Prevailing influence: how The Yardbirds inadvertently invented the modern rock guitarist
There are often conversations about who the most influential bands of all time are. One of the biggest turning points in music came when The Beatles got big, as a lot of what they did with music was completely groundbreaking and inspired a number of different musicians. However, another band that should take credit for how they influenced rock is The Yardbirds.
When we think of rock music, one of the first images that comes to mind is that of the lead guitarist. We often talk about fantastic guitar solos, and usually, the guitarists in bands have been a more significant influence than any other member. The Beatles didn’t start this trait in music, which can actually be attributed more to The Yardbirds, particularly between the years 1963 and 1968.
Though he wasn’t the first guitarist in the band, Eric Clapton was the first Yardbirds lead who really stood out. He joined in 1963 and had an ability that was difficult to ignore, as his blues guitar style and excellent solos captured people’s hearts everywhere. When people saw them live, their sound was so intoxicating that people who saw them described it as life-changing.
Eric Clapton left the band in 1965 and was replaced by Jeff Beck. Beck was a huge inspiration when it came to shaping the modern rock guitarist, not just because of how he played but also because of his stage presence. He brought the guitarist from the back of the stage to the front, with many performing antics in the way he held his guitar, owned the stage and connected with the audience. A lot of these would be adopted by other rock guitarists, one of whom was Hendrix, who propelled this performance style to the mainstream.
Beck left after a year in 1966 and was replaced by his friend Jimmy Page. Page was the final guitarist who truly shaped what people wanted to aspire to be. He was watched in awe not just because of his ability but because of how far-reaching his styles and sounds were. He had a past working as a session musician, which meant that he was familiar with acoustic guitar, hard rock and blues guitar. This was implemented in The Yardbirds and perfected when he joined Led Zeppelin.
All three guitarists for The Yardbirds helped shape what guitarists eventually aspired to be. The solo and how it was played are among the most important parts of rock music, and the power trio of guitarists in The Yardbirds exemplified how perfectly it could be done. Clapton, Beck, and Page all set the foundation for what the image of the lead guitarist should look like.
When you go on to listen to the other music that these guitarists went on to make, their influence continues to prevail. The likes of Cream, Jeff Beck’s solo career and Led Zeppelin are often cited as some of the best examples of guitar in history, and rightly so.
