Tuesday, August 28th 2007

12:00 AM

"Yardbirds" - New York City - 'BB King' Blues Club - August 28 - 2007

As I met & listened this group I grew up with - I realized these musicians & songs were part of my musicial influence. Musicians like 'Eric Clapton'-'Jeff Beck'-'Jimmy Page'- all came from this group called "The Yardbirds". They were musically solid & a great group of guys. The evening ended with good conversation & we all enjoyed sharing stories. I want to thank 'Ron & Dora King' for inviting us to the show. A wonderful evening was had by all...

"Yardbirds" - Reformation

The Yardbirds, 2006. Left to right: John Idan, Jim McCarty and Chris Dreja.

Jim McCarty and Chris Dreja reformed the Yardbirds in the 1990s, with John Idan handling bass and lead vocals, and touring regularly since then with a number of guitarists and harmonica players passing through their ranks.

In 2003, a new album, Birdland, was released under the Yardbirds name on the Favored Nations label by a lineup including Chris Dreja, Jim McCarty, and new members Gypie Mayo (lead guitar, backing vocals), John Idan (bass, lead vocals) and Alan Glen (harmonica, backing vocals), which consisted of a mixture of new material mostly penned by McCarty and re-recordings of some of their greatest hits, with guest appearances by Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Slash, Brian May, Steve Lukather, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, John Rzeznik, Martin Ditchum and Simon McCarty. Also, Jeff Beck reunited with his former bandmates on the song "My Blind Life". And then there was the rare and improbable guest appearance on stage in 2005 by their first guitarist from the sixties, Top Topham.

Since the release of Birdland, Gypie Mayo has been briefly replaced by Jerry Donahue, and subsequently by 22 year old Ben King, while Alan Glen has been replaced by Billy Boy Miskimmon from Nine Below Zero fame.

Note: The Yardbirds released a live 2007 CD, "Live At B.B. King Blues Club" (Favored Nations).

According the Total Rock website. Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page are to possibly rejoin the Yardbirds for a reunion tour some time in 2008.

Lead vocalist John Idan would retain his front man position. Ben King would also remain as lead guitarist as any reunion with Page and Beck would be temporary.

The first episode of the 2007/2008 season for "The Simpsons" featured The Yardbirds' "I'm A Man" from the CD "Live At B.B. King Blues Club" (Favored Nations).

=The Yardbirds Line-Up =

Ben King - lead guitar

Chris Dreja - rhythm guitar, backing vocals

John Idan - bass, lead vocals

Billy Boy Miskimmin - harmonica, percussion

Jim McCarty - drums, backing vocals