One of the most important bands of all time

I saw the Beatles in Paris in June of 1965 and this group I'd never heard of, The Yardbirds, was their warmup band. Great show.

I’ve said this for years. I know they’re really remembered for their triumvirate of guitar gods. But? Keith Relf and his harmonica are what I really dig. I know once they started to move off traditional blues Clapton bid them adieu. But it was a blessing in disguise. The Beck years were their best output. But again, Relf is my favorite. Without his harp there is no response to their signature call and response style.

The Yardbirds broke the mold . They brought in the innovative guitar that had never been done before . Very exciting in person with Keith Relf , the lead singer with a howling blues harp .

I remember getting my first transistor radio when I was a kid and heard "Happening 10 Years Time Ago" on AM radio one day and froze in my tracks until the song was over. I was hooked.

The Yardbirds are such an underrated, overlooked band in the history of British Invasion bands. Their sound was unique and transcendent. Clapton, Beck, and Page get all the ink, but the entire band blazed as a cohesive unit despite the changes. Thanks for this primer - looking forward to Part 2.

My top 3 favourite guitarists are Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page. I'm a fan of the Yardbirds. Cheers! ✌️

RIP Jeff Beck. Grew up listening to the Yardbirds. Talented young men.

I feel privileged growing up as a teenager with this music in the sixties.Remember you could only buy the albums and go to the shows to listen to the music. Radio really only played the top twenty hits.

I saw The Yardbirds at a small jazz club in Birmingham in 1964. I had just left school and I've no idea how I managed to get in! This was the first time I saw Clapton play. All I really remember was that he had a crew cut and played a white Telecaster!

The Yardbirds are still one of my favorite bands.

Around 1964 I remember waiting outside the LJS building in Kennington ( London ) & seeing this light coloured van parked up covered in graffiti ( some of it in lipstick ) on the side of the van in big letters was the name The Yardbirds. Had no idea what Yardbirds meant as I was only about 5 at the time but I’ve never forgotten it.

R.I.P Jeff Beck.

Three best guitarists in rock ‘n’ roll, Jeff Beck (RIP), Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton💯%😎🎸

Evil hearted you, happenings ten years ago, over under sideways down, I'm not talkin', shapes of things, heart full of soul. Those are my favorites

Love the Yardbirds, I always felt the super star guitarists somewhat overshadowed the core player, Keith, Chris and Jim. Great band! Thanks for posting this.

Listening to them even in the context of the amount of talent making music at that time, you just knew they were doing something transcendent

Most underrated Brit band from the 60's and I was so glad to see a video on them.. Thanks for the presentation

Heard Heart Full of Soul on radio first time and wondered at exotic sound of guitars.

Great choice for a video! For whatever reason, the band has been overlooked for decades. The music they recorded deserves to be mentioned just as much as what the Stones, Kinks, Beatles and Who did at the same time. Don't forget to note the band's appearance in Antonioni's film _Blow Up_ in the next segment ;)

I absolutely love the Yardbirds. Discovered them in high school in the ‘70s.

Never before has there been a band who's parts were greater than the whole, and that says a lot because I really loved their sound. Many great bands of that era, but precious few that had their unpretentious edge.

Saw them at Watford Trade Hall with Eric Clapton when he broke a guitar string. No guitar tech in those days he changed the string himself. Along with Pretty Things best blues r&b band around.

Thank you for crafting this immaculate review.

I have always been fascinated by the Yardbirds. They always seemed to be on a course of their own without any relation to the other bands of the time such as the Beatles, the Kinks, the Who etc. They were an entirely different entity. Great band.

Jeff Becks passing brought me back to this channel just to listen to the Yardbirds history again.

ive always loved the yardbirds learned alot

Matt, another great video on one of the most important British bands ever formed. I remember getting chills when I first heard “Heart Full Of Soul”…with that unique Jeff Beck sound! I can’t wait for Part 2 of their story. I’m looking forward to hearing your insight on their “Little Games” album- one of the most underrated yet important albums of the 60s. Thanks!

Alice Cooper said it best, "We all wanted to be the Yardbirds!" And so we were yardbirds, and the people danced,,,,they were raving along with the band!

The For your Love album is the one I grew up with and played over and over. I never get tired of that record.

