Yardbirds drummer Jim McCarty is hoping his old job is still open.

Talking to Classic Rock, the man who also co-founded folk rock heroes Renaissance with late Yardbirds singer Keith Relf, said:

“When The Yardbirds started in 1962, we only expected it to last a year or so. At the time I worked in an insurance office, and asked my boss if he’d keep the job open for me. I must find out if he kept his word!”

The Yardbirds will celebrate their 50^th anniversary in 2012 – clearly a much more major important occasion than the Olympic Games. McCarty hopes the band will mark the occasion in a suitable fashion.

“It would be great to have a special event, and get all the living former members involved – especially those three guitarists [Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page]. But who knows whether they’ll be interested.”

McCarty has just released a solo album called Sitting On The Top Of Time, and hopes to do some low key gigs to promote it.

“That depends on The Yardbirds’ touring schedule. We are still active – in fact, the average age of the band has come down now to about 30. Apart from Chris [Dreja, rhythm guitar] and myself everyone else is really young in this band now.”

The next Yardbirds show is on November 30 at Charlotte Street Blues in Central London.

For further info, go to www.theyardbirds.com