When most musicians dream of rock stardom, they imagine the roar of crowds, chart-topping hits, and legendary status. Chris Dreja had all of that—and then walked away from what could have been even greater fame to forge his own path.
The co-founder of The Yardbirds, who passed away on 25 September 2024 at the age of 79, leaves behind a legacy that perfectly captures the spirit of artistic integrity over commercial success.
Born Christopher Walenty Dreja on 11 November 1946 in Surbiton, Surrey, Chris grew up in a post-war Britain where American rock and roll records were transforming teenage culture.
Music entered Chris's world through his brother Stefan, who studied alongside Anthony 'Top' Topham in a pre-college art program—a connection that would change the course of rock history.
In 1963, still teenagers, they joined forces with singer Keith Relf, bassist Paul Samwell-Smith, and drummer Jim McCarty as the Metropolitan Blues Quartet, eventually renaming themselves the Yardbirds.
What started as a group of ambitious teenagers would become the launching pad for three of rock's most famous guitarists: Eric Clapton (1963—1965), Jeff Beck (1965—1966) and Jimmy Page (1966—1968), all of whom ranked in the top five of Rolling Stone magazine's 2011 list of 100 greatest guitarists.
The Teenager Who Helped Launch Three Guitar Legends
The Yardbirds weren't just another 1960s band—they were originally a blues-based band noted for their signature 'rave-up' instrumental breaks, but broadened their range into pop, pioneered psychedelic rock and early hard rock, and contributed to many electric guitar innovations of the mid-1960s.
For Australian audiences experiencing the British Invasion firsthand, The Yardbirds' sound was influential enough that local band The Easybeats were described as sounding like 'The Kinks and The Yardbirds'.
The single 'Shapes of Things', released in February 1966, 'can justifiably be classified as the first psychedelic rock classic', according to music journalist Richie Unterberger and heralded the coming of British psychedelia three months before the Beatles' 'Paperback Writer'/'Rain'.
This wasn't just musical innovation—it was cultural revolution, and Dreja was at the heart of it.
'I personally have done the two things I love the most, which was both music and photography. I have no regrets, I must be honest.'
The Instrument Switch That Defined a Career
When Paul Samwell-Smith left the band in 1966, Page initially joined the band on bass, but Dreja eventually switched instruments, moving from rhythm guitar to bass.
This change placed him in the unique position of anchoring the rhythm section during some of the most experimental music ever recorded.
Starting out on rhythm guitar before switching to bass, Chris' playing was the glue behind hits like Over Under Sideways Down and Shapes of Things.
Chris Dreja was the only musician to play on all their releases, making him perhaps the most consistent creative force throughout The Yardbirds' groundbreaking run.
His steady presence provided the foundation that allowed legendary guitarists to explore uncharted sonic territories.
The Yardbirds' Guitar Legacy
The Yardbirds started the careers of Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page—all ranked in the top five of Rolling Stone's 2011 list of 100 greatest guitarists. Chris Dreja played alongside each of them, witnessing and contributing to some of rock's most innovative moments.
The Decision That Changed Everything
When The Yardbirds disbanded in 1968, Page offered Dreja the position of bassist in a new band he was forming (later to become Led Zeppelin).
Dreja declined in order to pursue a profession in photography and the position was filled by John Paul Jones. It's one of rock history's most fascinating 'what if' moments—and Dreja never regretted it.
During an interview with Classic Rock Radio EU in 2005, Dreja reflected on his decision to turn down Led Zeppelin for photography, sharing, 'At art school I had got involved with photography, I obviously had no idea that Led Zeppelin was going to be as huge as it was.
I had made the decision that I was going to be in control of my own life when I woke up in the morning'.
A Different Kind of Success Behind the Lens
Dreja's photography career proved he'd made the right choice for himself. He photographed Led Zeppelin for the back cover of their debut album—imagine the stories he could tell about that session! Dreja also photographed artists such as Bob Dylan, the Righteous Brothers and Ike and Tina Turner.
Dreja mentioned that although he possessed quite a unique surname, most people he worked with in New York never realised that he was the same Chris Dreja from the Yardbirds: 'I was working in New York in a studio and after two years or so no one had ever at that point equated Chris Dreja of photography with Chris Dreja of the Yardbirds!
Some messenger came to the studio and said something like 'Ain't you that Chris Dreja with that Yardbirds band.' It was great in one way'.
Australian Audiences and the Yardbirds Phenomenon
For Australians who lived through the 1960s, The Yardbirds were part of a cultural earthquake. Most of the Australian acts of the 1960s were influenced by the British acts, which were more common and thus more exposable, than the American acts and so most of the Australian songs of the decade were recorded in British styles of music.
The Yardbirds' innovative approach to rock helped shape not just British music, but the sound of Australian bands trying to find their own voice during this transformative decade.
The Comeback and Final Years
In 1992, The Yardbirds were inducted into the US Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, and, although they didn't perform at the ceremony, they did reunite three years later, when Dreja and McCarty were persuaded to put a new lineup together.
This wasn't just nostalgia—in 2002, the group released Birdland, a critically acclaimed project featuring guest appearances by Joe Satriani, Slash, Steve Vai and Brian May.
Chris Dreja's Life Lessons
- Success isn't always about the biggest opportunity—sometimes it's about the right fit
- Creative fulfillment can take many forms throughout a lifetime
- Building a lasting legacy often means staying true to your values
- It's possible to remain proud of past achievements while embracing new passions
After suffering a series of strokes in 2012 and 2013, Dreja retired from The Yardbirds and was replaced by original lead guitarist Top Topham.
The musician-turned-photographer had retired from music after suffering a series of strokes back in 2012 and 2013, and passed away in September after 'years of health problems'.
Remembering a Life Well-Lived
The tributes following Dreja's death reflected the impact of both his musical and photographic careers. Jimmy Page paid tribute on Instagram, writing: 'I heard today of the passing of musician Chris Dreja, who passionately played with the iconic Yardbirds, on rhythm guitar and then the bass. I hadn't seen him in a while, and I wish I had'.
Today, only Paul Samwell-Smith (82) and Jim McCarty (82) remain, with McCarty still performing under the Yardbirds banner. But Chris Dreja's story reminds us that there are many ways to measure a successful life. He chose freedom over fame, creativity over cash, and personal satisfaction over public acclaim.
In an age when we're constantly told to chase the next big opportunity, Chris Dreja's life offers a different lesson: sometimes the most courageous thing you can do is walk away from what everyone else thinks you should want, and pursue what truly makes you happy.
What do you think about Chris Dreja's decision to leave music for photography? Did you experience The Yardbirds' music during the 1960s, or discover their influence through later bands? Share your memories of this remarkable era in rock history in the comments below.
Primary Source
https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/chris-dreja-the-yardbirds-co-founder-obituary-84631/
Chris Dreja—Wikipedia
Cited text: Christopher Walenty Dreja (11 November 1946—25 September 2025) was an English musician and photographer.
Excerpt: 25 September 2025
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Dreja
The Yardbirds Co-Founder Chris Dreja Dead at 79
Cited text: Born Christopher Walenty Dreja on Nov. 11, 1945, Dreja was raised in Kingston upon Thames, England, and gravitated to music early on.
Excerpt: Born Christopher Walenty Dreja on 11 November 1946 in Surbiton, Surrey
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/...the-yardbirds-co-founder-obituary-1235440001/
Chris Dreja—Wikipedia
Cited text: Christopher Walenty Dreja was born on 11 November 1946 in Surbiton, and rais
Excerpt: Born Christopher Walenty Dreja on 11 November 1946 in Surbiton, Surrey
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Dreja
Chris Dreja of The Yardbirds Dies Weeks Before 80th Birthday—Noise11.com
Cited text: Music entered Chris’s world through his brother Stefan, who studied alongside Anthony “Top” Topham in a pre-college art program.
Excerpt: Music entered Chris's world through his brother Stefan, who studied alongside Anthony 'Top' Topham in a pre-college art program
https://www.noise11.com/news/chris-dreja-yardbirds-dies-79-20251002
The Yardbirds Co-Founder Chris Dreja Dead at 79
Cited text: In 1963, still teenagers, they joined forces with singer Keith Relf, bassist Paul Samwell-Smith, and drummer Jim McCarty as the Metropolitan Blues Qua...
