Chris Dreja has passed away: founder of the legendary Yardbirds and photographer for Led Zeppelin.

In Memory of The Yardbirds Guitarist

According to The Sun: Chris Dreja, co-founder of the influential 1960s band The Yardbirds, has passed away at the age of 79. This sad news was announced by his daughter-in-law.

Dreja was with The Yardbirds from its inception and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the band. Muriel Levy noted that he had suffered from health issues for several years.

“It is with deep sadness that I announce that my father-in-law Chris Dreja, former member of the legendary band The Yardbirds, rhythm guitarist and also bassist, has passed away after many years of health problems,”

“I share this pain with my sister Kate, who cared for him all these years, and his daughter Jackie. May he rest in peace.”

Chris, along with Anthony Topham, Keith Relf, Jim McCarty, and Paul Samwell-Smith, founded The Yardbirds in 1963. Over the years, legendary guitarists like Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page joined the band.

A multitude of tributes to the musician have already surfaced online.

“Today I learned of the death of musician Christopher Dreja, who passionately played in the iconic band The Yardbirds, on rhythm guitar, then on bass,”

“I haven't seen him in a long time and I regret it. Rest in peace, Chris.”

One fan wrote: “Oh, this is terrible news. My favorite band in school was The Yardbirds. Rest in peace, Chris.”

Another person added: “My sincere condolences to you and your family at this sad time, rest in peace.”

The band became extremely popular thanks to the album For Your Love, which included hits Heart Full of Soul and I’m a Man. The next album, Over Under Sideways Down, also cemented their success.

Both albums received recognition in Rolling Stone's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. The Yardbirds were inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992.

Chris Dreja, born in 1945 in Kingston, Surrey, turned down an offer from Jimmy Page to become the bassist for Led Zeppelin. Besides music, he was passionate about art and photography: his photo of Led Zeppelin appeared on the back cover of their debut album.

Dreja and McCarty reformed The Yardbirds in 1992, and the band continued to perform and record until 2013.

The death of Chris Dreja has sparked a wave of memories about his contributions to music and the importance of The Yardbirds in the development of rock and roll. The band, which gave the world a whole array of talented musicians, will remain in the memory of many generations.