A London band, peers of the young Rolling Stones during the rhythm and blues boom. Named after Charlie Parker, they were first a Chicago blues-type band, veering later into pop and psychedelia (exit disgusted purist Eric Clapton; enter Jeff Beck). At their height, they helped inspire a lot of stateside garage psychedelia. Exit Beck; Jimmy Page and Peter Grant were eventually left holding the bag; they formed the New Yardbirds.