Jump to content

Chris Dreja: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No evidence given for him getting active again.
Added to short description
 
(16 intermediate revisions by 12 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|English musician}}
{{Short description|English guitarist (born 1945)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox musical artist
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Chris Dreja
| name = Chris Dreja
| image =
| image = Chris Dreja.jpg
| caption =
| caption =
| image_size = <!-- Only for images narrower than 220 pixels. Set the value as a number without "px". -->
| image_size = <!-- Only for images narrower than 220 pixels. Set the value as a number without "px". -->
Line 11: Line 11:
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1945|11|11|df=y}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1945|11|11|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Surbiton]], [[Surrey]], England
| birth_place = [[Surbiton]], [[Surrey]], England
| death_date =
| instrument = Guitar, bass guitar, keyboards
| genre = [[Rock music|Rock]]
| genre = [[Rock music|Rock]]
| occupation =
| occupation = Guitarist
| years_active = 1963–2013
| years_active = 1963–2013
| label =
| label =
| associated_acts = [[The Yardbirds]], [[Box of Frogs]]
| past_member_of = {{hlist|[[The Yardbirds]]|[[Box of Frogs]]}}
| associated_acts =
| website =
| website =
| current_members =
| past_members =
}}
}}


'''Christopher Walenty Dreja'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://repertoire.bmi.com/Catalog.aspx?detail=writerid&page=1&fromrow=1&torow=25&keyid=95339&subid=0|title=BMI &#124; Repertoire Search|website=Repertoire.bmi.com|accessdate=2020-07-06|archive-date=8 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190308003051/http://repertoire.bmi.com/Catalog.aspx?detail=writerid&page=1&fromrow=1&torow=25&keyid=95339&subid=0|url-status=dead}}</ref> (born 11 November 1945 in [[Surbiton]], [[Surrey]])<ref name="AMG">{{cite web|last=Unterberger |first=Richie |url={{Allmusic|class=artist |id=p72208/biography |pure_url=yes}} |title=Biography by Richie Unterberger & Bruce Eder |website=[[AllMusic]] |date=1945-11-11 |accessdate=2011-11-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/search/results?datasetname=england+%26+wales+births+1837-2006&firstname=christopher+&lastname=dreja|title=Search Results for England & Wales Births 1837-2006|website=Findmypast.co.uk|accessdate=2020-07-06}}</ref> is an English musician, best known as the rhythm guitarist and bassist for [[Rock music|rock]] band [[the Yardbirds]].
'''Christopher Walenty Dreja'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://repertoire.bmi.com/Catalog.aspx?detail=writerid&page=1&fromrow=1&torow=25&keyid=95339&subid=0|title=BMI &#124; Repertoire Search|website=Repertoire.bmi.com|accessdate=2020-07-06|archive-date=8 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190308003051/http://repertoire.bmi.com/Catalog.aspx?detail=writerid&page=1&fromrow=1&torow=25&keyid=95339&subid=0|url-status=dead}}</ref> (born 11 November 1945 in [[Surbiton]], [[Surrey]])<ref name="AMG">{{cite web|last=Unterberger |first=Richie |url={{Allmusic|class=artist |id=p72208/biography |pure_url=yes}} |title=Biography by Richie Unterberger & Bruce Eder |website=[[AllMusic]] |date=1945-11-11 |accessdate=2011-11-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/search/results?datasetname=england+%26+wales+births+1837-2006&firstname=christopher+&lastname=dreja|title=Search Results for England & Wales Births 1837-2006|website=Findmypast.co.uk|accessdate=2020-07-06}}</ref> is an English musician, best known as the rhythm guitarist and bassist for [[Rock music|rock]] band [[the Yardbirds]] for which he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992.


==Early life==
==Early life==
Dreja's father was of Polish descent. Chris Dreja was born in Surbiton, and raised in [[Kingston upon Thames]], Surrey.<ref name="AMG"/> His brother Stefan Dreja happened to meet guitarist [[Top Topham]], and introduced him to his brother.<ref name="AMG"/> Topham and Dreja were influenced by [[folk music|folk]]/[[blues]] guitarist Gerry Lochran, who influenced them to switch from [[acoustic guitar|acoustic]] to [[electric guitar]]s according to Greg Russo in his book ''The Yardbirds: The Ultimate Rave-Up''. They made their debut with electric guitars at a concert with Duster Bennett and a young [[Jimmy Page]].<ref name="AMG"/>
Chris Dreja was born in [[Surbiton]], and raised in [[Kingston upon Thames]], Surrey.<ref name="AMG"/> His father, Alojzy Dreja (1918–1985), was from [[Poland]]; he had been exiled to Britain in 1940, and served as a pilot in the [[Polish Air Force in Great Britain]] during [[World War II]]. Dreja's brother Stefan happened to meet guitarist [[Top Topham]] when they studied at the same pre-college art program, and introduced Topham to his brother.<ref name="AMG"/> Topham and Dreja were influenced by [[folk music|folk]]/[[blues]] guitarist [[Gerry Lockran]], who influenced them to switch from [[acoustic guitar|acoustic]] to [[electric guitar]]s according to Greg Russo in his book ''The Yardbirds: The Ultimate Rave-Up''. They made their debut with electric guitars at a concert with [[Duster Bennett]] and a young [[Jimmy Page]].<ref name="AMG"/>


