John Idan on the Yardbirds, the Blues, and a Lifetime of Electric Energy
John Idan is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter best known for his long association with the legendary Yardbirds and for leading the John Idan Group.
Raised in a home filled with jazz, soul, and high-fidelity sound systems built by his engineer grandfather, music shaped him from an early age. “Music was always being played,” John recalls, adding that his grandfather even built his first amplifier, a device that “felt like it was going to explode every time you turned it on.” From British rock influences to deep American blues, John’s journey reflects a lifelong devotion to blues rock and beyond.
“You need real conviction in what you play.”
When and how did you become interested in music, John?
John Idan: I first became interested in music as a young kid, as my parents were big jazz and soul fans. My grandfather was an electronic engineer for Bell Telephone. He developed PA systems and amplifiers for the company, and we had brilliant hi-fi systems in our house, so music was always being played. He even built me my first amplifier for my first bass guitar, and it was quite an incredible device—it felt like it was going to explode every time you turned it on.
Who were some of your guitar heroes in the early days?
Funnily enough, my brother had an album called ‘Reflection of the Yardbirds’ on Fontana, which was an import from the UK or Germany. That album influenced my playing right from the beginning. The first guitar solo I ever learned was ‘I Ain’t Got You,’ which of course had Eric Clapton on it. I also listened to The Beatles, especially George Harrison, and the radio constantly, so my taste was very diverse. Early on, my heroes were bands like The Beatles, The Who, Cream, and the Bluesbreakers, mostly English groups. Later, I became deeply interested in American blues and, by my late teens, was almost exclusively listening to old blues records.
What was your first band? Tell us about it.
My first band formed in my last two years of high school. It was a magical day when the band fully came together. A bass player from my art class joined, I was already playing with a brilliant drummer who was a friend of my brother, and my oldest friend whom I’d known since we were toddlers became our singer and harmonica player. We went to the singer’s house, jammed, and before we knew it, we were making a pretty cool noise. We were actually really good right from the start, and those guys remain my lifelong friends.
When and how did you join The Yardbirds?
In 1988, I went on holiday to England and sold a guitar at Andy’s on Denmark Street. The salesman was Top Topham, the original Yardbirds guitarist. We got on well and later had a meal with Jim McCarty in Richmond. They invited me to send demo tapes of my band from Detroit. A few months later, I was back in England playing clubs around London. By 1992, the Yardbirds were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and by 1994 the band reformed. I’ve been a Yardbird pretty much ever since then.
What were the live shows like for the Yardbirds? Do you enjoy playing live?
Playing a Yardbirds show is always incredibly exciting because the music is so energetic. It’s like playing a football match, you must give everything, no matter the venue or audience size. You need real conviction in what you play. That energy and drive are what make the Yardbirds sound happen. It’s truly magical.
Why did you leave the Yardbirds?
I left in 2009 after releasing my first solo album, ‘The Folly,’ in 2008. Although I loved the band, I felt we were spinning our wheels a bit. After recording Birdland in 2002, I wanted to progress musically in ways the Yardbirds couldn’t fulfill at that time. After more than 15 years, it felt right to do something different.
How did you form The John Idan Group?
The first John Idan Group formed shortly after ‘The Folly’ was released, with English musicians I knew from the club circuit. In 2011, I moved to Germany and connected with new musicians. We now tour mainly in Germany and Austria, and sometimes in Britain. We’re also preparing new recordings and my second solo album.
You later rejoined the Yardbirds. How did that happen?
In 2015, I helped out with a few gigs when other members couldn’t make it. Top Topham also briefly rejoined. Eventually, Johnny A. became the guitarist, and we toured heavily in the U.S., especially on the East Coast. It’s been a real gas with great players. Now the band is mostly American, which is quite unusual but still great.
What was your finest moment with the Yardbirds?
There were many, but playing the Royal Albert Hall stands out. The energy was electric and beautifully received by the London audience. It’s a magical place to play, and you rise to the occasion. It was also the first time the Yardbirds had played there since shows with the Rolling Stones and Ike and Tina Turner,… hard to top that.
John Wisniewski
Headline photo: John Idan (Credit: Oliver Gatzlaff)
John Idan Website
