Jimmy Page leads tributes to Yardbirds co-founder and guitarist Chris Dreja

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Jimmy Page leads tributes to Yardbirds co-founder and guitarist Chris Dreja

Jimmy Page has led tributes to Yardbirds co-founder and guitarist Chris Dreja, who has died aged 79.

Tributes have poured out for the musician, photographer and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member, who was a core member of the seminal British blues-rock band and shaped the sound of some of their biggest hits, including ‘For Your Love’ and ‘Shapes of Things’.

News of his passing was confirmed this evening (October 2) by his sister-in-law, Muriel Levy, who shared on Threads: “It is with a deep sadness that I have to announce that my brother-in-law Chris Dreja, former member of legendary band The Yardbirds, rhythm guitarist and also bass player has passed away after years of health problems…

“I share the pain with my sister Kate who took care of him during all those years and his daughter Jackie… May he RIP.”

The Rock Hall – who inducted Dreja and his bandmates in 1992 – paid homage to the band’s “innovations in feedback and distortion” and credited them for informing a slew of burgeoning genres like psychedelic rock, progressive rock, and punk in their short-lived but highly influential tenure.

They also noted that Dreja co-wrote all their material once he joined in the early ’60s, including the seminal hit ‘Over Under Sideways Down’ on their self-titled 1966 album and several tracks on 1967’s ‘Little Games’.

Dreja’s former Yardbirds bandmate Page also paid tribute on Instagram, sharing a picture of the two of them together and writing: “I heard today of the passing of musician Chris Dreja, who passionately played with the iconic Yardbirds, on rhythm guitar and then the bass.

“I hadn’t seen him in a while, and I wish I had. RIP Chris.”

Fans have joined his musical peers in paying tribute online. “What a legacy to be a part of,” wrote one X/Twitter user of his spell with the Yardbirds. “Chris probably had no idea what doors were opened with what was created back then. Chris Dreja, you made your mark on the world.”

You can check out more tributes below.

Dreja (born Christopher Walenty Dreja) grew up in Kingston Upon Thames and was immersed in rock and roll music from his teen years. His brother was a classmate of original Yardbirds lead guitarist Anthony “Top” Topham, who he’d ultimately form The Yardbirds with.

In 1963, Dreja and Topham, alongside Jim McCarty, Keith Relf, Paul Samwell-Smith, co-founded the Metropolitan Blues Quartet, a blues band which later evolved into The Yardbirds. Dreja started out as their rhythm guitarist but switched to bass in 1966 following Samwell-Smith’s departure and Page’s arrival. Subsequent years saw Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck pass through the band as lead guitarist.

When Topham’s spot was filled by Clapton, the band’s reputation got a boost on the London club circuit, and they went on to take over the Rolling Stones’ residency at London’s legendary Crawdaddy club.

The year’s that followed saw Clapton leave the band for John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers and Beck’s addition to their line-up. The year’s that followed were their most successful, spurning tracks like ‘Evil Hearted You’, ‘Still I’m Sad’, ‘Over Under Sideways Down’ and their 1966 self-titled album – often called “Roger the Engineer,” after the cover Dreja illustrated.

His artistic endeavours also saw him work as as a photographer for many years, shooting the likes of Bob Dylan, Tina Turner, and Led Zeppelin. After the Yardbirds split, Page went on to form the latter band and offered Dreja a spot as their bassist, which he wound up declining, instead opting to pursue photography.

Dreja went on to co-found Box of Frogs with former bandmates McCarthy and Samwell-Smith in the early 1980s.

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