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\n\tChris Dreja, co-founder of influential English rock band the Yardbirds<\/a> and co-writer on many of the band\u2019s memorable songs, died at 79. His death was announced by his former bandmate Jimmy Page<\/a>. <\/p>\n \n\t\u201cI heard today of the passing of musician Chris Dreja, who passionately played with the iconic Yardbirds, on rhythm guitar and then the bass,\u201d Page wrote on Instagram. \u201cI hadn\u2019t seen him in a while, and I wish I had. RIP Chris.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tThe news was confirmed by Dreja\u2019s sister-in-law Muriel Levy, who wrote on Threads<\/a>, \u201cThis 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\u2026 I share the pain with my sister Kate who took care of him during all those years and his daughter Jackie\u2026 May he RIP.\u201d <\/p>\n \n\tBorn Christopher Walenty Dreja on Nov. 11, 1945, Dreja was raised in Kingston upon Thames, England, and gravitated to music early on. His brother attended a pre-college art program with original Yardbirds lead guitarist Anthony \u201cTop\u201d Topham. Dreja and Topham began collaborating soon after. In 1963, still teenagers, they joined forces with singer Keith Relf, bassist Paul Samwell-Smith, and drummer Jim McCarty as the Metropolitan Blues Quartet, eventually renaming themselves the Yardbirds.<\/p>\n \n\tTopham left the group not long after, but Dreja continued the Yardbirds. Eric Clapton<\/a> joined in Topham\u2019s place and later in 1963, the band took over the Rolling Stones\u2019 residency at London\u2019s Crawdaddy club. The following year, the Yardbirds released a live album, Five Live Yardbirds<\/em>, recorded at London\u2019d Marquee Club, via Columbia Records. In 1965, Clapton departed and was replaced by Jeff Beck<\/a>. With the new lineup, the Yardbirds released multiple singles, including \u201cHeart Full of Soul,\u201d \u201cShapes of Things,\u201d \u201cEvil Hearted You,\u201d and a memorable cover of Bo Diddley\u2019s \u201cI\u2019m a Man.\u201d<\/p>\n