A teenaged Eric Clapton was brought on to the Yardbirds when they turned professional — their original guitarist, Top Topham, had parents that wouldn’t let him devote himself to a musical career (he still plays, btw).
Clapton got bent because “For Your Love” was “commercial”, quit, got hired by John Mayall for The Bluesbreakers (I think Mick Taylor got hired by Mayall as a consequence of Clapton’s taking off to form Cream).
Clapton and Beck were never in the Yardbirds together. They toured together a few years ago.
Jeff Beck was brought into the Yardbirds as their third lead guitarist.
Eventually, near the end of their run, they wanted Jimmy Page in the band (which must have bumped Jeff bigtime), as a consequence of Paul Samwell-Smith’s departure into fulltime producer. Chris Dreja was to learn bass (PSS’ instrument) so the dual lead guitarists could be used together (YB were probably the first ‘name’ act to try this, but it became somewhat common during the 1970s — Skynyrd, Alice Cooper, Bowie, etc).
Meanwhile, Page played bass.
There’s actually footage of the Yardbirds with Beck and Page playing together, from the movie “Blow Up” — it’s been pirated to YouTube, lots of fun.
BTW, the Yardbirds are my favorite band from the 1960s. :’)
Their lead singer and frontman, Keith Relf, had only one lung; he also had a bit of a substance abuse problem, which may account in part for the personnel changes in the band.
He and drummer Jim McCarty started another band, Renaissance — it became much better known with the later personnel — and after that Armageddon (again with Jim McCarty). Relf died in a very rock and roll way, playing his electric guitar in a damp basement (electrocution). Whoops.
Thanks for all the information SunkenCiv and bullish.
Goodnight, good morning, and good Saturday. :)
Yes, I remembered this factoid shortly after I posted that. Thanks for the refresher.