Page 1 of 1
Another Yardbird Gone
Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2025 10:07 pm
by elwaclaret
Yardbirds founder member, co-writer and bassist Chris Dreja has died today it has been announced.
Dreja famously turned down the offer to join Led Zeppelin to peruse a new career as photographer (took the back cover photo of LZ first album). Chris suffered a series of strokes in 2012 and 2013 and had not performed with the Yardbirds since. Jimmy Page is among those leading the tributes.
Re: Another Yardbird Gone
Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2025 10:09 pm
by Bosscat
RIP Chris Dreja ...
Re: Another Yardbird Gone
Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2025 2:30 pm
by Tricky Trevor
RIP Chris.
Re: Another Yardbird Gone
Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2025 7:45 pm
by dougcollins
Under, Over, Sideways, Down.
Well played Chris.
Re: Another Yardbird Gone
Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2025 10:48 pm
by Middle-agedClaret
Sad news for those of us of a certain age.
Always liked The Yardbirds.
I note what Elwa says, but I am sure I saw Chris play with what was termed as The New Yardbirds in 2014. This was on “ The Ultimate Rhythm and Blues Tour”, featuring The Zombies, Animals and Friends, New Yardbirds, Maggie Bell and…forget who else.
Chris didn’t look very well. The only other original member was Jim Mc Carty. Rest of the band were new younger musicians.
Anyway _ RIP, Chris.
Re: Another Yardbird Gone
Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2025 11:05 pm
by dougcollins
Middle-agedClaret wrote: ↑Fri Oct 03, 2025 10:48 pm
Sad news for those of us of a certain age.
Always liked The Yardbirds.
I note what Elwa says, but I am sure I saw Chris play with what was termed as The New Yardbirds in 2014. This was on “ The Ultimate Rhythm and Blues Tour”, featuring The Zombies, Animals and Friends, New Yardbirds, Maggie Bell and…forget who else.
Chris didn’t look very well. The only other original member was Jim Mc Carty. Rest of the band were new younger musicians.
Anyway _ RIP, Chris.
As we now know, when Jimmy Page left the Yardbirds, he was asked if he would call his band 'The New Yardbirds'.
Page replied 'That would go down like a lead balloon'.
An unkown roadie then said 'More like a lead zeppelin'.