
Focus is a Dutch progressive rock band formed in Amsterdam in 1969 by keyboardist, vocalist, and flautist Thijs van Leer, drummer Hans Cleuver, bassist Martijn Dresden, and guitarist Jan Akkerman. The band has undergone numerous formations in its history; since December 2016, it has comprised Van Leer, drummer Pierre van der Linden, guitarist Menno Gootjes, and bassist Udo Pannekeet. They have sold one million RIAA-certified albums in the United States.
After the addition of Akkerman to Van Leer's rock trio in late 1969, the band named themselves Focus and initially worked for a Dutch production of the rock musical Hair. Their debut album, Focus Plays Focus (1970), gained little attention but the follow-up, Moving Waves (1971), and its lead single "Hocus Pocus", earned the band international recognition. Their success continued with Focus 3 (1972) and Hamburger Concerto (1974), the former containing their second hit single, "Sylvia". After recording two albums with various musicians, including guitarist Phillip Catherine, singer P. J. Proby, and drummers Colin Allen, David Kemper, and Steve Smith, Focus dissolved in 1978. They briefly reunited in 1990 and 1997.
In 2002, Van Leer reformed Focus with a new line-up that saw Van der Linden rejoining the group in 2004. The albums Focus 8 (2002), Focus 9 / New Skin (2006), and Focus X (2012) were well received, and Focus continue to perform worldwide. Their most recent album is Focus 11 (2018). They received a renewed interest after Nike used "Hocus Pocus" in its 2010 World Cup commercial Write The Future. Focus remain one of the most successful and influential rock bands from the Netherlands.
Because this live performance is the 10.
It is the greatest thing you will see all day.
sounds like a man explaining away his lack of an erection
Dad totally rocks!
Steely_D wrote:
Because this live performance is the 10.
It is the greatest thing you will see all day.
Thanks, it was!
The 70's sure had some interesting hair & fashion styles...
BTW there's a great comment on Youtube on the overly-fast performance:
Richard Kelly": Hey we wanna play Hocus Pocus. It's a 6 1/2 minute song."
"You have 4 minutes."
"...no problem."
I tried to catch Thijs van Leer on a false note, but I could not really find any (well, perhaps some of the final whistling). Absolutely amazing performance.
This is a totally frantic mayhem excessively over the top 1970's rocking jam, even faster in this live performance, and the main soloist performs some VERY unusual things for a rock band:
- organ (no, it's not a synth, it's an organ)
- scat singing
- whistling (2 types: lips & teeth)
- flute?!
- friggin' yodeling ??!!
and it absolutely rocks the roof off!
Yet I see people complaining that this should not be on RP. Why oh why? This is an "e c l e c t i c" radio station, if this doesn't belong here, then I don't know what does.
Another nice Youtube comment:
Sbeast": I hear you play in a band, what style of music do you play?"
"Yes"
Having said all that: all hail Jan Akkerman on guitar. WOW.
False!
What? if that's where your mind goes...you don't know or appreciate what 'eclectic' means. That's what RP is all about.....
Bad back then. Bad Now. Please stop playing this. As for the record, tape, or memory chip, kill it kill it with fire.
Sorry to hear about your bad back.
*EDIT - It's been pointed out that 'electrocuted' means injured or killed. He was neither, but he was repeatedly shocked.
Hey, btw my cellphone currently rings with this tune! :)
Alastair wrote:
Dad Rock.
Absolutely, and we're proud of it. And some day if you're lucky enough your generation gets to explain the virtues of autotune to your kids.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4ouPGGLI6Q
This is a gem of a comment from that page:
"They played this song like their tour bus was double-parked outside."
K-tel 1973