The Yardbirds
The Yardbirds were a British rock band of the 1960s, influential in shaping blues rock and psychedelic rock.
They're notable for launching three legendary guitarists in succession: Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page.
The name plays on "jailbird" and jazz slang for Charlie Parker fans who gathered in rail yards.
The Yardbirds pioneered feedback and distortion effects that would define hard rock.
Repeated musical phrase
- 12-bar bluesTraditional chord progression framework
- Chicago bluesAmplified urban blues style
- harmonicaHandheld reed wind instrument
- improvisationSpontaneous, unplanned creation
Muddy Waters · blues scale · pentatonic · slide guitar · shuffle · boogie · gritty · soulful
Sixties UK music takeover
- mod culture1960s British youth movement
- Carnaby StreetFamous London shopping lane
- psychedelicInducing altered perception
- countercultureRejection of mainstream values
flower power · vinyl records · pop art · hippies · rave-up · underground · youth culture · pirate radio
Creating something original
- feedbackReturned response data
- distortionTwisting from original state
- whammy barLever altering string tension
- experimentationSystematic testing of ideas
One demanding strict adherence
- Gibson Les PaulElectric guitar model
- authenticityQuality of being genuine
- session musicianHired studio performer
- producerOne who makes things
- Dazed and ConfusedStunned and mentally unclear
Museum honoring influential musicians
- influentialHaving considerable effect
- reunionsGatherings of separated people
- box setsBundled media compilations
- reissuesPublishes anew
riff
Repeated musical phrase
- 12-bar bluesTraditional chord progression framework
- Chicago bluesAmplified urban blues style
- harmonicaHandheld reed wind instrument
improvisation · Muddy Waters · blues scale · pentatonic · slide guitar · shuffle · boogie · gritty · soulful · rave-up
British Invasion
Sixties UK music takeover
- mod culture1960s British youth movement
- Carnaby StreetFamous London shopping lane
- psychedelicInducing altered perception
counterculture · flower power · vinyl records · pop art · hippies · rave-up · underground · youth culture · pirate radio
innovation
Creating something original
- feedbackReturned response data
- distortionTwisting from original state
- whammy barLever altering string tension
purist
One demanding strict adherence
- Gibson Les PaulElectric guitar model
- authenticityQuality of being genuine
Led Zeppelin
- session musicianHired studio performer
- producerOne who makes things
- Dazed and ConfusedStunned and mentally unclear
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Museum honoring influential musicians
- influentialHaving considerable effect
- reunionsGatherings of separated people
- box setsBundled media compilations
The YardbirdsThe Beatles
Legendary British rock group
The Rolling Stones · The Who · Led Zeppelin · Pink Floyd · one-hit wonders
yard, yards, yardage, bird, birds, birding, birder, birdie, birdies