The Yardbirds Announce North American Tour Dates

01/10/2012
. (Kayos) The Yardbirds will land in North America next month for a series of tour dates in the Northeast (including several coheadlining dates with Vanilla Fudge) starting February 1 in Buffalo, New York.

The lineup includes critically-acclaimed original drummer/composer Jim McCarty, guitarist Ben King, who has garnered a reputation as one of hottest, most tasteful young guitar players around, bassist David Smale (a much-respected and admired UK-based musician) and vocalist Andy Mitchell, whose sound is straight out of the mid-'50s Chicago school of blues. Chris Dreja, guitarist and co-founder, is recuperating at home after a recent illness and regrets that he won't be able to be a part of this short tour. He thanks all his fans for their good wishes and looks forward to seeing them again when he re-joins the band later in the year for a more extensive tour.

The Yardbirds spearheaded the British Blues Boom of the 1960s and brought the world Eric Clapton in 1963, Jeff Beck in 1965 and Jimmy Page in 1966 (who played in the band with Beck for four months), the band that continues to inspire artists worldwide.

Known as much for their strict allegiance to the blues as for their international chart-topping hit "For Your Love," The Yardbirds have never lost their drive and jet-propelled beat, due mainly to Mr. McCarty. Their "Train Kept A' Rollin'" inspired Aerosmith to tackle the same song. Their early forays into heavy rock inspired Page to form his own band, originally named The New Yardbirds, but ultimately named Led Zeppelin.

The Yardbirds will co-bill with Vanilla Fudge at the following venues: *

2/1/12 - Buffalo, NY - The Tralf *
2/2/12 - Nichols, NY - Tioga Downs Racetrack
2/3/12 - New York, NY - Irving Plaza *
2/4/12 - Glenside, PA - Keswick Theatre *
2/6/12 - Alexandria, VA - The Birchmere
2/8/12 - Tarrytown, NY - Tarrytown Music Hall *
2/9/12 - New Brunswick, NJ - State Theatre *

Co-Headline with Vanilla Fudge

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