Jan Akkerman was voted "World's Best Guitarist" by Music Maker in 1973. Imagine the competition in those days.

@1958seeker

29 күн бұрын

Is still a great guitarist with many recent clips of his talent available on KZread. I believe he needed to take a break in his career due to injuries sustained in an accident which left him unable to play for a number of years but now back to his best

@billfear1

26 күн бұрын

Oh yeah..that he was...👍

@joelspaulding5964

24 күн бұрын

Imagine the competition these days. He would still fare well in my book.

@colemantrebor6574

22 күн бұрын

He was using techniques and playing style in this song that only became popular in the 80s, such as sweep picking. Revolutionary

@hansolo2121

22 күн бұрын

@@colemantrebor6574 Yes and he was using all four fingers on the frets when soloing and shredding. For him his pinky was just another equal finger. Something that is still extremely rare to see today.

The only standing ovation ever, on this program

The speed which these guys played this for this show is insane!!! Extremely talented. I wish they had more success than they did.

@skabuoy

25 күн бұрын

Focus is still performing well attended gigs, so it all depends on your definition of 'success'.

@snakeinthegrass7443

25 күн бұрын

@@skabuoy Ok. Like I said, I wish they had more success than that. If they had 13 double platinum albums, I'd wish they had more. Never said they weren't successful.

@skabuoy

24 күн бұрын

@@snakeinthegrass7443 I wasn't trying to be a critical smart ass, or snarky, or something. It's just depending on your definition of successful. Platinum albums is one option, still playing live and drawing crowds sizeable enough to make that worthwhile 50 years later is another. There is also something to be said for artists that only were around for a year or so, releasing one album that bombed, but years later had numerous hit making artists citing them as a major influence.

@snakeinthegrass7443

24 күн бұрын

I never said they weren't successful. To hear that they're still playing shows proves they have been successful. I said "I WISH THEY HAD MORE SUCCESS THAN THEY DID". Did you get it? "than they did" I acknowledged their success. Ok?

@skabuoy

24 күн бұрын

@@snakeinthegrass7443 Yes. I get you. Yes. I did from the beginning, so there's no reason to shout. Because clearly you didn't get me, not even after I dumbed it down for you. So you know what? Enjoy the rest of your life. There's bound to be a brick wall somewhere that's more susceptible to an intelligent conversation. Or maybe it's just a side effect of all that dr**s you did in the seventies, in which case I apologize, I never kick people when they're down.

I live in the UK, but went to see Focus in their native Netherlands just a couple of weeks ago (ECI Cultuurfabriek, Roermond). What a show! I love watching reactions to this particular performance - it's always a joy! Thijs (I think it's pronounced 'Teece') can barely walk across the stage these days, but he still has all the skills, talent, and vocal range, and oh that Hammond organ sound! Pierre was not an original member, but replaced Hans Cleuver early on, and as has been mentioned left and re-joined. Current guitarist Menno Gootjes and (six-string) bassist Bobby Jacobs are also fine musicians - they still all play jazz-style solos and 'trades' (thanks for giving me a name for that!)

These Guys were WAY ahead of their time.

Pierre van der Linden's drum work is what I use to calibrate my metronomes. Jan Akkerman's guitar work is unbelievably underrated. Then there's Thijs van Leer... And still performing at age 76. Being a child of the 70's, I can vouch for this song pretty much summing up the entire decade. And still a thrill half a century later.

One of the best, maddest, fastest, bonkers songs/tunes ever made. And this is the best version of it. I read they had only a limited time to play the song so this version is on steroids!!

@NativeNewMexican

29 күн бұрын

If you haven't seen the Wallace & Grommit Hocus Pocus edit, I'd recommend that, it's top tier too.

@buzzbomb67

29 күн бұрын

@@NativeNewMexican lol nice! GOT to go see that now :)

Love that you can see them glancing at each other and having little chuckles about how ridiculous it is.

The drummer was actually part of a free Jazz group called Advance Warning.

@AndrewRooneyDrums

28 күн бұрын

Nice info. That's a serious drummer!

@kasperkjrsgaard1447

22 күн бұрын

And went back to play with Focus. I saw them in a small 150 people club about 5-6 years ago. Still in world class.

@giuseppegiacomoscialdone4969

14 күн бұрын

Thank you!

My fellow Dutch guys invented speedmetalpolka on the spot!

