Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Chris Dreja Dead at 79

Chris Dreja, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee who co-founded The Yardbirds as a rhythm guitarist and later became their bassist, has died.

His sister-in-law, Muriel Levy, announced the news on social media. She did not provide a date or cause of death, only stating he “passed away after years of health problems.”

Dreja was 79.

Dreja co-founded The Yardbirds in 1963 as the rhythm guitarist, joining lead guitarist Anthony “Top” Topham, vocalist Keith Relf, drummer Jim McCarthy, and bassist Paul Samwell-Smith, per Rolling Stone.

The group went on to feature three legendary rock guitarists: Eric Clapton, who replaced Topham in 1963; Jeff Beck, who succeeded Clapton in 1965; and future Led Zeppelin icon Jimmy Page, who joined in 1966 after Samwell-Smith’s departure.

The Yardbirds made