Chris Dreja, a rhythm guitarist and later bassist who co-founded The Yardbirds , remained with the legendary British band for its entire original run and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with them, has died. He was 79.

His sister-in-law, Muriel Levy, announced the news on social media but did not did not provide a date or cause of death, other than to say he “passed away after years of health problems.” See her post below.

Dreja co-founded The Yardbirds in 1963, playing rhythm guitar alongside lead axman Tom Topham, singer Keith Relf, drummer Jim McCarthy and bassist Paul Samwell-Smith. The group would go on to feature three of the most celebrated guitarists in rock history in Eric Clapton, who replaced Topham in 1993; Jeff Beck, who took over for Clapton in 1965; a

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