I got to chat with him a few times at various meet and greets. Genuinely nice guy.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025-10-02 17:00 by tatters.

Rest in peace, Chris Dreja

I'm pretty sure he was in the line-up the one time I caught the Yardbirds at local theatre, some 15+ years' ago. If I recollect, it was the Yarbirds, Spencer Davis Group, and The Troggs.

Anyone else get to see the reformed Yardbirds with Dreja and McCarty in the 90s or 00s? Great shows. I loved it when they would do "Dazed and Confused" the same way they did it with Page '68. Sounded just like the Zeppelin version, but with completely different lyrics. Incredibly powerful to hear them do that in a 300-seat club.

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Big Al
Rest in peace, Chris Dreja

I'm pretty sure he was in the line-up the one time I caught the Yardbirds at local theatre, some 15+ years' ago. If I recollect, it was the Yarbirds, Spencer Davis Group, and The Troggs.

He was still with them the last time I saw them, but that was back in 2007. Not sure when it was that he retired due to ongoing health issues.

Looks like he retired in 2012, after suffering a stroke.

He took the photo that's on the back cover of the first Led Zeppelin album.

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tatters
Looks like he retired in 2012, after suffering a stroke.

Well, the show I attended was definitely pre-2012. I'll see if I can locate the date.

Blimey, it was longer ago than I thought! Central Theatre, Chatham, Kent, U.K., on 16 June 2004

I saw The Yardbirds as 'Box of Frogs' at The Marquee in 1983. I was hoping for Beck, Page or Clapton guest appearances but they didn't show. Don't remember much about the show itself ... too long ago.

RIP Chris

Shocked, saddened. What a genuine, wonderful gentleman he was along with Jim. Met him once and had a long chat with him and Jim and they gave me a ride too.

Loved the gig they played that evening.

He is an underrated rhythm guitarist and a great photographer.

Not that many guitarist would be okay to switching to bass when a new guitarist comes along.

Sad Sad Sad!!!! Lost a great, unique person, musician.

Once I met Chris and Jim McCarty on The Yardbirds’ (surprise surprise) first ever tour of Japan in 2011, Osaka, March 3. The venue was Blue Note (now Billboard Live), a posh jazz club, not what you call a rock ‘n’ roll place. That was the opening night of the tour. They played two sets and I saw the late show after which the members had a signing session.
While Chris gave an autograph on my ticket stub, I told him, “You guys play better than the 60s.”
Chris said, “Thank you,” and Jim chimed in, “The equipment has got better.”
I asked him, “The Epiphone Rivoli bass guitar you played in the 60s — was it the same one Paul Samwell-Smith and Jimmy Page played back then?”
He replied, “Yes, that was a ‘band guitar’.”
The Yardbirds toured Japan one more time, in 2016, but Chris had quit the band due to his health issue by then, so that has remained his only visit to Japan as a touring musician. I feel honoured to have had a conversation if briefly with part of the legend that was The Yardbirds.

RIP Chris Dreja

RIP