Chris Dreja — one of the founding members of the legendary British rock band The Yardbirds — has passed away at age 79, leaving behind a towering legacy that helped shape the sound of modern rock. His death was confirmed by both his family and fellow rock icon Jimmy Page, who mourned the loss of his former bandmate with heartfelt tributes.
Dreja’s sister-in-law, Muriel Levy, shared the news on social media Thursday, writing:
“It is with 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. I share the pain with my sister Kate, who took care of him all these years, and his daughter Jackie. May he RIP ❤️.”
Jimmy Page, who went on to found Led Zeppelin after his time in The Yardbirds, also posted a moving message to Instagram.
“I heard today of the passing of musician Chris Dreja, who passionately played with the iconic Yardbirds, on rhythm guitar and then bass,” Page wrote. “I hadn’t seen him in a while, and I wish I had. RIP Chris.”
Fans quickly filled the comment sections with tributes, noting that Dreja’s impact went far beyond the stage. One admirer pointed out that Dreja — a gifted photographer — took the famous back-cover photo for Led Zeppelin’s debut album. Another wrote, “His face is part of my life, from buying my first Yardbirds picture sleeve. His playing — those records — are in my cells.”
Born in London, Dreja co-founded The Yardbirds in 1963 alongside guitarist Top Topham. The group began as the Metropolitan Blues Quartet before taking on the name that would soon be known around the world. With Dreja’s rhythm work and songwriting helping define the band’s sound, The Yardbirds became a driving force in the British blues-rock movement — and a launchpad for some of rock’s most influential guitarists.
During Dreja’s tenure, the band saw a revolving door of soon-to-be legends: Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page all took up the guitar at various times, each leaving their mark on hits like “For Your Love,” “Heart Full of Soul,” and “Over Under Sideways Down.”
But Dreja’s creativity didn’t stop with music. He designed the cover art for the band’s 1966 self-titled album — affectionately known as “Roger the Engineer” — and later became a respected professional photographer after The Yardbirds disbanded in 1968.
Even after moving behind the camera, Dreja’s love of music never faded. In the 1980s, he reunited with former bandmates Paul Samwell-Smith and Jim McCarty in Box of Frogs, and later helped revive The Yardbirds in the 1990s for a new generation of fans.
Sadly, a series of strokes in 2012 forced him into retirement, but his influence continued to echo through every riff that built on The Yardbirds’ innovative sound.
Chris Dreja may not have been the flashiest name in rock history, but without him, the golden age of British rock — and the careers of legends like Clapton, Beck, and Page — might never have taken flight.
A quiet pioneer, a steady hand, and a true craftsman — Dreja’s rhythm still beats through the heart of rock ‘n’ roll.