==The Yardbirds==
==The Yardbirds==
Dreja and Topham became core members of the Metropolitan (or Metropolis) Blues Quartet. During the space of a year [[Keith Relf]], [[Jim McCarty]], and [[Paul Samwell-Smith]] joined the group which became the Yardbirds. The 15-year-old Topham left the group when the band went professional, but Dreja continued on to play rhythm guitar with musicians such as [[Eric Clapton]] and later [[Jeff Beck]] and Jimmy Page.<ref name="AMG"/>
Dreja and Topham became core members of the Metropolitan (or Metropolis) Blues Quartet. During the space of a year [[Keith Relf]], [[Jim McCarty]], and [[Paul Samwell-Smith]] joined the group which became the Yardbirds. The 15-year-old Topham left the group when the band went professional, but Dreja continued on to play rhythm guitar with musicians such as [[Eric Clapton]] and later [[Jeff Beck]] and Jimmy Page.<ref name="AMG"/>


Dreja changed from rhythm to bass guitar following the departure of the original bassist, Samwell-Smith. Dreja co-authored many Yardbirds group compositions, especially those on the album [[Yardbirds (album)|''Yardbirds'']].<ref name="AMG"/> Additionally, he drew the picture which would be used as the album cover.<ref>{{cite web|last=Jones|first=Chris|date=17 April 2007|title=The Yardbirds Roger The Engineer Review|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/zdcz|url-status=live|access-date=26 May 2021|website=bbc.co.uk}}</ref> Due to this drawing the album has been referred to as ''Roger the Engineer.<ref>{{cite book|last=Gulla|first=Bob|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DL3I9qQWdeAC&pg=PA24|title=Guitar Gods: The 25 Players Who Made Rock History|publisher=[[ABC-CLIO]]|year=2008|isbn=978-0313358067|page=24|access-date=6 October 2012}}</ref>'' After the group broke up, Page offered Dreja the position of bassist in a new band he was forming (later to become [[Led Zeppelin]]).<ref name="Russo, Greg 1998 p. 48">Russo, Greg (1998). ''Yardbirds: The Ultimate Rave-Up''. Floral Park, New York: Crossfire Publications. {{ISBN|0-9648157-3-7}}.</ref> Dreja declined in order to pursue a profession in photography. He photographed Led Zeppelin for the back cover of their [[Led Zeppelin (album)|debut album]].<ref name="AMG"/>
Dreja changed from rhythm to bass guitar following the departure of the original bassist, Samwell-Smith. Dreja co-authored many Yardbirds group compositions, especially those on the album [[Yardbirds (album)|''Yardbirds'']].<ref name="AMG"/> Additionally, he drew the picture which would be used as the album cover.<ref>{{cite web|last=Jones|first=Chris|date=17 April 2007|title=The Yardbirds Roger The Engineer Review|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/zdcz|url-status=live|access-date=26 May 2021|website=bbc.co.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100424010012/http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/zdcz |archive-date=24 April 2010 }}</ref> Due to this drawing the album has been referred to as ''Roger the Engineer.<ref>{{cite book|last=Gulla|first=Bob|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DL3I9qQWdeAC&pg=PA24|title=Guitar Gods: The 25 Players Who Made Rock History|publisher=[[ABC-CLIO]]|year=2008|isbn=978-0313358067|page=24|access-date=6 October 2012}}</ref>'' After the group broke up, Page offered Dreja the position of bassist in a new band he was forming (later to become [[Led Zeppelin]]).<ref name="Russo, Greg 1998 p. 48">Russo, Greg (1998). ''Yardbirds: The Ultimate Rave-Up''. Floral Park, New York: Crossfire Publications. {{ISBN|0-9648157-3-7}}.</ref> Dreja declined in order to pursue a profession in photography. He photographed Led Zeppelin for the back cover of their [[Led Zeppelin (album)|debut album]].<ref name="AMG"/>


