The Yardbirds Videos

[VintAxe]

Besides recording some great pop songs, the Yardbirds are famous for the string of lead guitar players that passed through the band. If you are unaware, check out this short biography:

[VintAxe]

I haven't located much decent video of Eric Clapton as the lead guitarist of the Yardbirds, but here is a clip from the movie Blow Up where both Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck are playing with the band.

The song is Stroll On from 1966:



Here are my questions:

1. What model of guitar is Jeff playing?
2. What model of amp fails on stage?
3. Where did Jeff get the idea to smash his equipment out of frustration?
4. Why doesn't Jimmy seem bothered by Jeff's antics?
5. Where is Michael Palin who is reputed to be in the crowd?

BTW, Blow Up was the first British film to feature full female frontal nudity.
Guess they wanted to cash in on "Sex, Drugs and Rock & Roll".

[frankpaush]

Michael might be the one in the struggle for the neck scene coming from the left.




the crashing idea has a Pete Townsend copyright, as far as I know.

the amp seems to be a Vox 50W top (really nice to see they used 2*12 Vox boxes for the front as well) I had the trapez 30w version and problems just like Jeff, but couldn't afford his way of solving it

[VintAxe]

Yeah, I think you might be right about Palin.

I guess what struck me about Beck smashing his guitar was that it is a trademark Townsend move, why would he want to imitate it in a movie? Maybe it was the director's idea.

I'm sure Vox was thrilled with the "publicity".

Here's a later (1967) Yardbirds clip with Jimmy Page playing his silver spot telecaster. This was probably shot not long before the Yardbirds fell apart and Jimmy recruited Plant, Bonham and Jones into "The New Yardbirds" and the launch of Led Zepplin.

[VintAxe]

Another good quality Yardbirds video from the Jeff Beck era.

Check out "Heart Full of Soul":

[VintAxe]

What this video lacks in audio quality is more than made up for in the mid 60's dance sensibilities on display.

Who says you can't "A Go Go" to the Blues? I believe I detect a variety of dance moves including The Jerk, The Shake, The Mashed Potato, The Monkey, The Swim and maybe even a little Boogaloo.

Here is the Yardbirds version of the Muddy Waters classic "I'm a Man":

[VintAxe]

Another great Yardbirds song, Over Under Sideways Down.

Must be Jimmy Page on guitar. What's a player got to do to get some face time on the video?