John Idan - The Official biography page

Originally hailing from Detroit, Michigan, John discovered his musical talent at an early age.

Following his high school band, he soon started playing with his first professional band ‘The Natural Blues Band’ making himself a name around his hometown Detroit and southeast Michigan.

After the break-up of the Natural Blues Band John went on a holiday to London during which he met former Yardbirds’ guitarist Top Topham and drummer Jim McCarty and soon after moved to Britain to become the singer and lead guitarist of their blues band. Playing several nights a week in and around London, John soon became known as ‘Detroit’ John Idan on the blues scene.

In 1992 he left the McCarty Band to pursue his own musical interest and founded his band ‘Realfire’.

Throughout the same time the Yardbirds were reforming and John was asked to become their lead vocalist and bassist, which meant for the premature break-up of Realfire after only a handful of live performances.

Since then Idan has toured the world numerous times with them and has played sold out shows on a variety of world class stages such as The Royal Albert Hall in London; The Royal Festival Hall, The House of Blues in LA (guesting: Steve Vai), South by South West (guesting: Slash) the list goes on.

He has recorded two main albums with the Yardbirds, the star-studded Birdland in 2003 and Live at B.B. King’s in 2006.

After having been in the band for longer than the original outfit existed, Idan announced his departure in summer of 2008 stating an urge for more creativity and his desire to become a lead guitarist again.

In 2008 he released his debut solo album ‘The Folly’ on which he plays all the instruments with exception of a string quartet. In the same year he formed his own outfit ‘The John Idan Group’.

He has since been recording for his 2nd album and worked on various musical projects playing in the UK, Europe and the USA.

Discography

Official Releases

1991 The Yardbirds – Reunion Concert

2002 The Topham McCarty Band (recorded in 88-90 Kissingspell)

2002 The McCarty Band – Two Steps Ahead (recorded in 90-91)
(Kissingspell)

2003 The Yardbirds – Birdland (Feat. Jeff Beck, Slash, Brian May)
(Favored Nations)

2006 The Yardbirds – Live at B.B. King’s (Favored Nations)

2008 John Idan – The Folly (Garden of Idan)

2011 Beehive (Lord Dome feat. John Idan) – I Can’t Hold On

Bootleg Releases

The Yardbirds – Reunion Jam
The Yardbirds – Reunion Jam Vol 2
The Yardbirds – Live in London
The Yardbirds – Birdland Live
The Yardbirds – Live in Twickenham
The McCarty Band – Outside Woman Blues
The Yardbirds Family Tree

Session Work

Renaissance – Through the Fire (2002)
The Whitaker Brothers
Lord Dome
Ye Gods


	Originally hailing from Detroit, Michigan, John discovered his musical talent at an early age. Following his high school band, he soon started playing with his first professional band ‘The Natural Blues Band’ making himself a name around his hometown Detroit and southeast Michigan. After the break-up of the Natural Blues Band John went on a holiday to London during which he met former Yardbirds’ guitarist Top Topham and drummer Jim McCarty and soon after moved to Britain to become the singer and lead guitarist of their blues band. Playing several nights a week in and around London, John soon became known as ‘Detroit’ John Idan on the blues scene. In 1992 he left the McCarty Band to pursue his own musical interest and founded his band ‘Realfire’. Throughout the same time the Yardbirds were reforming and John was asked to become their lead vocalist and bassist, which meant for the premature break-up of Realfire after only a handful of live performances. Since then Idan has toured the world numerous times with them and has played sold out shows on a variety of world class stages such as The Royal Albert Hall in London; The Royal Festival Hall, The House of Blues in LA (guesting: Steve Vai), South by South West (guesting: Slash) the list goes on. He has recorded two main albums with the Yardbirds, the star-studded Birdland in 2003 and Live at B.B. King’s in 2006. After having been in the band for longer than the original outfit existed, Idan announced his departure in summer of 2008 stating an urge for more creativity and his desire to become a lead guitarist again. In 2008 he released his debut solo album ‘The Folly’ on which he plays all the instruments with exception of a string quartet. In the same year he formed his own outfit ‘The John Idan Group’. He has since been recording for his 2nd album and worked on various musical projects playing in the UK, Europe and the USA. Discography Official Releases 1991 The Yardbirds – Reunion Concert 2002 The Topham McCarty Band (recorded in 88-90 Kissingspell) 2002 The McCarty Band – Two Steps Ahead (recorded in 90-91) (Kissingspell) 2003 The Yardbirds – Birdland (Feat. Jeff Beck, Slash, Brian May) (Favored Nations) 2006 The Yardbirds – Live at B.B. King’s (Favored Nations) 2008 John Idan – The Folly (Garden of Idan) 2011 Beehive (Lord Dome feat. John Idan) – I Can’t Hold On Bootleg Releases The Yardbirds – Reunion Jam The Yardbirds – Reunion Jam Vol 2 The Yardbirds – Live in London The Yardbirds – Birdland Live The Yardbirds – Live in Twickenham The McCarty Band – Outside Woman Blues The Yardbirds Family Tree Session Work Renaissance – Through the Fire (2002) The Whitaker Brothers Lord Dome Ye Gods

	©2006 John Idan All rights reserved. email: info@johnidan.com