The Yardbirds: Happenings "40 Years" Time Ago
Caught up with them for a brief lesson in rock history.You worked with three guitar gods: Clapton, Beck and Page. What do you recall about each?
Jim McCarty: It was Eric first, and he was still learning the trade. He was a beginner. He would listen to old blues records and mimic the guitar sounds. He was very earnest, enthusiastic and keen. He would practice all day. Jeff was different. He seemed to be able to play without really practicing. He had an inborn talent. It was wonderful, inspirational—stuff you never expected. And Jimmy was different because he was from the session side. He was used to doing what people wanted in the best way possible. When he came to the group, he did just that—played what we wanted. He was precise and businesslike. That all probably changed with [Led] Zeppelin, but I can’t speak for that era. [Laughs.]
You’ve played Yardbirds tunes for more than half a century. What is the audience like now and do you ever get bored?
In 1968, the New Yardbirds played their first concert at a club in London. They later changed their name to Led Zeppelin. In 1969, Leonard Chess died of a heart attack. He founded Chess Records with his brother Phil in the early 1950s.