Search - The Story of the Yardbirds on DVD

Superb Documentary on the Band that brought us Clapton, Beck

Steven I. Ramm | Phila, PA USA | 12/22/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

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This DVD on the HiQ label is a quirky release. It's a UK produced DVD distributed by Voiceprint - which has been releasing the Tony Palmer films in the US this year. The DVD feature is a reissue of a 1992 Documentary on the Yardbirds produced by Delilah productions for Atlantic Records and released on VHS in 1993 by Warner Strategic Marketing (It still has the copyright notice at the end). The 53-minute film features new interviews (at the time it was produced) with all the then living members. Vocalist and harmonica player Keith Reif died in the 1970s. The story of the short span of five years that the band was together is laid out with interviews combined with rare archival footage of performances in the US (Hullabaloo), French and Belgian TV and the BBC. There are many full numbers (though I wish they had indexed these as separate chapters for repeated viewing). The interviews are insightful, particularly the comments from Jeff Beck.

There is also a "Bonus Feature" which consists of a FABULOUS performance of four numbers from the German TV show "Beat Beat Beat" from 1967, with a seven-minute version of "I'm A Man" that's worth the price of the DVD alone. (There are more "Beat Beat Beat" shows coming early next year from HiQ and I, for one, am excited to see these. The crisp print and great camera close-ups are perfect.

The DVD comes with a booklet of, supposedly, liner note but most of the 20-page booklet is devoted to an essay and liner notes for a new Yardbirds album "Birdland" recorded in 2003v with new members. These notes have nothing at all to do with the story here.

I would give this DVD five stars for what's on the disc - but dropped a star because of this strange packaging, which makes no sense.

Steve Ramm
"Anything Phonographic"
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Great Stuff

John T. Murphy | Los Angeles | 12/22/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As one reviewer suggested this might be a bootleg as it's not listed on the official Yardbirds website.

Nonetheless this is worth every penny if only for the excellent quality of live music and TV show footage.

There are plenty of band interviews with all of the living Yardbirds including some Clapton, lots of Beck and Page and Peter Grant even gets some camera time. There is one band interview in particular from sometime in the 90's and Beck is straightforward hilarious with his behind the scenes stories and critiques of things like Blow Up.

This is very well put together, tells the story and is entertaining.
If it is a bootleg or something done without the band's consent then whoever made this should be in big trouble right now.
I have Googled for Yardbirds lawsuits against HiQ and could find nothing.

People want to see this stuff, especially things about short lived, ground breaking, inventive and elusive bands (Hello Joy Division!).

If the Yardbirds or any band that cares about it's "legacy" wants make sure the history of their existence gets the correct treatment they should beat all others to the punch and do it themselves (Hello XTC!).

Take the Beatles example and claim your history and stop your sobbing (Hello Kinks!)
Eventually someone cobbles together a video history of these bands, if not for the love of the music then for money, either way it will get done and we the adoring public will eat it up.
Surely people who have been in this business as long as the Yardbirds know that.

I'll give it 5 stars just to annoy the "guy who knows the band" and that I really do enjoy it and will watch it repeatedly. Hey lighten up, it's only Rock and Roll!

Great stuff,Love it, Buy it now!



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