@NonEuclideanTacoCannon

25 күн бұрын

".... you know that new sound you're looking for? Well listen to this!"

@rottingemptiness

22 күн бұрын

LOL 🙂😁🙂

This song exploded onto the scene in the early '70s and took over the airwaves for a time. Everyone in this band is a virtuoso. Great reaction, Andrew!

Hocus Pocus and Sylvia were their two hits. Excellent band!

@mojobag01

27 күн бұрын

Don't sleep on 'House Of The King'.

@YnseSchaap

22 күн бұрын

"I need a Bathroom" 😁

That is Bert Ruiter on bass on this live version. Martijn Dresden was bands original bassist and plays on their debut album. He was replaced with Cyril Havermans, who plays on the studio version of this track.

@Elias_Veine_Wiig

23 күн бұрын

R.I.P Bert Ruiter

Pierre Van der Linden rejoined them several times and is their current drummer.

Focus was the best Dutch band in the early seventies. It’s still amazing after 50 years,

I'm a huge Focus fan, even having the good fortune of spending time with Thijs on a cruise ship. He's loads of fun even in his 70's. Check out Eruption for an extended workout covering many genres. Sylvia is great to hear them get funky and melodic. La Cathedral de Strasburg is quiet and beautiful. Hamburger Concerto is restrained and heavy. Vocals are pretty sparse and usually weird, an artifact of Thijs' strong Dutch accent that he likes to hide on record. They can do it all.

@Elias_Veine_Wiig

23 күн бұрын

I’m a huge Focus fan as well. Seen them live 10 times, soon to be 12 times. I’m friends with the band members as well. Can’t wait for their new album released in July.

Imagine these guys being your opener and looking at your bandmates..."how are we EFF are we supposed to follow that?!" Bewildered, befuddled, and blindsided. 😂🤘

The chase scene in the movie Baby Driver to this song is amazing.

For what it's worth - Thijs is pronounced "tice" - rhymes with "dice" 🙂 Phenomenal group even through a number of membership changes - check out "Sylvia", "Eruption", or "Questions? Answers! Answers? Questions!" - or for a bit longer a piece, "Hamburger Concerto"!

@AndrewRooneyDrums

2 күн бұрын

Thanks for the info! 🙏

Its been said that this is the only standing ovation, ever, on that show, and rightfully so. I HIGHLY recommend watching Lolli Wren’s reaction to this on her channel @TheFairyVoiceMother. Absolute GOLD! Cracks me up every time! And yes, Elizabeth HAS done this song, and its a LOT of fun!

@richardharrold9736

29 күн бұрын

And breaks out her own flute! Lolli's reaction to Jinjer's Pisces is also wonderful - a perfectly-timed intake of tea leading to the perfect spit-take!

@buzzbomb67

29 күн бұрын

@@richardharrold9736 Right?! Great stuff :)

That is as mad as a box of frogs, they are masters of their instruments, I love the way the guitar mirrors his amazing vocal and that drumming is tight, I think I once saw them on The Old Grey Whistle Test. Awesome!

The Midnight Special: "We need you to go to 11." Hocus Pocus: "Hold our beer..."

@danhurley2274

28 күн бұрын

Exactly!

Me , born & raised in Belgium , I just love this song , great Dutch band 🙂 Another (RIP) Dutch band I really appreciate , Ekseption 🙂

@arjankremer8229

22 күн бұрын

Kayak

@rottingemptiness

21 күн бұрын

​​@@arjankremer8229, and around 1977 and later on , Herman Brood , and also early-mid 70's Earth & Fire ♥️ 🎶

@turtle8581

18 күн бұрын

And Spin

@rottingemptiness

18 күн бұрын

@@turtle8581, holy manure , thank you , I had never even heard them before !!!! 😲 Holy da da da da .... mn , I freaky love it 🎼🎶🎵🎸🎹🎺🎷🙂👌

SO glad you recognize this for the genius it is! Jan Akkerman is amazing, Thijs van Leer put on a performance that has gone down in the music history books. God I am glad this performance survived!

@AndrewRooneyDrums

2 күн бұрын

Oh this is brilliant

This was the live audience for a TV show and they were told to stay in their seats and not make extra noise because they were recording. No filtering in these days.

I dont think they were sitting on their hands, i think they were just blown away.

@AndrewRooneyDrums

Күн бұрын

I think TV rules of the day at play also

Their album Moving Waves is awesome, bought it when I was in school!!!