Excerpt: In 1963, still teenagers, they joined forces with singer Keith Relf, bassist Paul Samwell-Smith, and drummer Jim McCarty as the Metropolitan Blues Quartet, eventually renaming themselves the Yardbirds
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/...the-yardbirds-co-founder-obituary-1235440001/
The Yardbirds—Wikipedia
Cited text: The band started the careers of three of rock's most famous guitarists: Eric Clapton (1963—1965), Jeff Beck (1965—1966) and Jimmy Page (1966—1968), al...
Excerpt: three of rock's most famous guitarists: Eric Clapton (1963—1965), Jeff Beck (1965—1966) and Jimmy Page (1966—1968), all of whom ranked in the top five of Rolling Stone magazine's 2011 list of 100 greatest guitarists
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Yardbirds
The Yardbirds—Wikipedia
Cited text: Originally a blues-based band noted for their signature "rave-up" instrumental breaks, the Yardbirds broadened their range into pop, pioneer...
Excerpt: they were originally a blues-based band noted for their signature 'rave-up' instrumental breaks, but broadened their range into pop, pioneered psychedelic rock and early hard rock, and contributed to many electric guitar innovations of the…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Yardbirds
Australian Classic Rock of the 60s and 70s: Part 1—The Diversity of Classic Rock
Cited text: If you like The Kinks and The Yardbirds, you’ll like them.
Excerpt: The Yardbirds' sound was influential enough that local band The Easybeats were described as sounding like 'The Kinks and The Yardbirds'
https://crazyonclassicrock.com/2017/12/26/australian-classic-rock-of-the-60s-and-70s-part-1/
The Yardbirds—Wikipedia
Cited text: The single 'Shapes of Things', released in February 1966, 'can justifiably be classified as the first psychedelic rock classic', according to music jo...
Excerpt: The single 'Shapes of Things', released in February 1966, 'can justifiably be classified as the first psychedelic rock classic', according to music journalist Richie Unterberger and heralded the coming of British psychedelia three months…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Yardbirds
The Yardbirds Co-Founder Chris Dreja Dead at 79
Cited text: Samwell-Smith left in mid-1966 and Page initially joined the band on bass.
Excerpt: Page initially joined the band on bass, but Dreja eventually switched instruments
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/...the-yardbirds-co-founder-obituary-1235440001/
Chris Dreja—Wikipedia
Cited text: Dreja changed from rhythm to bass guitar following the departure of the original bassist, Samwell-Smith.
Excerpt: Page initially joined the band on bass, but Dreja eventually switched instruments
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Dreja
Tributes pour in for late Yardbirds co-founder Chris Dreja—Entertainment News
Cited text: Starting out on rhythm guitar before switching to bass, Chris’ playing was the glue behind hits like Over Under Sideways Down and Shapes of Things.
Excerpt: Starting out on rhythm guitar before switching to bass, Chris' playing was the glue behind hits like Over Under Sideways Down and Shapes of Things
https://www.castanet.net/news/Enter...-in-for-late-Yardbirds-co-founder-Chris-Dreja
Founding Yardbirds guitarist Chris Dreja dead at 79 | Louder
Cited text: (Image credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) Chris Dreja, founding guitarist with The Yardbirds—and the only musician to play on all their rel...
Excerpt: Chris Dreja was the only musician to play on all their releases
https://www.loudersound.com/bands-artists/founding-yardbirds-guitarist-chris-dreja-dead-at-79
Chris Dreja—Wikipedia
Cited text: After the group broke up, Page offered Dreja the position of bassist in a new band he was forming (later to become Led Zeppelin). Dreja declined in or...
Excerpt: Page offered Dreja the position of bassist in a new band he was forming (later to become Led Zeppelin).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Dreja
Jimmy Page pays tribute to The Yardbirds guitarist Chris Dreja
Cited text: During an interview with Classic Rock Radio EU in 2005, Dreja reflected on his decision to turn down Led Zeppelin for photography, and didn’t have any...
Excerpt: During an interview with Classic Rock Radio EU in 2005, Dreja reflected on his decision to turn down Led Zeppelin for photography, sharing, 'At art school I had got involved with photography, I obviously had no idea that Led Zeppelin was…
https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/jimmy-page-honours-the-yardbirds-guitarist-chris-dreja/
Chris Dreja—Wikipedia
Cited text: He photographed Led Zeppelin for the back cover of their debut album.
Excerpt: He photographed Led Zeppelin for the back cover of their debut album
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Dreja
Chris Dreja—Wikipedia
Cited text: Dreja also photographed artists such as Bob Dylan, the Righteous Brothers and Ike and Tina Turner.
Excerpt: Dreja also photographed artists such as Bob Dylan, the Righteous Brothers and Ike and Tina Turner
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Dreja
Chris Dreja—Wikipedia
Cited text: Dreja mentioned that although he possessed quite a unique surname, most people he worked with in New York never realised that he was the same Chris Dr...
Excerpt: Dreja mentioned that although he possessed quite a unique surname, most people he worked with in New York never realised that he was the same Chris Dreja from the Yardbirds: 'I was working in New York in a studio and after two years or so…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Dreja
Timeline of trends in Australian music—Wikipedia
Cited text: Most of the Australian acts of the 1960s were influenced by the British acts, which were more common and thus more exposable, than the American acts a...
Excerpt: Most of the Australian acts of the 1960s were influenced by the British acts, which were more common and thus more exposable, than the American acts and so most of the Australian songs of the decade were recorded in British styles of music
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_trends_in_Australian_music
Founding Yardbirds guitarist Chris Dreja dead at 79 | Louder
Cited text: In 1992, The Yardbirds were inducted into the US Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, and, although they didn't perform at the ceremony, they did reunite three...
Excerpt: In 1992, The Yardbirds were inducted into the US Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, and, although they didn't perform at the ceremony, they did reunite three years later, when Dreja and McCarty were persuaded to put a new lineup together
https://www.loudersound.com/bands-artists/founding-yardbirds-guitarist-chris-dreja-dead-at-79
Chris Dreja of The Yardbirds Dies Weeks Before 80th Birthday—Noise11.com
Cited text: In 2002, the group released Birdland, a critically acclaimed project featuring guest appearances by Joe Satriani, Slash, Steve Vai and Brian May.
Excerpt: in 2002, the group released Birdland, a critically acclaimed project featuring guest appearances by Joe Satriani, Slash, Steve Vai and Brian May
https://www.noise11.com/news/chris-dreja-yardbirds-dies-79-20251002
Chris Dreja—Wikipedia
Cited text: After suffering a series of strokes in 2012 and 2013, Dreja retired from The Yardbirds and was replaced by original lead guitarist Top Topham.
Excerpt: After suffering a series of strokes in 2012 and 2013, Dreja retired from The Yardbirds and was replaced by original lead guitarist Top Topham
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Dreja
Tributes pour in for late Yardbirds co-founder Chris Dreja—Entertainment News
Cited text: The musician-turned-photographer had retired from music after suffering a series of strokes back in 2012 and 2013, and passed away in September after ...
Excerpt: The musician-turned-photographer had retired from music after suffering a series of strokes back in 2012 and 2013, and passed away in September after 'years of health problems'
https://www.castanet.net/news/Enter...-in-for-late-Yardbirds-co-founder-Chris-Dreja
Jimmy Page leads tributes to Yardbirds co-founder and guitarist Chris Dreja
Cited text: Dreja’s former Yardbirds bandmate Page also paid tribute on Instagram, sharing a picture of the two of them together and writing: “I heard today of th...
Excerpt: Jimmy Page paid tribute on Instagram, writing: 'I heard today of the passing of musician Chris Dreja, who passionately played with the iconic Yardbirds, on rhythm guitar and then the bass.
https://www.nme.com/news/music/jimm...-co-founder-and-guitarist-chris-dreja-3896900
Chris Dreja of The Yardbirds Dies Weeks Before 80th Birthday—Noise11.com
Cited text: Today, only Paul Samwell-Smith (82) and Jim McCarty (82) remain, with McCarty still performing under the Yardbirds banner.
Excerpt: Today, only Paul Samwell-Smith (82) and Jim McCarty (82) remain, with McCarty still performing under the Yardbirds banner
https://www.noise11.com/news/chris-dreja-yardbirds-dies-79-20251002
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Chris Dreja. 
