Chris Dreja, co-founder of the iconic rock band the Yardbirds, has died at the age of 79. His passing was confirmed by his sister-in-law, Muriel Levy, and former bandmate, Jimmy Page, through social media. The cause of death has not been disclosed.
Levy expressed her grief on Threads, stating that Dreja had been dealing with health issues for several years. She expressed her condolences to her sister Kate, who had been caring for Dreja, and his daughter Jackie. Page also paid tribute to Dreja on Instagram, acknowledging his significant contributions to the Yardbirds as a rhythm guitarist and bass player.
Fans of the Yardbirds and Dreja took to social media to share their condolences and memories of the musician. One fan noted Dreja’s talent as a photographer, highlighting his work on the back cover of Led Zeppelin’s debut album.
Dreja was a multi-talented artist, known for his music and photography. He co-founded the Yardbirds in London in 1963 with Top Topham and co-wrote many of the band’s songs. He also created the cover art for The Yardbirds’ self-titled 1966 album, often referred to as “Roger the Engineer.”
The Yardbirds, originally named the Metropolitan Blues Quartet, included other notable members such as singer Keith Relf, bassist Paul Samwell-Smith, and drummer Jim McCarty. The band is also known for launching the careers of renowned guitarists Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page.
The Yardbirds achieved significant success in the 1960s, releasing several hit records including “For Your Love,” “Heart Full of Soul,” and “Over Under Sideways Down.” After the band disbanded in 1968, Dreja shifted his focus to his photography career.
In addition to his work with the Yardbirds, Dreja also performed in the band Box of Frogs alongside Samwell-Smith and McCarty. Dreja and McCarty revived the Yardbirds in the 1990s and continued to perform together until Dreja’s health forced him to retire from music in 2012.