Focus is a Dutch rock band which was founded by classically trained organist/flautist Thijs van Leer in 1969, and is most famous for the instrumental pieces "Hocus Pocus" and "Sylvia". The band broke-up in 1978, but reformed in 2002 and has been recording and touring since. They have found also renewed fame due to the use of "Hocus Pocus" by guitarist Gary Hoey on his 1993 album Animal Instinct, and as the theme for the Nike 2010 World Cup commercial, Write The Future.
Thijs van Leer - organ, flute, vocals (1969-1978, 1981, 1985, 1990, 1993-1995, 1997-1998, 2001-present) Pierre van der Linden - drums (1971-1973, 1975, 1990, 2004-present) Menno Gootjes - guitar (1997-1998, 2010-present) Udo Pannekeet - bass (2016-present)
Vermakelijk contrast, al die lovende reacties van over de hele wereld bij een aankondiging van een optreden in de Cacaofabriek te Helmond. In dat opzicht weinig verandert t.o.v. de beginperiode van Focus, waarbij wereldfaam afgewisseld werd met teruggaan naar de basis.
The kind of brain capacity memory ? These people got ? To hit every single note every time ? No skips. And remember it ? Blows me away. I can’t understand it
Thijs is world class and Akkerman should get off his high horse and acknowledge that. He was never better than when he was playing Thijs van Leers' music.
I have Radio Caroline/Mi Amigo , as well as, the Old Grey Whistle test ( thank you Annie Nightingale ) for introducing me to so much amazing music , such as Focus
To me this is true musicianship. Taking a song that is 7 or 8 minutes long, speeding it up & making it last 4 to 4:30 minutes. In my eyes that's true musicianship on making that work PERFECTLY. Focus are AMAZING!!
I remember buying my first focus album at 14 ..after hearing “ hocus Pocus” on an alternative radio station way out here Sacramento CA when it was nothing but farms ..played it for 3 of my friends 2 of them went out and bought it that afternoon…what absolutely incredibly talented band absolutely brilliant..some say cult band ..I say incredible band
Great performsnce ! The new drummer , who played on Hamburger Concerto ... I met Jan Akkerman , in Liverpool , UK , early 2000.. great show , and talked before, and after the concert, The next day he had s gig in New Castle , and , his manager was my friend , so , i was in his car , he was driving , we listened to lots of music, and talked about many things ! A great experience , in my life ! Washington Espinola - Musician🎧🌅🎶🎉🎆🍷🍷🎤✍️🎹🎵🎸🎤
Great performsnce ! The new drummer , who played on Hamburger Concerto ... I met Jan Akkerman , in Liverpool , UK , early 2000.. great show , and talked before, and after the concert, The next day he had s gig in New Castle , and , his manager was my friend , so , i was in his car , he was driving , we listened to lots of music, and talked about many things ! A great experience , in my life ! Washington Espinola - Musician🎧🌅🎶🎉🎆🍷🍷🎤✍️🎹🎵🎸🎤
Não gostei de algumas soluções escolhidas, especialmente na introdução quando a banda se junta ao teclado. A guitarra fica sem peso quando utiliza notas solitárias substituindo o vocalize... Bem, é apenas minha percepção, mas é preciso cuidado, afinal estamos falando de um gigante do prog, e certamente eles tiveram seus motivos.
Fantastic music, I had the good fortune to see and meet Jan at a gig in Southampton about 20 odd years ago. I expected a tall thin bloke but a tall stout bloke with massive hands and popeye arms! I had a good chat after the gig and said I never got the chance to see him first time around but saw Focus on OGWT. I was blown away with the skill of this band, Jan's parting word's - Thank you very Dutch!
That doesn't look anything like Martijn Dresden on bass. I think its maybe Jaap van Eik, or Peter van der Sande, who stood in for a while when Martijn left. Fab footage though.
I recall being about 17 or so, had a Chevy Chevelle with a decent stereo, this song was a hit around the same time as Edgar Winter’s Frankenstein and Frank Zappa’s Don’t eat the yellow snow helluva time for music
Too fast.... Needs to breathe. Speed is up and down... Guitarist hits a lot of bad notes. This is perfection: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-MV0F_XiR48Q.html
This song is pure joy. Brings happiness to everyone who hears out, no matter when through the years. I loved these guys in 1971, and now I'm 67 and love them even more.
