In addition to their six Top 40 songs, the Yardbirds will be remembered as having produced the top three English blues-based guitarists of the ‘60s: Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page.

Clapton was on board when the group recorded their early bluesy English hits, but he left after recording their first U.S. hit, “For Your Love” (No. 6, 1965), to eventually join John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers.

Replacement Beck was the lead guitarist for “Heart Full of Soul” (No. 9, 1965), “I’m a Man” (No. 17, 1965), “Shapes of Things” (No. 11, 1966) and “Over Under Sideways Down” (No. 13, 1966). Original bassist Paul Samwell-Smith quit in summer 1966, and guitarist Chris Dreja switched to bass, leaving room for Page, who was present for the recording of the group’s last hit, “Happenings 10 Years Time Ago” (No. 30, 1966).

Beck was fired in 1966 for missing shows because of illness. In 1968 drummer Jim McCarty and singer and harmonica player Keith Relf left the band. Page formed the New Yardbirds; that group eventually mutated into Led Zeppelin.