John Idan
- Born
- 1953 · Detroit.
- Nationality
- United States
- Occupation
- musician · singer · guitarist
- Fields
- blues
In this article
Key facts
• Name — John Idan
• Birthplace — Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
• Instrument — * Vocals
• guitar
• bass
• Genre — * Blues
• rock
• soul
• pop
• progressive rock
• Occupation — Musician
• Years Active — 1988–present
• Label — * Garden of Idan
• Favored Nations
• Kissingspell
• Current Member Of — * The Yardbirds
• The John Idan Group
• Past Member Of — * The Top Topham – John Idan Band
• Ric Lee's Natural Born Swingers
• Website — johnidan.net
John Idan is an American guitarist and vocalist, best known for his work with the Yardbirds, the McCarty Band, and his own bands, the John Idan Group and the Top Topham – John Idan Band.
Career
John Idan, who is originally from Detroit, Michigan, 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 Detroit and southeast Michigan. After the breakup of the Natural Blues Band Idan went on a holiday to London during which he met former Yardbirds' guitarist Top Topham and drummer Jim McCarty. In 1988 he moved to the UK to become the singer and lead guitarist of their blues band. Idan soon became known as 'Detroit' John Idan on the London blues scene.
In 1992 he left the McCarty Band to pursue his own musical interests and founded his band 'Realfire'. Throughout the same time The Yardbirds were reforming. Idan became their lead vocalist and bassist.
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) etc.
He has recorded two main albums with the Yardbirds, the star-studded Birdland in 2003 and Live at B.B. King Blues Club in 2006.
After having been in the band for 14 years, 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.
In 2015, Idan rejoined The Yardbirds, now as rhythm guitarist. He has also recently been playing guitar and singing with Ric Lee's Natural Born Swingers, a band led by Ric Lee of Ten Years After.
Licensing
Text attribution
Part of the biographical narrative on this page reuses licensed material. Its origin, revision and licence are recorded here.
The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article John Idan, revision 1362328619 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record.
Selected discography
• John Idan –
• "The Folly" (Garden of Idan) – 2008
• The Yardbirds –
• Birdland (Favored Nations) – 2003
• "Live at B.B. King's" (Favored Nations) – 2006
• "Reunion Concert" – 1991
• The Topham McCarty Band (Kissingspell) – 2002
• The McCarty Band –
• Two Steps Ahead (Kissingspell) – 2002
• Renaissance Illusion –
• Through the Fire – 2002
• Beehive (Lord Dome feat. John Idan) – "I Can't Hold On" – 2011
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.About.
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Partially resolvedreference work
Partially resolved
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 26 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Music memorabilia
41,326 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- John HollenbeckPerson
- John HorlerPerson
- John HothbyPerson
- John I, Count of DammartinPerson
- John IllsleyPerson
- John IrelandPerson
- John IV of PortugalPerson
- John J. BeckerPerson
Best supported in this field
For owners
Own a work by John Idan?
A specialist will read what you send and tell you what the house can establish, what it cannot, and whether the object is suited to sale. There is no charge and no obligation. The object stays with you throughout; nothing is shipped to us unless it is arranged in writing beforehand.