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Heart Full of Soul: Keith Relf of the Yardbirds
This is the first full-length biography of Keith Relf, frontman for the Yardbirds and one of the great tragic characters in rock history. Keith's moody vocals and harmonica helped to define the Yardbirds' sound on a string of innovative hit records in the 1960s that influenced garage rock, psychedelia, blues rock, hard rock and heavy metal. Numerous books have been written about the Yardbirds' famous guitarists--Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page--yet Keith has remained a mysterious and elusive figure since his death by electrocution at age 33.
A deeply private person, prone to depression and poor health, Keith was ill-suited to the life of a rock star. In the years following the Yardbirds' breakup, as the band's guitarists became household names playing blues-based rock, Keith insisted on pursuing new musical paths, always searching for something new and trying to extend the Yardbirds' spirit of curiosity and innovation. By the time of his death in 1976, Keith was nearly forgotten and struggling physically, emotionally and financially. More than forty years after his tragic death, this important artist's story has finally been written and his contributions celebrated as more than just a footnote to the careers of his better-known bandmates.
A deeply private person, prone to depression and poor health, Keith was ill-suited to the life of a rock star. In the years following the Yardbirds' breakup, as the band's guitarists became household names playing blues-based rock, Keith insisted on pursuing new musical paths, always searching for something new and trying to extend the Yardbirds' spirit of curiosity and innovation. By the time of his death in 1976, Keith was nearly forgotten and struggling physically, emotionally and financially. More than forty years after his tragic death, this important artist's story has finally been written and his contributions celebrated as more than just a footnote to the careers of his better-known bandmates.
233 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 29, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 28, 2022
Keith Relf is perhaps the least well remembered of the lead singers of the great British 60's bands; Lennon, Jagger, Davies, Daltry, even Peter Noone from Herman's Hermits are still recognised as part of the legacy of this era whereas Relf is only recalled by aficionados and fans. Considering that the Yardbirds were such an immensely influential band and that Relf was key to this group and also associated with three so-called guitar gods (i.e. Clapton, Beck and Page) it is a worthy project to introduce and/or reconsider his life and achievements. That French sets out to achieve these goals and in the process provides an engaging and informative biography is a considerable achievement. Whilst Relf's career may have been as arguably as unfulfilled as his life was relatively short his memory, his music, is revived in this book in the manner he deserves.
'Heart Full of Soul' is a traditional biography insofar as it follows a chronological plot and includes all the necessary or relevant events and people one might expect. Relf's family and youth is given due attention with much of the following narrative dominated by the Yardbirds. There is no doubt that French is not just telling the story of Relf in this phase of the book; he provides what may be the most exhaustive study of this legendary band during its most famous iteration. For anyone who is a fan of the Yardbirds and British 60's music (as this reviewer is) 'Heart Full of Soul' will be a most rewarding read.
However where French has provided the most benefit for those reading this book to learn more about Relf is in those sections where he considers the personality of the man, including his mental and physical nature, and those years where he struggled to find a career after he left the Yardbirds. There is no doubt left for the reader when considering French's narrative about the fragility and even tragic nature of Relf; he is seen as a man who was always conflicted, always struggling to be what he thought he wanted or should be, as well as what his audience demanded of him. There is nothing inherently new about a rock star who, through bad luck and bad lifestyle choices becomes perhaps a victim of his or her own success. In 'Heart Full of Soul' French presents the idea of Relf being alien to and alienated from his life and no matter what he tried there was a predetermination that whatever he wanted or needed would elude him. Perhaps French is overplaying this aspect of Relf's life, and it does play into cliches that abound in biographies. It can't be denied though that Keith Relf was a man apart, and unlike those iconic performers cited previously he perhaps lost the battle with the complex nature of his famous identity.
That this is made highly evident in the closing chapters of the book, when Relf's work with bands such as Renaissance and Armageddon is considered, is another major achievement of French's biography. That Relf had a career post-Yardbirds and that there was a potentiality in these projects that was cut short somewhat cruelly in each instance helps develop a fuller understanding of the man. Relf was more than the guy who sang and played harmonica alongside Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page; he had artistic visions of and for himself that promised so much more. Yes, he achieved so much and perhaps as French intimates this was remarkable in and of itself. However what might have been if he had succeeded in the 70s, if he had not died so relatively young are the underpinning themes of this latter part of the book.
French's prose is readable and he has included plenty of written and oral evidence to inform his biography. It might be argued that too much stress is placed on magazine and other articles as published during the peak Yardbirds years, however without Relf being alive today to add his own views outside that medium then it's understandable. There are plenty of photos that provide illustrative information to support French's text, and aside from perhaps the three guitar Gods he has gleaned all that one might hope for from his friends, family and colleagues. There are copious notes, a useful appendix on Relf's recordings and a comprehensive bibliography.
As stated earlier, Yardbirds fans and those who have a passion for their music and the British R&B/Beat era will find 'Heart Full of Soul' a highly rewarding read. French has completed the task of giving a fulsome and empathetic biography of a somewhat forgotten icon of the Sixties music scene, and he has discussed both Relf's achievements and his frailties. This is a book that one can recommend without many, if any, reservations.
