Post by classic rock revival on Apr 5, 2024 14:23:08 GMT -6
Classic Rock Revival
Jim McCarty Interview
The Yardbirds formed in London, England in 1963. The band started the careers of three of rock's most famous guitarists: Eric Clapton (1963–1965), Jeff Beck (1965–1966) and Jimmy Page (1966–1968). The band's other members during 1963–1968 were vocalist/harmonica player Keith Relf, drummer Jim McCarty, rhythm guitarist Chris Dreja, and bassist Paul Samwell-Smith. From 1963 to 1968 The Yardbirds released 6 albums in the U.S. along with 2 top ten singles, 3 top twenty, and 5 more top 100.
The group disbanded in 1968 and Keith Relf and Jim McCarty formed the group Renaissance. The Yardbirds re-formed in the 1990s, featuring original members Jim McCarty and Chris Dreja who left the band in 2011, leaving McCarty as the sole original member of the band.
JIM CRR: Here we are in 2024 and The Yardbirds are still rockin', getting gigs and sounding great! Can you tell me a bit about the current version of the band, how it came together?
JIM McCARTY: The Yardbirds have been going again since 1997; Chris Dreja and myself were the originals. After various different line-ups, Chris Dreja became ill in 2011 and couldn’t carry on.
In 2015 I decided to carry on with U.S. musicians that were experienced and known in the U.S. Lead Guitarist Johny A was replaced by Godfrey Townsend in 2018, and together with bassist Kenny Aaronson, and Myke Scavone on harmonica the band carries on today with that line-up. John Idan, the lead singer, was there since 1997, although he did leave for several years.
I think the band is good and does justice to a great repertoire!
JIM CRR: Have any new songs been written, any chance of a new studio or live album by the current band?
JIM McCARTY: There were new songs on the album “Birdland” in 2003. Perhaps a live album by this band.
JIM CRR: Yeah, "Birdland", is a really good album that did really well on Billboard's indies chart, reaching #25. New songs along with some remakes of classic Yardbirds songs, along with contributions from Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Slash, Brian May, and Jeff Beck was a great concept for that album that worked out very. How was it the "Birdland," album came about?
JIM McCARTY: Chris Dreja had a friend in Hollywood who happened to meet a “friend of a friend” of Steve Vai, who as forming a record label, Favored Nations.
When he knew we were looking to record an album, he was excited and it was suggested we record a mixture of new songs and old hits with famous guests.
We stayed in Hollywood and recorded at Steve’s studio with Ken Allardyce producing.
I thought the result was good and was a little disappointed it didn’t sell better than it did.
JIM CRR: The Yardbirds were basically a blues band in the beginning but by the mid-60's adapted to a more pop oriented psychedelic rock band. What brought about that change?
JIM McCARTY: We never really wanted to just play straight blues covers. We loved that music but wanted to give it our own “twist”, “rave- up”, that slowly built everything to a crescendo.
Also, the addition of Jeff Beck gave the Yardbirds’ sound a new lift, so many wild and varied guitar sounds!
JIM CRR: It's been said The Yardbirds innovative unique sound/style shaped such diverse genres as psychedelic rock, prog rock and punk. Do you agree, can you elaborate a bit on that?
JIM McCARTY: We started playing covers of blues songs and wanted to make them a bit different (make them our own). When Jeff came in, he would like to play lots of wild and varied sounds which we all loved. We really wanted to create something special, and we had that chemistry.
JIM CRR: Do you remember coming to America for the first time, your first U.S. tour? Any memories you can share?
JIM McCARTY: Yes Jim, it was a little bizarre, though exciting also.
We discovered it was more complicated than we thought. we needed work permits and also a band exchange through the musician's union.
In those days you had to be interviewed by the U.S. ambassador, and he had a huge map on the wall of his office showing you how far you were going to go, it seemed quite daunting!
We flew to New York and did a TV show (not, Ed Sullivan), then flew to somewhere in the Mid-West to play in a fairground to about 40 people. That was a huge let down.
There was some visa problem, and consequently we couldn’t play any more shows.
Giorgio, our manager wasn’t so good with paperwork, but he talked someone in Hollywood into throwing a party where we played. That certainly got the word out!
JIM CRR: You guys were a part of the British Invasion in the early 60's along with The Beatles, Rolling Stones, The Animals and a host of others. Were there any comraderies between the bands, did you guys know each other, hang out together, become friends?
JIM McCARTY: It depended on if we crossed paths, as we were all quite busy. We occasionally chatted to the Beatles and Stones, and I remember sharing a hotel in NYC with the Animals.
We were very competitive then!
JIM CRR: Three of the greatest rock guitarists of all time Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page were members of The Yardbirds at one time, Jeff and Jimmy were even in the band together at one point. Any memories you can share of their individual musical contributions to The Yardbirds, and of the three do you have a favorite?
JIM McCARTY: They were all very different; Jeff was the most creative, and the line- up with him did the best work, the sound people think of as the Yardbirds.
Eric was very dedicated (to the blues) and was destined to be “a star”. Jimmy already had a reputation and was a joy to work with. They were all “team members”.
JIM CRR: After The Yardbirds disbanded in 1968 you and Keith Relf formed a duo called, Together, and released a single. How successful was that single and didn't Together evolve into Renaissance that became quite successful?
JIM McCARTY: Keith and I had quite a lot of song ideas in a “softer” vein. We were still under contract with EMI and decided to record some of our songs under the name “Together”.
We were still involved with Paul Samwell- Smith, as producer, and he introduced us to a manager- John Mitchell.
They both suggested forming a band to play live, and hence, Renaissance.
I would suggest you get a copy of my book “Nobody Told Me”, as it’s all in there!
JIM CRR: You and Keith left Renaissance after the second album, but you continued writing songs for them for quite a while after your departure, what led you to do that?
JIM McCARTY: I thought I would still like to be involved and write songs as more of a “back room” person. Of course, I gradually lost touch as they had Mickey Dunford, who carried on working with Betty.
I played “Ashes are Burning” at the Renaissance 50 years Reunion concert and realized how good that song was!
JIM CRR: How have your current Yardbirds' shows been doing, are there many younger fans coming to your gigs? Do you still enjoy performing those songs as much as you used to?
JIM McCARTY: Yes, more younger fans these days.
JIM CRR: I agree with you, I think the current version of The Yardbirds truly do the classic songs justice. Any chance of a possible 'Live' album anytime in the near future?
JIM McCARTY: We have a fair amount of live stuff, so it’s possible.
4/16/24