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Arts Jul 12, 2016
Photo Courtesy by Motown Records
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The Yardbirds: (Left to Right) Myke Scavone, Johnny A., Kenny Aaronson, Jim McCarty, and John Idan. – Photo by Arnie Goodman
July 22 – The Rose
By Terry Miller
Back in England, particularly northern England, there was a plethora of exciting Rock ‘n’ Roll in the 1960s – The Beatles (the Mods), with their amazing vocals and studio experimentation; The Rolling Stones, with their “Rocker Moniker” and radically raw sound; The Who, with their wild live shows; The Kinks, with their wit and repartee – combined with “music hall sensibility,” according to one critic … and then, there were The Yardbirds: the quintessential Blues/Rock band that launched the careers of such guitarists as Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page.
Though The Yardbirds called it quits by the late 1960s, longtime drummer and founding member Jim McCarty has kept The Yardbirds’ music alive over the years by touring with other players who are drawn by the band’s “seminal mix of Blues, Soul, and psychedelia,” according to Steve Pfarrers, a writer with the Daily Hampshire Gazette.
In 1992, the band was inducted into the hall of fame when U2 guitarist, The Edge, was quoted as saying the Yardbirds were “loud and exciting.” It (the induction into the hall of fame) was a pivotal moment in McCarty’s career.
The Edge said The Yardbirds were LOUD and EXCITING at the Hall of Fame induction- Photo by Terry Miller
It is not very often you get to witness legends, but next week, if you go to the Rose, that is exactly what you will see when McCarty gets behind the drum kit here in Pasadena on Friday, July 22.
Formed in 1960s’ London, The Yardbirds helped kick-start the careers of some of the most legendary guitarists of all time – Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page. Co-founded by McCarty with singer Keith Relf, rhythm guitarist Chris Dreja, bass player Paul Samwell-Smith, and lead guitarist Top Topham, the band released a string of hits, including “For Your Love,” “Over Under Sideways Down,” and “Heart Full Of Soul,” subsequently changing the modern face of really great Rock and Blues music.
The album, popularly known as “Roger the Engineer” and widely considered the Yardbirds’ masterpiece, includes unique influences of Indian/Middle Eastern music. McCarty told Pasadena Independent, “that was a fun record to make, with no pressure at all … ”
In 1966, the band also released its earliest live recordings, with Sonny Boy Williamson, as Sonny Boy Williamson & The Yardbirds.
The Yardbirds with the core membership of Relf, McCarty, and Dreja performed its last show on July 7, 1968. Page, with outstanding touring obligations for the Yardbirds, assembled a new lineup: his old bassist friend John Paul Jones, singer Robert Plant, and drummer John Bonham. The New Yardbirds would ultimately become Led Zeppelin.
We spoke with McCarty on Tuesday, July 12, while he was in Toronto for a solo gig, before Friday’s (July 22) show in Pasadena:
Terry Miller: Thanks for taking the time to talk with us today.
Jim McCarty: My pleasure, Terry.
TM: With all the amazing talent stemming from your early years in The Yardbirds … do you have any specific memories when dealing with the larger-than-life egos?
JM: A lot of ups and downs, really. We were very excited to come to America, of course … between New York and California. Well, it’s all fantastic really and we’ve played with some amazing musicians over the years.
TM: Was Jeff Beck’s style of guitar the most influential in creating the ultimate Yardbirds sound (i.e. fuzz/distortion etc.)?
JM: Oh yes, without a doubt.
TM: How does it feel to be on the road again?
JM: It’s tiring, but the energy in the audience is amazing and keeps us going!
TM: Many music aficionados say ‘65-‘66 Yardbirds were the best years in music history. The sound you created was (and is) by far the most influential in Blues Rock history.
JM: Yes definitely the best line up … even though Jeff was up and down.
TM: The Yardbirds and McCarty survived the ‘60s … unquestionably the most explosive and important decade for music … what are your thoughts on commercial music today and the seemingly ever-present (and lifeless) drum machine patterns that seem to dominate young peoples’ music taste?
JM: Digital music has really changed the business. With iTunes, a band mate can download 50 albums for virtually nothing. You can’t make a record these days and expect to make any serious money.
TM: And who was your personal major influence when it comes to drums?
JM: Oh, I think Joe Morello, the drummer with Dave Brubeck, and all the great Jazz drummers of that era.
TM: What can we expect from your upcoming Pasadena gig … which just happens to fall a couple of days before your birthday?
JM: The guys are all American, funnily enough, but they all honor the original music and sound … we’ve got a few “new” songs like “Evil Hearted You,” which we haven’t played in a while.
TM: When you’re not playing drums or on the road, what makes you tick … how do you unwind?
JM: There are always so many variables … you never really know. It’s very up and down. It’s a great business and we’ve been playing so long … I just love playing the drums, writing songs, and singing.
TM: Thanks so much for your time and good luck with the rest of the tour.
JM: Thanks, Terry and come by and say “Hi” next week.
TM: I most certainly will, thanks Jim, wonderful speaking with you.
Do not miss the chance to see Jim McCarty and the Yardbirds next week (Friday, July 22) at the Rose in Pasadena (245 E. Green St.).
To listen to the entire telephone conversation we had with Jim McCarty from Toronto, please click on the link:
Jim McCarty Interview
