Remembering Chris Dreja
Jimmy Page has shared a touching tribute to his former Yardbirds bandmate, Chris Dreja, after news broke of his passing at age 79.
Dreja’s sister-in-law, Muriel Levy, confirmed his death on Threads, writing, “This is with a 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.”
Early Years with The Yardbirds
Dreja was one of the founding members of The Yardbirds in 1963. The group became a starting ground for legendary players like Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, and Jeff Beck, who all moved on to greater fame after their time with the band.
He first played rhythm guitar, but later switched to bass after Paul Samwell-Smith left. Dreja stayed with the Yardbirds until the group disbanded in 1968, helping shape their blues-driven sound during a key era in British rock.
From The Yardbirds to Led Zeppelin
When Page decided to continue on by forming The New Yardbirds—soon to become Led Zeppelin—he invited Dreja to take the role of bassist. Dreja declined, choosing instead to pursue his passion for photography. His new career quickly tied back to music when he photographed the cover art for Led Zeppelin’s debut album.
Reflecting on his old bandmate, Page posted on Instagram: “I heard today of the passing of musician Chris Dreja, who passionately played with the iconic Yardbirds, on rhythm guitar and then the bass. I hadn’t seen him in a while, and I wish I had. RIP Chris.”
Later Years and Return to Music
Though he left performance behind in the late 1960s, Dreja returned in 1992 when The Yardbirds re-formed. He remained with the group until 2013, when a series of strokes forced him to retire from playing music.
In a 2005 interview with Classic Rock Radio EU, Dreja looked back on his decision to turn down Led Zeppelin and expressed no regrets. “At art school I had got involved with photography, I obviously had no idea that Led Zeppelin was going to be as huge as it was. I had made the decision that I was going to be in control of my own life when I woke up in the morning.”
He added, “I could see it was going to be a solid outfit but by that time, I must be honest the love I had for music had transferred itself to photography. I don’t regret it; the next thirty-two years were spent organising my own life.”
No cause of death has been announced.