Giorgio Gomelsky lived in NYC later in his life, and I am thankful to say that he was a friend of mine from 1980 through the time of his death in 2016. He was a fascinating man, who spent his entire life trying to inspire young musicians. I was 18 when I met Giorgio, and 54 when he passed. I am still digesting the stories he would tell, his influence upon me, and his example. He taught me more about a life well-lived than most of the people I have known. He was the first manager of the Rolling Stones, but when his mother took ill back in Russia he went back home to be with her before her death. In the early 1960s, this required several modes of travel, and the constant threat of imprisonment, as his family were considered bourgeoisie. When he came back to London, he found that Mick had decided he was no longer needed. Rather than becoming upset and petulant, he waved goodbye. He already had a good understanding of the band's willingness to discard people as it suited them. He then went and found the Yardbirds, and secured them their regular booking at the Crawdaddy club. If I had to pick one word to describe him, it would be a tough choice. Jovial, intelligent, soulful, loving, helpful, relentless, enthusiastic...these all might apply. But the word that keeps coming back to mind is this: indefatigable. Giorgio owned a three-story building in NYC for almost forty years, where he let generations of young bands rehearse and record for free, and let bands and all kinds of artists put on shows. The first floor was dominated by a big stage and club-sized bar. In the 1980s I had a fair amount of recording equipment I didn't have room for in my apartment, so I donated it to him, and he used it to record bands for free, bands who couldn't otherwise afford studio time, expensive in those pre-computer days. Giorgio is truly one of the finest gentlemen I have ever known. He was never haughty or condescending, but ALWAYS encouraging and helpful to all musicians, and artists of any stripe. he did not suffer fools gladly, though, and if he detected any insincerity in your work he would tell you so, in no uncertain terms. Last: he had the most youthful attitude I have ever known. He could pinpoint a way for bands of kids a half-century his junior to be more true to their age, and not try to play above their years. Thank you for making me think about Giorgio in such detail. He was my friend for thirty-six years, and I loved him more that words will allow. I honor him by spending my time inspiring young artists. Giorgio taught me much, but one thing that's invaluable: it's an honor to be one of the old lions. Damn, tears are welling up here. But emotional old Russian that he was, Giorgio was a man that was not afraid of tears. I saw him cry on a few occasions, and I know he'd take my face in his big ol' hands, make fun of me, and then give me a dismissive kiss on the forehead. I love you, Giorgio.

Was there at the Crawdaddy at the start the Stones then Yardbirds and met my wife there you had a feeling this was something big going on and lived it all. At the time the Yardbirds were my favourite but am a staunch Stones fan,wasn’t happy when Clapton left when the music changed commercially. But what a musical tree to follow with Page and Beck, Beck was a magician RIP Jeff.

When people ask me Beatles or Stones---my answer always is---YARDBIRDS!

Great stuff, thanks for posting. -Just so you know, Clapton didn’t get “disenfranchised” with The Yardbirds, he got “disenchanted”.

Amazing group. Also (OT) Relf and McCarty helped birth Renaissance a much loved prog band.

Great band that influenced me as a budding player but unfortunatly I couldn't afford a fuzz pedal when I was 16. Cheers and thanks for another great video Matt.

I loved these Guys when I was a Kid.Legendary Band.

Thank you for this essential history, and the diligent care to be precise.

the free, best bass player ever....and the most beautiful atmosphere, any group ever created....❤️❤️❤️

Matt, thanks so much for taking on the Yardbirds story. As a fan of 60's garage rock it was impossible not to notice the influence their sound had on American bands in the mid 60's. They are also one of my favorite bands since I was 14 years old and I think Keith Relf was a fantastic singer and a totally underrated harp player. Can't wait for the next part.

Great video! I love your observation that the UK rock n roll usually pulled from traditional blues while US usually pulled from folk. I never saw it like that but it makes so much sense.

A great example of The Yardbirds' influence in the US, check out The Count Five's Psychotic reaction. The band was mostly about 17 when they recorded that and they sound exactly alike. ♥

Such a fascinating and seminal band. Especially Jeff Beck breaking the sound barrier.

YES Matt!!! I Love the Yardbirds!!!👏👏👏👍

such a great band. jeff beck, baby

Thanks for your great videos. I was born in 1950 and grew up with this great music. Saw the battles live, but in my opinion the yardbirds were superior!! Keep doing these videos please!

