The Yardbirds Co-Founder Chris Dreja Dies at 79

Chris Dreja, the co-founding rhythm guitarist and later bassist of the Yardbirds, has died, reports The New York Times. On September 25, Dreja died of complications of multiple strokes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease while in a London nursing home, according to his daughter, Jacqueline Dreja Zamboni. He was 79.

Although the Yardbirds were best known for their trio of all-star guitarists—Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, and the late Jeff Beck—sharing the leading spotlight, Dreja’s essential role on rhythm guitar helped create an essential backdrop for the group to shine, especially during their extended instrumental passages that would go on to influence countless pillars of classic rock. Dreja co-founded the group in 1963 as a rhythm guitarist until original bassist Paul Samwell-Smith left the band three years later, after which he picked up the instrument until the band’s dissolution in 1968.

After the Yardbirds split, Page invited Dreja to join Led Zeppelin, but he declined in favor of pursuing his photography career instead. Among his achievements behind the lens are, most notably, the band photo of Led Zeppelin on the back of their 1969 self-titled debut album. Dreja photographed numerous musicians, ranging from Bob Dylan to Ike and Tina Turner, and did a shooting session with Andy Warhol during Dreja’s years working in a New York-based photo studio.

Born in 1945, Dreja grew up in Kingston Upon Thames, England, and was drawn to rock ‘n’ roll as a teenager. Dreja met original Yardbirds lead guitarist Anthony “Top” Topham in a pre-college art program and the two formed an early rock band together. Once singer Keith Relf, bassist Samwell-Smith, and drummer Jim McCarty joined them in 1963, they officially formed the Metropolitan Blues Quartet before quickly renaming themselves as the Yardbirds. When Topham left several weeks into the band’s practices, he was replaced by Clapton, who played with a bold, confident approach that won over London club attendees. Come 1963, the Yardbirds took over the Rolling Stones’ residency at London’s Crawdaddy.