Few bands, if any, can match The Yardbirds in of pure rock star clout, thanks to the three legendary guitarists who graced their lineup. The English outfit formed in the early '60s, steeped in Britain's emerging rock scene. Ironically, it was the band's desire to emulate American blues music that set the group apart. Its drew influence from artists like Sonny Boy Williamson and Bo Diddley who rose to prominence the decade prior. Characterized by a heavier sound than their American counterparts, The Yardbirds were a core driver within Britain's then-emerging blues rock scene, setting the groundwork for countless bands to follow—from Led Zeppelin to The Allman Brothers.

The Yardbirds were moderately successful during the sixties, enjoying hit singles like "For Your Love," "Heart Full of Soul," "Shapes of Things," and "Over Under Sideways Down"—all of which charted in the U.K. top 10. Even those ingly familiar with this decade in music likely know a few Yardbirds songs. Still, the group was undoubtedly eclipsed by the fame three of its former guitarists would find after leaving the band: Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page.

The Yardbirds Featured 3 Of The Greatest Guitarists Of All Time, Back-To-Back

The epic stretch lasted from 1963 until 1968

The Yardbirds' origins trace back to the south-west London suburbs, where five musicians formed the band in 1963: vocalist Keith Relf, bassist Paul Samwell-Smith, rhythm guitarist Chris Dreja, drummer Jim McCarty, and lead guitarist Anthony Top Topham. Topham would depart the group later that year, and was replaced by an unknown, blues-loving upstart, Eric Clapton. The Yardbirds was where Clapton cut his teeth in the music scene, cultivating a reputation for his chops before leaving in 1965 to go on and form supergroup Cream (with a brief stint with John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers in between).

Clapton would be replaced by another relative unknown, Jeff Beck. At just 20 years old, the guitarist had an intimidating task ahead of him, filling Clapton's shoes. And yet, in the 20 months that he'd be with the band, The Yardbirds produced its most significant album yet: the self-titled 1966 album (released in the U.S. as Over Under Sideways Down). The Yardbirds was the only album that the band produced that charted in the U.K. and their highest-charting release in U.S. During this time, Beck developed his trademark "fuzz" sound.

The Yardbird's 1966 eponymous album is semi-officially known as Roger The Engineer, named for the album art which features an illustration of audio engineer Roger Cameron.

Jimmy Page, the legendary guitarist from Led Zeppelin, ed The Yardbirds unofficially while Beck was still the lead guitarist. The Yardbirds had originally approached Page to replaced Clapton, but he turned down the opportunity and recommended Beck. As Page recalled in a 1977 interview with Guitar Player, he volunteered to fill in after Samwell-Smith abruptly quit mid-tour, leaving the band without a bassist to finish their scheduled dates. Page continued to play with the band, often collaborating with Beck in interesting ways, and eventually taking over lead guitar when the latter departed.

Why Each Guitarist Left The Yardbirds (& What They Did Next)

The English Band Would Eventually Become Led Zeppelin

Clapton left The Yardbirds for creative reasons. The guitarist told Rave Magazine (via Far Out) that he was unhappy with the increasingly commercial direction the band was headed following the success of "For Your Love," stating "I lived as part of The Yardbirds until I was completely out of touch with it. I couldn’t speak and be understood, and they couldn’t speak to me either.”

Beck's exit was perhaps less amicable than Clapton's. Despite helping steer the outfit towards greater mainstream success, The Yardbirds ultimately fired Beck in 1966 due to his unprofessional conduct. Page filled in, but the group was on a slow commercial decline after Beck's exit. By 1968, the writing was on the wall. Relf and McCarty departed, leaving just Page and Dreja to fulfill touring obligations. Dreja would too bow out, and Page was left to build a new lineup.

Where The Yardbirds' story ends, another great rock story begins. The musicians Page recruited, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones and John Bonham, would play together for a few months as The New Yardbirds. Eventually, they shed the Yardbirds name altogether and went by a new moniker: Led Zeppelin.