My favorite U.K. band of the 60s! I’ve got all the US releases in Mono. PLAY LOUD

thanks for being so thorough and not ignoring what else was going on at the time, I hate it when documentaries just break into social issues of the 60s and act like thats backstory (most musicians arent writing about the economy and politics), what I want is the background of who was hanging with who, how did these two players know each other etc, not a quote from Yardbirds about the Beatles, but literally what did they DO because of the Beatles and so on.

Really excellent video Matt. Thank you. I haven't heard some of those B sides for many a year! What a great band. Looking forward to part two.

This is excellent.

It’s about time you covered Yardbirds

Another great video, Matt. I love these band histories you do, some of your best content. Excellent idea covering the Yardbirds! It’s interesting to think of how they almost acted like an ‘apprenticeship’ group for so many incredible guitarists. Keep up the terrific work!

The Yardbirds were popular in collections in the late 70s. I have a 2LP set released on Bomb records titled Shapes of Things. Later I purchased a Boxset put out by Charley's records. It had the individual albums. Sadly Roger the Engineer was missing. I had collections of later stuff that contained some horrible pop tracks like Ten Little Indians. Then to greatness with Pages White Summer. Production got hit or miss also. The Jeff Beck years are the most promising in growing as a band in general. Such a short period in time they went from straight blues to great rave ups to my favorite Still I'm Sad. To this day I get goose bumps when I here the opening riffs to Heartful of Soul. The flood gates of heaven open for me when I here that song.

I like your narration. You have a good speaking voice.

The Yardbirds had a sense SWING most rock groups couldn't touch

These guys were so influential it isn't even funny.

I was born in '68 so I missed these bands playing but the older I got the more I throughly enjoyed them. Now at 53 I am collecting as many used records for The Yardbirds, Cream, Rare Earth, Humble Pie, Iron Butterfly, Faces, and others from that Era. No music since then can hold a candle to the sounds of the 60s to the early 70s.

Fantastic. Big Yardbirds fan back in the day but of course we did not know all of this info in your video. Thx for promoting them.

Fantastic & interesting. Thanks for this. Learned a lot I never knew about them

I love these guys even though they were a generation before my time, my mom and my uncle schooled me about all the best music that was happening before i was around. Its given me a lifelong appreciation of so much excellent music!

I was living up Richmond Hill nr Keith Relf's house when he electrocuted himself,it affected us quite a bit at the time.He liked a drink did Keith I don't know if it played a part in the accident.I think his time with the Yardbirds was concluding,he was a big hero to me and my peers.

The Yardbirds were one of my biggest influences growing up. The showcasing of the individual talents of Clapton, Page and Beck gives us a lot to be learned from. One question though; why did they have problems obtaining a Visa?

These are great videos you make and I'm hoping one of the aspects of the Yardbirds you'll cover is their HUGE influence on American garage rock of the middle sixties. There are countless cover versions of their songs by obscure teenaged bands of that time. Thanks again and keep up the good work.

Born in 53' here and your channel is such a blessing. Top notch work.

“Still I’m Sad” was released as the B-side of “I’m A Man” on Epic in the U.S.-so, in essence, it WAS released as/on a single… which you had stated otherwise, Matt. Great job, nonetheless!🙂🎶😎

Love your channel....I believe they got the name from Charlie Parker, who's full nickname was yardbird, and, as happens with nicknames, was shortened to "bird"....Yes, this was considerably before the publication of "On the Road"....

Syd Barrett was an art student and also heavily inspired by blues music.

Absolutely have fallen in love with your channel!!! I've been playing guitar and singing for 40 years, and my influences are The Beatles, who are my favorite band The Kinks, The Yardbirds, The Cream, and my #1 influence, The WHO. I bet I'll see them all covered here. Thanks, Keith in RVA

This band was waaaaay before their time , Sad what happened to Keith , great piece here

Once again...my hero! Thanks!!!

Keith Relf - not necessarily a stellar singer, but he introduced that "look" that many, many singers have tried to emulate for decades to come. Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones was a groundbreaker of that look as well. Today, singers like Mike Stax of the Loons have gone forward with that image. Looks be damned though. Relf held his own with the superstardom of Clapton, Beck and Page. Who wouldn't love that?!

I never saw The Yardbirds in concert but I have seen their guitar players - Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page.

Wow. Just wow! I love the Yardbirds!

