I only heard the Strawbs live once but it was a great experience. 85 isn't terribly old.
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NEW!! INT80 integrated amplifier w/ built-in mm phono input - £999 until 30th September
Obituaries
- Thread starter Slinger
- Start date
I am gutted. Was at an Alice Cooper gig tonight just after the news broke. Alice gave a heart felt tribute as did the support. He and Black Sabbath laid the foundation for the music I love.
RIP
Veteran jazz singer Dame Cleo Laine dies aged 97
She had a four-octave vocal range and the ability to perform everything from Schoenberg to a Spike Milligan hit about a man with too many tonsils.One critic said that she was one of Britain's two great contributions to jazz - the other being gin.
OBIT
Tom LehrerAt 97 years
Sad indeed however, I discovered that all his songs ar in the public domain, here.
Terry Reid, a.k.a. "Superlungs" but also (somewhat unfairly) labelled rock's "nearly" man, after he famously turned down offers to front both Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple.
This will give you a flavour of the man, in his own words...
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/sep/18/terry-reid-british-pop
R.I.P. Terry.
This will give you a flavour of the man, in his own words...
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/sep/18/terry-reid-british-pop
R.I.P. Terry.
Former Yardbirds guitarist Chris Dreja has passed away at the age of 79.
Dreja was known as the rhythm guitarist for the legendary blues outfit throughout their classic run in the 1960s. Aside from playing alongside Eric Clapton, he was also in the group when Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck took over for ‘Slowhand’.
The news of his death was confirmed by his sister-in-law, Muriel Levy, saying, “This is with a deep sadness that I have to announce that my brother-in-law Chris Dreja, former member of legendary band The Yardbirds, rhythm guitarist and also bass player, has passed away after years of health problems.”
Dreja had been a cornerstone of the group since their inception, founding the band alongside vocalist Keith Relf in 1963. Forming with original lead guitarist Top Topham, Dreja remained the driving force behind all of their blues tunes before they eventually drafted in Eric Clapton. Although Clapton would leave the group after a few years over disagreements on their creative direction, Dreja turned down the opportunity to play lead guitar live.
Despite Beck being drafted in for the album Roger the Engineer, Dreja helped write most of the record and would also design the cover image. During the band’s tour for the record, the band would attract the attention of Jimmy Page, who would join the band on bass at first before having his fair share of lead guitar moments on tunes like ‘Heart Full of Soul’, with Dreja playing bass.
When Page eventually decided to form his own outfit, Dreja was also integral in forming the embryonic form of Led Zeppelin before ultimately bowing out to pursue a career in photography. He would ultimately serve Page a cease-and-desist order for his initial use of the name ‘The New Yardbirds’.
While the band officially disbanded in 1968, Dreja would keep busy working with bands such as Box of Frogs until reforming the group alongside original drummer Jim McCarty. He would go on to play on their final official studio release, Birdland, in 2002.
Though few details have been announced regarding his death, Dreja had been out of the Yardbirds for years before his death. Following a series of strokes in the 2010s, he would announce his retirement from touring with the group, being replaced by Topham.
Dreja is survived by his sister Katie and his daughter, Jackie.
0:00 Train Kept A Rollin'
3:24 Dazed & Confused
9:05 Goodnight Sweet Josephine
Vocals: Keith Relf
Guitar: Jimmy Page
Bass: Chris Dreja
Dreja was known as the rhythm guitarist for the legendary blues outfit throughout their classic run in the 1960s. Aside from playing alongside Eric Clapton, he was also in the group when Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck took over for ‘Slowhand’.
The news of his death was confirmed by his sister-in-law, Muriel Levy, saying, “This is with a deep sadness that I have to announce that my brother-in-law Chris Dreja, former member of legendary band The Yardbirds, rhythm guitarist and also bass player, has passed away after years of health problems.”
Dreja had been a cornerstone of the group since their inception, founding the band alongside vocalist Keith Relf in 1963. Forming with original lead guitarist Top Topham, Dreja remained the driving force behind all of their blues tunes before they eventually drafted in Eric Clapton. Although Clapton would leave the group after a few years over disagreements on their creative direction, Dreja turned down the opportunity to play lead guitar live.
Despite Beck being drafted in for the album Roger the Engineer, Dreja helped write most of the record and would also design the cover image. During the band’s tour for the record, the band would attract the attention of Jimmy Page, who would join the band on bass at first before having his fair share of lead guitar moments on tunes like ‘Heart Full of Soul’, with Dreja playing bass.
When Page eventually decided to form his own outfit, Dreja was also integral in forming the embryonic form of Led Zeppelin before ultimately bowing out to pursue a career in photography. He would ultimately serve Page a cease-and-desist order for his initial use of the name ‘The New Yardbirds’.
While the band officially disbanded in 1968, Dreja would keep busy working with bands such as Box of Frogs until reforming the group alongside original drummer Jim McCarty. He would go on to play on their final official studio release, Birdland, in 2002.
Though few details have been announced regarding his death, Dreja had been out of the Yardbirds for years before his death. Following a series of strokes in the 2010s, he would announce his retirement from touring with the group, being replaced by Topham.
Dreja is survived by his sister Katie and his daughter, Jackie.
0:00 Train Kept A Rollin'
3:24 Dazed & Confused
9:05 Goodnight Sweet Josephine
Vocals: Keith Relf
Guitar: Jimmy Page
Bass: Chris Dreja
Jimmy Page
I heard 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. RIP Chris.
www.facebook.com
Tribute from Jimmy Page.
fitterstoke
Member
John Lodge of the Moody Blues,
veteran cosmic rocker, age 82
veteran cosmic rocker, age 82
