Chris Dreja, co-founder and longtime member of the 1960s rock band The Yardbirds, has died at age 79 after suffering from health complications.
His passing marks the end of an era for one of Britain’s most influential groups, known for spawning some of rock’s greatest guitarists and pushing musical boundaries.
His sister-in-law Muriel Levy took to social media on Wednesday, October 1, with the sad announcement.
“This is with a deep sadness that i have to announce that my brother-in-law Chris Dreja, former member of legendary band The Yardbirds, rhtym guitarist and also bass player has passed away after years of health problems,” she wrote. “I share the pain with my sister Kate who took care of him during all thoses years and his daughter Jackie…May he RIP.”
Tributes Pour In
Friends and fans took to social media to express how sad they were about the news.
Led Zeppelin founder Jimmy Page shared a tribute on Instagram for the late star.
“I heard today of the passing of musician Chris Dreja, who passionately played with the iconic Yardbirds, on rhythm guitar and then the bass,” he wrote. “I hadn’t seen him in a while, and I wish I had. RIP Chris.”
“I’m so sorry to hear this. My heart goes out to you and his loved ones,” one user wrote.
Another added, “Rest easy, keep rockin.”
In addition to being a musician, Dreja was also a photographer. He photographed Led Zeppelin during the band’s early years and even took an image that was on the back of their first album.
Dreja’s Legacy
Dreja was born on November 11, 1945, in Surbiton, Surrey.
He and school friend Top Topham first formed a blues-influenced group, which evolved, with the addition of Keith Relf (vocals/harmonica), Jim McCarty (drums), and Paul Samwell-Smith (bass), into The Yardbirds.
As the band matured, Dreja remained the steady rhythm guitarist who supported successive lead players like Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Page. However, he shifted over to bass when Page joined the group.
Over the years, he contributed not just musically but also artistically — he drew the cover art for the Yardbirds album “Roger the Engineer.”
Dreja stayed with The Yardbirds through various incarnations, including the 1990s reunion, until he stepped away in 2013 due to suffering from a series of strokes.
The influential band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992. They were described as a group that “blazed a trail for new genres and gave some of rock’s best guitarists their start.”