Hello Matt, Here's some information on the recording of "For Your Love". Personnel ~ Keith Relf ~ Lead Vocal Jim McCarty ~ Drums Various Yardbirds ~ Backing Vocals Ron Prentice ~ Bowed Bass Denny Piercy ~ Bongos Brian Auger ~ Harpsichord Eric Clapton ~ Guitar ~ Middle Break Only Chris Dreja ~ Guitar ~ Middle Break Only

"Rave Up" may be the only Epic LP of the '60's to run more than 35 minutes

One of my all time favourite bands. Love them, love the music, have Roger the Engineer, the album, on vinyl, had it many yrs. Great album.

Excellent as always Matt. Your production on these vids blows everyone else doing similar stuff out of the water!

Rocka Billy was big in England too. Sonny Boy said the Brits wanted to play the blues badly, and they did! The Yardbirds were a big influence in blues rock and psychedelic music!

'Ain't Got You' was the UK A-side for their first UK Columbia single. I saw them mime it on Ready Steady Go in June '64. I loved it.

It's odd and ironic that Eric Clapton would leave to dissatisfaction with the "pop" direction they were exploring, when he himself would play the same type pop rock later in Cream. Not much difference between Heart Full Of Soul and Sunshine Of Your Love imo. But I guess things were different back then.

Ever since I found you, I can't quit you. Your channel, is honey to the bee's, a jones to my bones,

I think the Yardbirds were the first supergroup and they were so good and seeing them play live definitely proves this but they have three the best guitar players whoever lived Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy page I just want to say I am so glad I got all the records and I’m always looking for new videos of The Yardbirds🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻💰💰💰💰💰

LONG LIVE THE YARDBIRDS

Very informative, Matt.

There were a few American blues/rock bands before the Beatles hit big in the US, like Paul Revere and the Raiders, Paul Butterfield Blues Band and The Kingsmen!

The Yardbirds are the most influential band of the 60's in my opinion. Keith Relph also formed Armageddon which was very heavy metal .

The Yardbirds are one of my all-time favorite groups! I just acquired a genuine mono copy of the "Little Games" album as opposed to the copy I've had for decades with mono album cover and mono record labels but stereo record (per XSB prefix shown on the labels; genuine mono copies indicate XEM) As any die-hard Yardbirds fan knows, that wasn't the only boo-boo Epic made with their U.S. output

Regardless of what Jack Karoak may have said, the term, "yardbirds," came from USN shipyards. It meant civilians who worked repairing Navy ships. The other moniker for these personel was, "sand crabs".

Sonny Boy (Rice Miller) said of the Yardbirds: 'they want to play the blues badly...and they do!'

Just watched parts 1 & 2. Again, very well done. I was maybe a bit young to fully appreciate The Yardbirds in their heyday. I was 10 in 1965. But when I was 15 and really started to get better on guitar I was totally into them. And of course "Beck's Boogie" became one of my favorite things to play. I remember when I was 12 I got my first electric guitar and amp. I remember sitting in my garage playing and a kid from my neighborhood walked up and asked "Can you get Yardbird feedback?" I didn't know what it was, but I soon learned.

On December 23, 1965, at the Alexandria(Virginia) Roller Rink, The Yardbirds and The Shangri-Las performed. My band, The Beau Street Runners(Franconia, Virginia) were also on the playbill, and I STILL have the original poster. 'Having a Rave Up' was the album blueprint for all the bands of that era in my neck of the woods...especially the great 'Smokestack Lightnin'...thanks for the very comprehensive review of those trailblazers...Long Live Jeff Beck~!

Slow hand is a guy that's the last one to pay for drinks.

Like your review, very concise! 🇺🇸🇬🇧🇺🇸

The Sky Is Crying 14:37 in rainy England - the sun is shining but don't you know it's raining in my heart.

Excellent bio on the group; and much neglected early history that most folks don't know of. I also appreciate giving more detail on the three lead guitarists and their overlapping. As always, great job, Matt!

Thank you for this excellent introduction to a band I don't really know a lot about. I'll enjoy digging into their stuff after seeing This.

This is great stuff. I never knew much about the Yardbirds. Can't wait for pt. 2.

Thank you so much for your next covering to be the Yardbirds. This is a band I’m getting into right now and I have two of there earliest recordings so far which are Five Live Yardbirds and Clapton’s Cradle: The Early Yardbird Recordings!

Awesome! Bring on part 2. Thanks Matt.

I never owned a Yardbirds album. Every hit they had on L.A. radio was fantastic. Maybe five hits, total, 66 or so. I came to believe they had five good songs. Yes, I play blues. And everything else.