@chrisjones-vu7he

19 күн бұрын

me too i still have it

@billsanderson1442

16 күн бұрын

I wore out my copy of Focus 3 and was able to find a replacement in a used record store. Their albums were very hard to find here in Canada.

Television studio audiences had to not interrupt performances while the band plays live for the best produced show.

A couple of years ago Thijs van Leer played this song in Tilburg (The Netherlands) with Transatlantic, featuring Mike Portnoy on drums. I was there, fantastic as well! It's on KZread by the way

Pierre's solos kzread.info/dash/bejne/kaB7qpKxf6SXmbw.html Sea of Delight 1969 BrainBox with drum solo comes in at 12:35 kzread.info/dash/bejne/po2dtI-riN2ydtY.html My favorite, live 46 minute jam called Eruption, Great drumming through out, solo starts at 35:35 The dude could play that 4 piece kit! from 1971 kzread.info/dash/bejne/mWykt6OMmbKWgpM.html

Thijs van Leer... correctly spoken as t-ice (so english "ice" with a "t" in front.... "th" in Dutch is pronounced as "t" in english...BTW by far best footage to check Focus: kzread.info/dash/bejne/ZpV6qaaohsLTl7g.html (Focus - Live at the BBC (Old Grey Whistle Test) December 1972 (Full Session)

The audience may be dead, but here in the U.S., there are no shows like this anymore :(. This show was "Hosted" by "Gladys Knight & the Pips" (they had a different host each show), so this was the line-up for the night: Gladys Knight & the Pips - Daddy Could Swear I Declare Focus - Hocus Pocus Stories - Mammy Blue B.B. King - To Know You Is to Love You Gladys Knight & the Pips - Heavy Makes You Happy Focus - Sylvia Chris Smither - Mail Order Mystics Earth, Wind & Fire - Evil Gladys Knight and B.B. King - The Thrill Is Gone B.B. King - How Blue Can You Get? Stories - Brother Louie Gladys Knight & the Pips - Midnight Train to Georgia Focus - House of the King Earth, Wind & Fire - Power Wolfman Jack and Monda - Ling Ting Tong Focus - Focus III Firstly, amazing they let Focus do 3 songs! But look at the variety of music! Can you imagine a show that had; Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw, Opeth, Aurora, Bjork and Meshuggah? Or whatever combination you could think of. It seems that this type of show will never happen again (or Don Kirchners Rock Concert, ABC's In Concert) here in the U.S., as everything is catered to just "Pop"/Top 40, R&B and-or Rap/Hip-Hop. (With few exceptions) the "musician" is hardly ever featured on prime time television, or late-night for that matter (though current Conan 'O Brien and past Late Night with David Letterman shows had a variety of music, as you know Andrew). - Seems people overseas are more open to variety. I'm sure people will mention Music Variety Shows around the world that still have variety of music that caters to all tastes.

@AndrewRooneyDrums

28 күн бұрын

These tv shows are wonderful time capsules

Focus in their haydays, a legendary Dutch band with no real leadsinging and not many hits, and yet very succesful, known all over the world for a few years. How can that be? Top shelf musicians with a very original oeuvre!

@AndrewRooneyDrums

28 күн бұрын

Not commercial enough

@worblyhead996

20 күн бұрын

When I saw Deep Purple during their Perfect Strangers "reunion" tour, Someone on the crew played "House of the King" during the changeover from the opening band to Deep Purple which I thought was suprisingly cool. I believe I read something at the time that Ritchie Blackmore admired Jan Akkerman's playing. Jan also had a few Lute based albums back in the day.

@wjl2601

20 күн бұрын

@@worblyhead996 Akkermans collegae's admired and praised his skills and tone highly.

@WayneKitching

13 күн бұрын

They couldn't sing in English.

@wjl2601

11 күн бұрын

@@WayneKitching Thijs certainly could but he didn't.

