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Co-founder of the Yardbirds, Jim McCarty, continues to lead this ground-breaking British Invasion Rock band that provides the crucial link between the Blues, British R&B, Psychedelic Rock, and Heavy Metal, while pioneering the use of innovations like fuzztone, feedback and distortion. This drummer, singer, songwriter, and producer is said to be one of the driving forces responsible for the band’s haunting sound. Since the birth of the band from 1963 to 1968, to its 1992 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Yardbirds have been revered for the legendary guitarists who have contributed to the band’s history including Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page all ranked in Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time (#35, #5, and #3 respectively). Originally a Blues-based band noted for their signature “rave-up” instrumental jams covering Blues classics like Howlin Wolf’s “Smokestack Lighting” and Bo Diddley’s “I’m a Man,” the Yardbirds later broadened their range into Pop, pioneered Psychadelic Rock, early Hard Rock / Heavy Metal, and contributed to many electric guitar innovations marking those musical genres. The band had a string of hits in the mid 60s including “For Your Love”, “Heart Full of Soul”, “Shapes of Things”, and “Over Under Sideways Down”. Celebrating his 30th year as a Yardbird, Lead Singer John Idan has lent his distinct vocals to the sound of the band since their reformation, showcased on the classic 2003 “Birdland” album with guest appearances from Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Slash, and Brian May. Rounding out the current line-up of top musicians is lead guitarist Godfrey Townsend (John Entwistle, Alan Parsons, Todd Rundgren, Ann Wilson of Heart, Christopher Cross, Dave Mason and Musical Director of the Turtles’ Happy Together Tour) bassist Kenny Aaronson (Bob Dylan, Billy Idol, Rick Derringer, Brian Setzer, Dave Edmonds and Joan Jett), percussionist, harmonica and background vocals Myke Scavone (the Doughboys, Ram Jam), The current band has recently completed work on an upcoming live album, Mind the Gap, soon to be released.Born William Howard Ashton, Billy grew up in Bootle, a suburb of Liverpool. Upon leaving school, he became a trainee engineer by day and an aspiring singer by night, performing under the stage name Billy Kramer.
Billy’s performance at local rock clubs around Liverpool soon brought him to the attention of John Lennon. Acknowledging Billy’s pop-idol potential, John urged Brian Epstein to sign Billy to an exclusive management contract. Needless to say, Billy jumped at the opportunity to leave his day job and become a full-time entertainer. Soon after, Billy was summoned to Brian’s office to find John there waiting for him with the suggestion that he add the “J” to his name to give it a “rock and roll edge”. From that day forward, Billy has been known as Billy J. Kramer. In March of 1963, Billy was the first person to have a hit record with a Lennon-McCartney song, “Do You Want To Know A Secret” which was written especially for him by John and Paul and recorded with George Martin at Abbey Road Studios even before The Beatles recorded it themselves. Billy toured extensively throughout the UK as the opening act for The Beatles both before and during Beatlemania. Billy also headlined tours with such greats as Del Shannon, Gene Pitney, and The Everly Brothers. The Lennon-McCartney compositions, “Bad To Me” along with “I’ll Keep You Satisfied”, “From A Window”, and “I Call Your Name” all became international million sellers for Billy. Appearances on TV shows such as Ed Sullivan, Shindig and Hullaballoo secured Billy a place in rock and roll history. In 1964, Billy performed as part of the legendary TAMI show along with such artists as James Brown, Chuck Berry, The Beach Boys, Marvin Gaye, The Rolling Stones and many others.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
1476 Miner Street, Des Plaines, IL, United States, Illinois 60016
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