Yardbirds co-founder Chris Dreja has died at 79 , according to his family.

The British musician’s death was first announced on social media by his sister-in-law, Muriel Levy. She said on Wednesday that he “passed away after years of health problems,” but did not provide a date or exact cause of death.

“I share the pain with my sister Kate who took care of him during all thoses [sic] years and his daughter Jackie…May he RIP,” Levy wrote on Threads.

Dreja was also mourned Thursday by his former bandmate and fellow guitaist Jimmy Page.

“I heard today of the passing of musician Chris Dreja , who passionately played with the iconic Yardbirds, on rhythm guitar and then the bass,” Page wrote on Instagram. “I hadn’t seen him in a while, and I wish I had.”

The Yardbirds formed in London

See Full Page