'Heart Full of Soul' is a traditional biography insofar as it follows a chronological plot and includes all the necessary or relevant events and people one might expect. Relf's family and youth is given due attention with much of the following narrative dominated by the Yardbirds. There is no doubt that French is not just telling the story of Relf in this phase of the book; he provides what may be the most exhaustive study of this legendary band during its most famous iteration. For anyone who is a fan of the Yardbirds and British 60's music (as this reviewer is) 'Heart Full of Soul' will be a most rewarding read.
However where French has provided the most benefit for those reading this book to learn more about Relf is in those sections where he considers the personality of the man, including his mental and physical nature, and those years where he struggled to find a career after he left the Yardbirds. There is no doubt left for the reader when considering French's narrative about the fragility and even tragic nature of Relf; he is seen as a man who was always conflicted, always struggling to be what he thought he wanted or should be, as well as what his audience demanded of him. There is nothing inherently new about a rock star who, through bad luck and bad lifestyle choices becomes perhaps a victim of his or her own success. In 'Heart Full of Soul' French presents the idea of Relf being alien to and alienated from his life and no matter what he tried there was a predetermination that whatever he wanted or needed would elude him. Perhaps French is overplaying this aspect of Relf's life, and it does play into cliches that abound in biographies. It can't be denied though that Keith Relf was a man apart, and unlike those iconic performers cited previously he perhaps lost the battle with the complex nature of his famous identity.
That this is made highly evident in the closing chapters of the book, when Relf's work with bands such as Renaissance and Armageddon is considered, is another major achievement of French's biography. That Relf had a career post-Yardbirds and that there was a potentiality in these projects that was cut short somewhat cruelly in each instance helps develop a fuller understanding of the man. Relf was more than the guy who sang and played harmonica alongside Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page; he had artistic visions of and for himself that promised so much more. Yes, he achieved so much and perhaps as French intimates this was remarkable in and of itself. However what might have been if he had succeeded in the 70s, if he had not died so relatively young are the underpinning themes of this latter part of the book.
French's prose is readable and he has included plenty of written and oral evidence to inform his biography. It might be argued that too much stress is placed on magazine and other articles as published during the peak Yardbirds years, however without Relf being alive today to add his own views outside that medium then it's understandable. There are plenty of photos that provide illustrative information to support French's text, and aside from perhaps the three guitar Gods he has gleaned all that one might hope for from his friends, family and colleagues. There are copious notes, a useful appendix on Relf's recordings and a comprehensive bibliography.
As stated earlier, Yardbirds fans and those who have a passion for their music and the British R&B/Beat era will find 'Heart Full of Soul' a highly rewarding read. French has completed the task of giving a fulsome and empathetic biography of a somewhat forgotten icon of the Sixties music scene, and he has discussed both Relf's achievements and his frailties. This is a book that one can recommend without many, if any, reservations.
December 24, 2020
Serviceable, but not exciting reading. It’s good to have an account of Relf’s life and career.
July 21, 2020
Keith Relf, lead singer of the legendary 1960s British Invasion band, The Yardbirds, has been gone since 1976 and this is the first book about his way too short life. Sometimes overshadowed by the three Yardbird guitarists -- Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page - Keith was an enigmatic personality with a sometimes sinister-sounding voice and one of the best looking men rock and roll ever produced. Thankfully, due to YouTube, we fans who never saw them on TV or in concert can now catch Yardbird performances and can appreciate the incredible talent and stage presence Keith had. His harmonica playing was incredible! David French (who like me was just a child when The Yardbirds were making music in the mid-60s and came to appreciate their contribution to rock and roll after the group broke up)has done extensive research and interviewed a rather large number of people who knew Keith personally and their memories and anecdotes about him are sometimes humorous and sometimes heartbreaking. However, the three main sources of information on Keith came from two of his best friends and fellow musicians, Jim McCarty (from The Yardbirds) and Louis Cennamo (who worked with Keith in a number of groups, most especially Armageddon -- Keith's last band). But ultimately the most important and interesting information came from Keith's widow, April Mannino. While I am sure that this was at times difficult and poignant for April, she cleared up so much confusion about Keith that fans have had over the years (including clarifying what caused his death) and remembers him with such love, respect and compassion that at times it brought me to tears. There is a great love story here filled with all the challenges a couple goes through in life -- work, ill health, children, money issues -- yet underneath all the problems, it is clear these two people had a love for each other and their children despite all that life threw at them. Keith was complicated, there is little question about that, but having some background on all he faced and how courageously he dealt with some of his darkest moments is inspiring. I'm sure all of us wish that, after we left this earth, our mate still could say such lovely things about us 40 plus years later. This book would never have been written without April Mannino. David French could have just written the usual rock biography using rehashed interviews and articles. But by reaching out to April, he wrote not only a biography but a story of a couple who weathered way too many storms and yet the surviving partner still has so many beautiful things to say about the man she loved. I'm grateful for the legacy he left his fans and for his willingness to keep performing right to the end despite the never-ending obstacles caused by record companies and poor health and dissatisfaction with his music at times and also grateful for the resilience his widow showed in sharing these private memories with all of us.
July 21, 2023
This biography has left me speechless. Well-written, well-structured, the dedication Mr French put into this is mind-blowing and Keith's life story is certainly worth knowing. He was indeed a heart full of soul. I read it in three days.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews