The Yardbirds are an English blues rock band formed in London in 1963. The band started the careers of three of rock's most famous guitarists: Eric Clapton (1963–1965), Jeff Beck (1965–1966) and Jimmy Page (1966–1968), all of whom ranked in the top five of Rolling Stone magazine's 2011 list of 100 greatest guitarists.The Yardbirds were an English rock band formed in London in 1963 by vocalist and harmonica player Keith Relf and fellow musicians Paul Samwell-Smith, Chris Dreja, Jim McCarty and Anthony “Top” Topham. Relf remained the band’s frontman throughout its original 1963–1968 existence and was central to its development from a blues-based club band into one of the most innovative British rock groups of the decade.