Dreja played in the Yardbirds spin-off band [[Box of Frogs]] in the 1980s, and had been part of the Yardbirds' reformation from 1992 to 2013. In 2002, the Yardbirds re-emerged and a new album, ''[[Birdland (The Yardbirds album)|Birdland]]'', was released.<ref name="AMG"/>
Dreja played in the Yardbirds spin-off band [[Box of Frogs]] in the 1980s, and had been part of the Yardbirds' reformation from 1992 to 2013. In 2002, the Yardbirds re-emerged and a new album, ''[[Birdland (The Yardbirds album)|Birdland]]'', was released.<ref name="AMG"/>
Line 49: Line 46:
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:English rock bass guitarists]]
[[Category:English rock bass guitarists]]
[[Category:Male bass guitarists]]
[[Category:British male bass guitarists]]
[[Category:English rock guitarists]]
[[Category:English rock guitarists]]
[[Category:English songwriters]]
[[Category:English male songwriters]]
[[Category:The Yardbirds members]]
[[Category:The Yardbirds members]]
[[Category:People from Surbiton]]
[[Category:People from Surbiton]]
[[Category:English people of Polish descent]]
[[Category:English people of Polish descent]]
[[Category:Rhythm guitarists]]
[[Category:British rhythm guitarists]]
[[Category:British rhythm and blues boom musicians]]
[[Category:British rhythm and blues boom musicians]]
[[Category:Blues rock musicians]]
[[Category:British blues rock musicians]]
[[Category:Rock songwriters]]
[[Category:Rock songwriters]]
[[Category:Led Zeppelin]]
[[Category:Led Zeppelin]]
[[Category:Box of Frogs members]]
[[Category:Box of Frogs members]]
[[Category:Musicians from the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames]]

Latest revision as of 21:21, 15 August 2024

Chris Dreja
Background information
Birth nameChristopher Walenty Dreja
Born (1945-11-11) 11 November 1945 (age 79)
Surbiton, Surrey, England
GenresRock
OccupationGuitarist
Years active1963–2013
Formerly of

Christopher Walenty Dreja[1] (born 11 November 1945 in Surbiton, Surrey)[2][3] is an English musician, best known as the rhythm guitarist and bassist for rock band the Yardbirds for which he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992.

Early life

[edit]

Chris Dreja was born in Surbiton, and raised in Kingston upon Thames, Surrey.[2] His father, Alojzy Dreja (1918–1985), was from Poland; he had been exiled to Britain in 1940, and served as a pilot in the Polish Air Force in Great Britain during World War II. Dreja's brother Stefan happened to meet guitarist Top Topham when they studied at the same pre-college art program, and introduced Topham to his brother.[2] Topham and Dreja were influenced by folk/blues guitarist Gerry Lockran, who influenced them to switch from acoustic to electric guitars according to Greg Russo in his book The Yardbirds: The Ultimate Rave-Up. They made their debut with electric guitars at a concert with Duster Bennett and a young Jimmy Page.[2]

The Yardbirds

[edit]

Dreja and Topham became core members of the Metropolitan (or Metropolis) Blues Quartet. During the space of a year Keith Relf, Jim McCarty, and Paul Samwell-Smith joined the group which became the Yardbirds. The 15-year-old Topham left the group when the band went professional, but Dreja continued on to play rhythm guitar with musicians such as Eric Clapton and later Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page.[2]

Dreja changed from rhythm to bass guitar following the departure of the original bassist, Samwell-Smith. Dreja co-authored many Yardbirds group compositions, especially those on the album Yardbirds.[2] Additionally, he drew the picture which would be used as the album cover.[4] Due to this drawing the album has been referred to as Roger the Engineer.[5] After the group broke up, Page offered Dreja the position of bassist in a new band he was forming (later to become Led Zeppelin).[6] Dreja declined in order to pursue a profession in photography. He photographed Led Zeppelin for the back cover of their debut album.[2]

Dreja played in the Yardbirds spin-off band Box of Frogs in the 1980s, and had been part of the Yardbirds' reformation from 1992 to 2013. In 2002, the Yardbirds re-emerged and a new album, Birdland, was released.[2]

Dreja suffered a series of strokes in 2012 and 2013 and had not performed with the Yardbirds since mid-2012. In July 2013, it was announced that he had officially left the band for medical reasons and was replaced by original lead guitarist Topham.[7]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "BMI | Repertoire Search". Repertoire.bmi.com. Archived from the original on 8 March 2019. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Unterberger, Richie (11 November 1945). "Biography by Richie Unterberger & Bruce Eder". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
  3. ^ "Search Results for England & Wales Births 1837-2006". Findmypast.co.uk. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  4. ^ Jones, Chris (17 April 2007). "The Yardbirds Roger The Engineer Review". bbc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 24 April 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  5. ^ Gulla, Bob (2008). Guitar Gods: The 25 Players Who Made Rock History. ABC-CLIO. p. 24. ISBN 978-0313358067. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
  6. ^ Russo, Greg (1998). Yardbirds: The Ultimate Rave-Up. Floral Park, New York: Crossfire Publications. ISBN 0-9648157-3-7.
  7. ^ "Topham Replaces Dreja in Yardbirds". Vintage Guitar. 10 July 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chris_Dreja&oldid=1240526380"