Actually; It’s a few errors here. Firstly; There’s a myth going around for years, which is false. It is that the song was sped up because of the time slot they had on the TV show. That is actually false. Focus performed the song fast multiple times during the 70’s live shows. It has nothing to do with the TV show. They performed a long song during the same TV show, that was cut down, they played it full. Second; Yes, that’s Thijs van Leer (organ, flute, vocals) and Jan Akkerman (guitar), and yes, it is Pierre van der Linden on drums, and he left the band shortly after this performance. But he came back for a short tour almost two years later, so, he was active in Focus from 1971-1973 and 1975, and on a reunion show in 1990. He came back in 2004, and has played in Focus since then, and still is today, at age 78. Thijs van Leer also still plays in Focus. He was the founder. Jan Akkerman is not friends with Thijs anymore, he hates him, and plays in his own band now, called Jan Akkerman Band. It’s not Martijn Dresden on bass here, Martijn played bass in Focus in 1969-1970. In 1973, it was Bert Ruiter on bass. He was active in Focus in 1971-1978, 1990, 1997-1998, and he died in 2022. If you are wondering, the years Focus has been active is: 1969-1978, 1985, 1990, 1992, 1993-1995, 1997-1998, 2002-present. A brand new studio album, the first in six years, is set to be released July 5th 2024. This song came out on their second studio album “Moving Waves” in 1971, and it was recorded and released before Bert Ruiter joined on bass. Cyril Havermans plays bass on the album version. I’m a VERY HUGE fan of Focus. I have all albums, and countless bootlegs, and I’m constantly on the lookout for more. A new studio album comes soon, and I can’t wait. I have seen them live 10 times, and soon it will be 12.

@buzzbomb67

22 күн бұрын

Thanks for the clarification! I do try to find the proper lineups but bands like this, with a lot of changes, arent easy to nail down. Good to have an expert to ensure the facts are straight. Regarding the doing it faster, for the show, yes, they performed it even faster than this, on occasion. That doesnt mean the story is false, just that theyd likely have done it fast anyway, and since most of the fast performances are on tv shows, it makes me wonder if, perhaps, they worked it out at that speed, just for the purpose of those limited time slots on tv shows.

Saw these guys a few years ago. Went in blind as some friends were supporting. The drummer was same guy as here... utter monster, even 40-odd years later. Prog band but all serious jazz guys.

The guitar player Jan Akkerman lives in our town of Volendam. A real nice guy. Played with him a few times. And his daughter Laurie is an amazing singer.

Thoroughly bonkers, and totally marvelous!

we loved them in the 70:s...really really great band,

I agree! I am from the Netherlands and know that they are scooled performers of a high level, love them.❤🎉

Thijs is originally a classically trained flutist and organ player.

@AndrewRooneyDrums

28 күн бұрын

Have to be trained with those chops

@YnseSchaap

22 күн бұрын

He's also very very friendly, guy just doesn't shut up 😁

I used to love this song but I must admit Thijs van Leer's yodeling, scat and whistling always made me laugh out loud. When I saw this performance(and his facial expressions), I laughed even harder.

@AndrewRooneyDrums

28 күн бұрын

I think you HAVE to be animated to do this!

@peteannells4218

6 күн бұрын

Try the version live on Don Kirshner's rock concert. Jan Akkerman having a ball. and it's probably faster. The drummer in that one is the guy from 'Stone the Crows' (maggie Bell. Les Harvey etc). Youll laugh harder still !

I remember those days, when the drummer was the metronome and everyone had a good sense of timing. What makes this version so impressive is they've been playing this song regularly at one tempo, but to change it up for one single performance is amazing. I commend them on keeping to the integrity of the song as a complete piece of music. Thanks Andrew.

The guitar player may be the first shred-er ever!

@nightwishlover8913

29 күн бұрын

I concur! Superb player!

@markkent294

29 күн бұрын

Possibly the first example of sweep picking.

@HollowGolem

21 күн бұрын

@@markkent294 At least in a mainstream rock group, yeah. Les Paul and Chet Akins were sweep picking back in the 50's.

I saw Focus live a couple of weeks ago, and am happy to say Pierre Van Der Linden still has it at 78, and although Thijs struggles with yodelling these days, he still rocks the keys and the flute. They were fabulous..!

This is one of the songs from my childhood that inspired me to become a drummer in the first place. Wipeout is another.

I saw Focus at London’s Finsbury Park Rainbow in 1973. The gig was recorded for a live album. Absolutely terrific. Akkerman was, and still is, one of the greatest guitarists ever. He and Thijs van Leer had a falling out which resulted in Akkerman quitting just before a UK tour in, I think, 1976. He was replaced by another great guitarist in Philip Catherine. I saw this line up (with David Kemper on drums). It was good, but the absence of Akkerman was obvious when the band were playing some of the older Focus material. There are some good clips on KZread of the “classic” line up on The Old Grey Whistle Test. I think it’s already been pointed out, but Bert Ruiter is the bass player in the featured clip. Sadly he passed away a couple of years ago.

