Biography Top Topham

Top Topham (born Anthony Topham in Southall, Middlesex, on 3 July 1947; died January 2023) was an English musician and artist. He is remembered as a blues guitarist and for being the first lead guitarist of The Yardbirds (though he left the band before they achieved mainstream popularity, being replaced by Eric Clapton).

In May 1963, Topham and his friend at secondary school, Chris Dreja, visited the Railway Hotel in Norbiton. The hotel's entertainment featured traditional jazz music in the upstairs lounge, and allowed budding musicians to play during the breaks. There, he and Dreja met singer and harmonica player Keith Relf, bassist Paul Samwell-Smith, and drummer Jim McCarty and decided to form The Yardbirds, with Topham as lead guitarist. Two weeks later they played their first gig at the Eel Pie Island, supporting the Cyril Davies All-Stars. Two months after the formation of The Yardbirds, Giorgio Gomelsky offered them the residency at the Crawdaddy Club and became their manager. As The Yardbirds had to turn professional, Topham faced parental disapproval coupled with the anxiety of abandoning his art studies. He could not devote himself to The Yardbirds full-time and he left. His replacement was a fellow art student from the same secondary school, Eric Clapton.

Topham went on to Art College where he formed bands with his friend Duster Bennett. He joined Winston G and the Wicked (later renamed The Fox), playing alongside Marc Bolan.

Topham recorded a solo album "Ascension Heights" for Blue Horizon label. While Bennett was touring with John Mayall in 1970, Topham fell seriously ill and had to abandon the music industry again.

In 1988, the Topham McCarty Band was formed that played for two years.

In the 2000s, Topham guested with the latest edition of The Yardbirds under the co-leadership of McCarty and Dreja, and performed with John Idan in sporadic concerts of his own. He also played alongside eminent boogie-woogie pianist Bob Hall. He officially became a member of The Yardbirds again in 2013, replacing Dreja, who was forced to leave the band for medical reasons. In May 2015, Topham exited The Yardbirds and was replaced by Earl Slick.

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