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.

blues-rock

riff

Repeated musical phrase

improvisation · Muddy Waters · blues scale · pentatonic · slide guitar · shuffle · boogie · gritty · soulful · rave-up

1960s

British Invasion

Sixties UK music takeover

counterculture · flower power · vinyl records · pop art · hippies · rave-up · underground · youth culture · pirate radio

Beck

innovation

Creating something original

experimentation · virtuoso · fuzz tone · avant-garde

Clapton

purist

One demanding strict adherence

Page

Led Zeppelin

legacy

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Museum honoring influential musicians

reissues · covers · tribute bands

Opposites
musical innovation and influence

The YardbirdsThe Monkees

Herman's Hermits · cover bands

blues authenticity vs. pop commercialism

The YardbirdsThe Monkees

bubblegum pop · Tin Pan Alley

cultural longevity and legacy

The YardbirdsThe Beatles

Legendary British rock group

The Rolling Stones · The Who · Led Zeppelin · Pink Floyd · one-hit wonders

Family

yard, yards, yardage, bird, birds, birding, birder, birdie, birdies

Familiarity
Top 1,000,000
Profile
Timeless · Concrete · Rated G