Had the good fortune to see Focus in 1972. Awesome musicianship and just about spoilt me for live music for decades until I found jazz properly.

I'm amazed that you have never heard of Focus or this song. Jan Akkerman was shredding even before shredding became a thing. I was listening to focus during the 1970's and that was in NZ. Hocus Pocus was being played on the radio all the time, but alas they were highly under-rated.

It's the acid baby. That's the secret LOL

Saw them November 13, 1973 at the Orpheum in Boston. They opened for Wishbone Ash - or maybe the other way around. Some of those nights are a little hard to remember.

@AndrewRooneyDrums

18 күн бұрын

I bet... LOL

Fast forward 52 years & I saw Focus live at the Stables in Milton Keynes last Sunday. Whilst I'm not a prog rock fan per-say I do appreciate a good musician & the current line up of Focus are great musicians. The founder of Focus Thijs van Leer is now in his late 70's & can still impress with his flute, vocal & keyboard skills. He can't quite hit the high notes or whistling he did in this midnight Special track but he can still cut a rug as they say. The current line up is great & particular Pierre van der Linden on drums, Menno Gootjes on lead guitar & Menno Gootjes on bass. It took me back to my mid teenage years when I heard them play Hocus Pocus & Silvia for the first time. Memories.

@andrevandervlies5700

26 күн бұрын

Nice post, Colin, but I think you meant "Udo Pannekeet on bass". Menno only has two arms after all.😋

@colingoode3702

26 күн бұрын

@@andrevandervlies5700 Ha Ha. Cut & paste error there I suspect. Thanks for the correction👍

Jan Akkerman was the only guy we (boomer guitar guys) paid attention to, he has been a guitar legend since the 70s, his solo fusion stuff is outstanding. I have no idea if the other guys ever got their due as musicians. The band as a whole was epic. 🎬

By the way, that ride tom is a 9" x 14" i believe only Premier made that size. His kit was Birch with Beechwood glue rings! I had the African Mahogany 3-ply with the thick beechwood glue rings from 1971

@AndrewRooneyDrums

24 күн бұрын

NICE!

I've been listening to this tune for decades, and it's always fun to see new people's reaction to this thing. Especially so when it's someone who can appreciate the musicianship beyond just the madness of it all.

The unedited studio version is so much better. Love this song!

@DerEchteBold

25 күн бұрын

But that's too slow, didn't they always play it this fast from then on, because it's just so much better uptempo?!

I saw them at the Whisky in Hollywood in the seventies. The lead guitarist had like a 10 fret span. Unbelievable.

The people there was asked to stay quiet as it was recorded. In 1973 they didn't had the technology to noise cancel the public. Besides the public being loud, would only have spoiled their focus (prun intended). As it is a technical difficult song to perform live at that speed. If you look at the live performance of for example deep purple same thing public not making a beep. Nowadays production crew can ask the public to stay still and it just wouldn't work different time...

Thanks, Andrew, best reaction so far I've seen. Acknowledging the musicianship of these guys to pull this song off LIVE. They could have easily shortend it, but chose to speed it up. Not an easy thing to do. Jan Akkerman was voted by the readers of Melody Maker (british music magazine) best guitar player in the world in 1973.

@Andrew Rooney Drums 🐙Elizabeth has done this one as a Patreon Exclusive. And yes, she was "floored" (without having Floor Jansen in the video) with lot's of giggles.

House of the King is sublime.

The drummer is back in the band

@AndrewRooneyDrums

28 күн бұрын

That's cool!

@buzzbomb67

27 күн бұрын

Apparently hes come and gone a few times lol

@Elias_Veine_Wiig

23 күн бұрын

Pierre van der Linden the drummer has been in the band 1971-1973, 1975, 1977 (in 1977 as a substitute, because the drummer at that time didn’t show up for one concert), 1990, 2004-present. He’s now 78 years old.

@Elias_Veine_Wiig

23 күн бұрын

@@buzzbomb67 Pierre van der Linden the drummer has been in the band 1971-1973, 1975, 1977 (in 1977 as a substitute, because the drummer at that time didn’t show up for one concert), 1990, 2004-present. He’s now 78 years old.

