Chris Dreja, co-founder of the Yardbirds, died. He was 79 years old.
The news was given by his former bandmate Jimmy Page: “Today I learned about the disappearance of Chris Dreja, who played with great passion with the iconic Yardbirds, on the rhythmic guitar and then on bass,” Page wrote on Instagram. «I hadn't seen him for a while, and I'm sorry not to have done it. Rest in peace, Chris ».
The news of Dreja, Muriel Levy's sister -in -law: «It is with profound sadness that I must announce that my brother -in -law Chris Dreja, former member of the legendary band The Yardbirds, rhythmic guitarist and bassist, has passed away after years of health problems … I share the pain with my sister Kate, who took care of him during all these years, and with his daughter Jackie … peace ».
Dreja was in the Yardbirds for the duration of the band's life, starting to the guitar and then moved on – after entering the group of Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page, on the bass. The Yardbirds was dissolved, Jimmy Page proposed to Dreja to enter the bass playing in what would become the Led Zeppelin. Dreja preferred to devote himself to photography. In the 80s the musician played in the Box of Frogs and then returned to the Yardbirds in the 1992 reunion which led to the publication of the album in 2003 Birdland.
