Dear Steve A. Jones. I read with interest your comment that you "don't believe a word of this". Let me set you straight on the truth brother. In 1966, I was an 8th grade drummer that had formed a local garage band called The Pages (in Wichita Kansas). We were chosen to be the warm-up band for the first ever appearance of The Yardbirds in Wichita Kansas, playing at The Cotillion ballroom (still standing and packing em in with rock acts). How do I recall that it was 1966 and not 1967. By 1967, my band had dis-banded. I had grown tired of the band and playing drums. In '67, my interest turned to sports. So, unlike your uninformed comment that the yardbirds did not play in Wichita in '66, you are most mistaken and uninformed. Believe me brother, I was there. Now then, here's an interesting story. The dressing rooms at the cotillion adjoin the stage, but are not visible to the audience. Our final song as warm-up band was The Yardbirds, I'm A Man. We were playing the song, and from my view (as the drummer, I was behind my bandmates). I could see the when the Yardbirds had filed out of their dressing room and were watching us play their song, from behind the partition that the audience could not see. I can still vividly recall Jeff Beck with his foot up against the corridor wall tapping the song, as I was with the bass pedal on my drum. They were kind of quietly clapping when we finished and that was quite a thrill. So after the stage set, on come The Yardbirds. They launched into their first song, and my recollection tells me that the drummer was off beat and something was wrong. Within a few instances, Jim McArty was flat on his back behind his drum seat. The music stopped and they were all attending to Jim. Within a few minutes, they got Jim offstage and to the dressing room. He was done and the concert had barely started. One of the Yardbirds, got on the mic and asked if there was anyone whom knew how to play their songs on the drums. I was in the front row, and my friends were urging me to raise up my hand. While I knew their songs, I was just too young and intimidated by going up to do it. At that time, another drummer was invited up. His name was Neil McGaugh. He was older than me. I was 13 and he may have been college age. He played with a great local band called The Outcasts. They were the 'bad boy' band in Wichita at that time. Neil sat in for the set(s?) and did a great job. So I hope I have cleared this up for you. It appears to me that you are getting your years, times and events mixed up. The event was in '66 and my band was the local warm up act at that time. and YES, the did use the local drummer Neil McGaugh (whom passed away in '99). There are lots of rumors still exist today that The Yardbirds solicited Neil to join them, but I suspect that is just local folk-lore from here in town. Ask Jim, he may know.