'On The Frontier' album. Relf formed Metal band ARMAGEDDON in Los Angeles for a 1975 album featuring former STEAMHAMMER guitarist Martin Pugh, bassist Louis Cennamo and ex CAPTAIN BEYOND drummer Bobby Caldwell. The album was well received but the following year Relf died from an electric shock. McCarty then drafted Cennamo for his new act ILLUSION.

The YARDBIRDS reformed in 1983 with Dreja, Samwell-Smith, McCarty and John Knightsbridge fronted by two vocalists in ex MEDICINE HEAD man JOHN FIDDLER and NINE BELOW ZERO's Mark Felton. This unit, minus Knightsbridge and Felton, mutated into the strangely titled BOX OF FROGS issuing two albums. Guests included JEFF BECK and RORY GALLAGHER.

During the 90's McCarty figured in the YARDBIRDS BLUES BAND.

As the original prototype Rock band many latter day artists have covered YARDBIRDS tracks including BLUE OYSTER CULT with 'I Ain't Got You', AEROSMITH on 'Train Kept A Rollin' and 'Think About It', RAINBOW's epic rendition of 'Still I'm Sad' and both GARY MOORE and NAZARETH recorded 'Shape Of Things'. MOTȪRHEAD have also also cut 'Train Kept A Rollin' and the SEA HAGS performed 'Think About It'.

The YARDBIRDS were still a going concern in 1998. Along with original members Dreja and McCarty the band included bass player Gipye Mayo of DR. FEELGOOD, vocalist John Idan and harmonica player Alan Glenn. Mayo was to decamp and the YARDBIRDS drafted Denny Ball, previously a member of SHOTGUN, BEDLAM and BIG BERTHA.

Quite incredibly, the YARDBIRDS had regrouped for a new studio album scheduled for early 2003, their first newly recorded product in over 30 years. A plethora of guest stars assembled at STEVE VAI's Mothership Studios to put in guest sessions. Including would be Slash of GUNS N' ROSES, BRIAN MAY of QUEEN, Johnny Rzeznik of the GOO GOO DOLLS, STEVE VAI, JOE SATRIANI and STEVE LUKATHER.