The Yardbirds are perhaps more famous as a launchpad for three top guitarists than they are for their own music: Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck were all Yardbirds before their careers hit later heights. After building a reputation as a hot new London blues band, Clapton left in disgust when "For Your Love" charted on both sides of the Atlantic: he was outraged that the group should release pop music. Beck replaced him and quickly established himself as one of the most exciting blues guitarists around, showcased on Roger The Engineer (1966). Page then agreed to join, initially on bass guitar before switching to shared-lead with Beck. Their dual guitar assaults were powerful and mesmerising, but they only recorded a handful of tracks featuring both guitarists before Beck left the group just four months after Page had joined. Through 1967, the Yardbirds struggled to continue. Although their live shows were still thrillingly experimental, their singles were poor and didn't succeed commercially. There were also drug problems and musical differences, leading to most members giving up on the group in 1968. Only Jimmy Page remained, and he recruited unknowns Robert Plant, John Bonham and John Paul Jones to go on tour as The New Yardbirds. The foursome worked so well together that they dropped the name to start afresh - and the New Yardbirds became Led Zeppelin.
In 2003, the Yardbirds reunited, but without Jimmy Page. Jeff Beck contributed to their 2003 album Birdland. It was their first album of newly recorded material since 1968. The reformed Yardbirds also went out on tour in support of the new album. However, Jimmy Page continued to refuse to be involved with them.
