This month marks the 58th anniversary of the Yardbirds’ concert at Staples High School.
The blues-influenced rock band was one of many top groups that played in the local auditorium, from 1965 through the early ’70s. Others included the Doors, Animals, Rascals, Byrds, J. Geils and Peter Frampton. Sly & the Family Stone played at a dance, in the gym.
(For the back story on how all that musical history went down, click here.)
The Yardbirds’ lineup on October 22, 1966 did not include Eric Clapton. He left the year before, to join John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers. But Clapton was on the Staples stage on March 27, 1968, with his supergroup Cream: drummer Ginger Baker and guitarist Jack Bruce.
The Yardbirds who played at Staples did include Jimmy Page (who earned even more fame later with Led Zeppelin) and Jeff Beck. Both (with Clapton) are in Rolling Stone’s list of “100 Greatest Guitarists.”
Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck tuning up in what was (and still is) the Staples High School choral room. The photo was taken by Linda Eastman — the woman who became Paul McCartney’s wife and fellow Wings musician. In 1966 she was a young photographer. She heard the Yardbirds were playing in Westport, and came to see them.
That concert was memorable for one other reason. The lead singer for the opening act — the Chain Reaction — was a young guy named Steve Tallarico.
He later changed it to Steve Tyler. Yep, that Steve Tyler — the Aerosmith guy.
Steve Tallarico (later Steve Tyler), with the Chain Reaction at Staples. (Photo from Mark Smollin’s “The Real Rock & Roll High School.”)
That Yardbirds gig at Staples was a pivotal moment in young Steve’s career. It inspired him to have a career in music.
In 1995, he told that story when Aerosmith inducted Led Zeppelin in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame.
It’s played on an endless loop there ever since. Listen below:
(Hat tip: Mark Smollin’s “The Real Rock & Roll High School”)
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