The best breakdown of this song I've c9me across. Great reaction...

One of my favourite bands from the early 70’s!!! I adore this song! One of their songs is particularly melodic and beautiful, especially if you want to hear their diversity. It’s called ‘Sylvia’. The guitarist who quit the band after this stated that he was the greatest guitarist in the world! Having said that, l can’t say enough about this brilliant band. Another Dutch band, called ‘ Exception’ is also one of my favourites! They will blow your mind. In one song in particular, they play a massive organ in a church that is astounding! I truly hope you will check my suggestions out. Thank you .

Drummer looks like he's about to start laughing the entire song :D

It was the last song of the TV-show and the band played the tune at almost double speed to get it done before the end-titles.

@Elias_Veine_Wiig

23 күн бұрын

That’s wrong. They performed it first. The last song was «Focus 3» with «Answers? Questions! Questions? Answers!», with the end-titles going over the screen during Answers? Questions!… That they performs «Hocus Pocus» fast because of the show is a false myth. They performed the song fast around that time. In 1973-1976, it was performed fast.

You literally just watched the Birth of prog rock. I would get into so much trouble for sneaking out of bed to watch The Midnight Special & Don Kirchner's Rock Concert (I was in elementary school then). My parents finally gave up when Monty Python became a thing here in the US, lol. I was in junior high school by then and at least it was the weekend.

"trades" is called vier-om-vier in the Netherlands. check uit this song in the original pace or Thijs van Leer's solo album introspection. I think one in three households in the Netherlands mid seventies had this album.

Focus still performed past years, with both Thijs van Leer (Thais van Lear as pronunciation) and Pierre van der Linden. I think in their best line-up Bert Ruiter played the bass, and Jan Akkerman is incredible, still performing with his band and an accomplished lute player. As flute player, Thijs van Leer also recorded more classical records with the Metropole Orchestra with director Rogier van Otterloo. Check it out, that orchestra has won Grammies, played Bacharach songs and even worked with Steve Vai 🙂

Another insane band was Ekseption with Rick van der Linden (Brother) especially the song Peace planet, insane tempo. Bach inspired.

Both Ritchie Blackmore and Jimmy Page have admitted that they went to Focus concerts in the early seventies to gasp at the phenomena that was (and still is) Jan Akkerman. Brian May is also a huge Jan Akkerman fan.

The drummer and guitarist were in a band called BRAINBOX! You should listen to there jam called Sea of Delight from the 1969 album. Pierre Van Der Linden was ahead of his time! His drumming has always been top notch. He does a very musical drum solo on the cut. There is also a clip of his solos, and he is still playing now in his late 70's !! A remarkable drummer, as was the guitarist and keyboard player/Flute/vocals When Pierre left Focus in 1974 i quit following them. The solos... kzread.info/dash/bejne/kaB7qpKxf6SXmbw.html

@AndrewRooneyDrums

24 күн бұрын

Yeah I'd love to hear more of his drum solos

Been a while since I checked into the channel. Holy hell did I come back to a banger. My dad and I were literally just talking about this song the other day. This is my favorite version of the song by far. My dad always loved the guitar and I always loved the drums. Cheers!

@AndrewRooneyDrums

27 күн бұрын

Welcome back!

Thijs is still going strong. He has a new band and the are touring with the name Focus. Saw them year and a half ago. Still very very good.

I remember when this song was a hit. Never saw this performance until a couple of years ago, as I was not permitted to stay up that late back in the day. I couldn't believe that they could play it that fast. I don't know if it's good or not, but it's always been a lot of fun to hear.

It is indeed a legendary performance of a legendary band that however never really made the big time internationally, even though indeed the band's musicianship is extraordinary. They were the main prog rock band at the time from the Netherlands together with the band Ekseption (also with a legendary keyboard player).

crazy mind blowing out of this world

Jan Akkerman played with Paco De Lucia. I mean, that should say it all. It`s on youtube.

Went to see concert where FOCUS was the headliner. Guess who the intro band was? Chick Corea and Return to Forever. Crazy. Later went to a midnight show where the intro band for them was Gentle Giant. Middle of FOCUS performance people started chanting "Bring back the Giant."

It's a 7 minute song, they were given 4 minutes on the program, instead of abridging the song, they ramped up the tempo. The musicianship to all get on tempo in an instant is amazing IMO

I've seen this live a couple of times in my home country of the Netherlands.

