This flagship band of the "British Blues Boom" of the early 1960s featured three
renowned guitarists: Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page. Formed in London in
1963 around Keith Relf (vocals, harmonica), Chris Dreja (rhythm guitar, then
bass), Paul Samwell-Smith (bass) and Jim McCarty (drums), the band's first solo
guitarist was Anthony "Top" Tophan, whose names were changed to The Metropolis
Blues Quartet and then The Blue-Sounds. After accompanying Cyril Davies and
drawing inspiration from jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker for their new name, The
Yardbirds, the band played at t...