I didn't get to see them in their heyday back in the 70's but I did get to see them on Cruise To The Edge several times. One of those Cruises featured a reformed original line up. They were amazing. They are still out there touring.

@AndrewRooneyDrums

28 күн бұрын

Incredible they're still going

@Elias_Veine_Wiig

23 күн бұрын

And a new album is coming on July 5th

if your not familiar with the original you don't get how mad this version is

The studio version is the drummer’s version; I think you would like. This single!s B side is incorporated in this live version if I remember correctly. Enjoy your reactions. Thanks

@AndrewRooneyDrums

28 күн бұрын

I'll check it out! Thank YOU!

one cannot overstate how good the guitar playing is on that. Ridiculous.

Jan Akkerman was voted best guitar player in the world in 1974. Framus guitars created the legendary Framus AK 74 guitar inspired by Jan Akkerman. Rik Emmet of Triumph used this guitar for many many years. Legendary!!

@AndrewRooneyDrums

26 күн бұрын

Nice info thanks!

Jan Akkerman is OTHERWORLDLY on this version! As a fun note, there's a version of this kicking about with Nicko McBrain providing "vocals". It's needless to say rather amusing.

@AndrewRooneyDrums

28 күн бұрын

Another Nicko vocal! Sounds good LOL

Crazy Dutchman! So much fun...

The midnight special (tv show) only allowed them 4 minutes to play this song. Originally it was nearly 7 minutes long and the band did not want to play only half of it, so they sped up.

The Fairy Voice Mother gives the definitive reaction to this...unlike the others she demonstrates the techniques.

I was born 1960. We used to dance to that on many parties. (To the studio version, of course ;-) The name of the album is: Moving Waves. Thies is still active and lately collaborated with Arjen Lucassen. Very popular at partys was also Gamma Ray by german "Krautrock-Band" Birthcontrol. Or even Solar Music by Grobschnitt. On a biker party in the early 9ties, they even played the whole Brainticket album by Brainticket. (Not sure, if this album is still on the index in the US. It was.) 1 1/2 LP-sides describe the passing away of a girl who got hit by a car. Another popular song: Silly Sally by Sweet Smoke (Album: just a poke). (Amazing drum solo!!! Stereo was just invented!) And let's not forget "The Mexican" by Babe Ruth from the Netherlands. It's from their very popular album First Base. I've even been dancing to Eumir Deodato's "Also sprach Zarathustra". Just my 2 cents... You've not been living under a rock, Andrew: you've just been born too late. LOL

You can see Thijs playing the flute in The electric castle live and other tales by Ayreon. World famous Jan Akkerman plays the guitar.

I had a recording studio back then (yes, old as dirt) and I had the privilige to work with these extraordinary musicians. I can assure you that when Focus was in concert, the roof always came off.Smoking!!!!❤🇳🇱

It’s a great, fun performance, but check out their far more beautiful pieces elsewhere. I got to see them in New York in 1973. Impressive both for the music and the volume - Akkerman was using two 1000-watt amps and they had 16 Leslie cabinets. Opening act was Spencer Davis (Winwood had long since left). Opening for them was a band I never expected to hesr again called Aerosmith.

fluitist = flute player. His name is Thijs van Leer. And after all these years (decades…) he reminds me of Jethro Tull. Never noticed it way back then.

I heard it first in the early 70 s and bought a LP of this band. They made wonderfull music and are till playing with Mr. This van Leer. 😊

I saw Focus in 2019 and they were still amazing. At one point Thijs played one tune on the organ with one hand, played a different melody on the flute and SANG a third melody all at the same time!! and he is now in his 70s

I have seen this video many times over the last years and it always fullfills me with joy. So fun to watch. In my opinion one of the best live performeces you can find here on KZread. They were some of the best musicions to origin from Holland. Nice to see it apear here in one of your reaction videos.

Thank you so much for that description of the backstory I never understood why the song was so sped up! I heard the original prior to this and I never quite understood why they did it.

@Elias_Veine_Wiig

23 күн бұрын

That’s a myth that is not true. They played it fast through the 70’s, because they wanted to.

I believe they originally got together as the pit band for the Amsterdam production of HAIR. There are good clips from the UK's Old Grey Whistle Test as well. They're great to watch as they are all very aware of one another.

I LOVE this song! It's so entertainingly crazy and bonkers! It makes my day every time I hear it! 😂