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Focus was a Dutch progressive rock band of the 1970s. It was founded by classically trained organist/flautist Thijs van Leer in 1969.
History
Dutch band Focus originally comprised pianist and flautist Thijs van Leer, guitarist Jan Akkerman (who joined the band in 1970), Cyriel Havermans on bass and Pierre van der Linden on drums. In 1971 the group released their pivotal second album, Moving Waves, which received international acclaim. The band's biggest international hits were the guitar-based instrumental 'Sylvia' and the band's signature piece, the somewhat bizarre rondo Hocus Pocus. This rock classic consisted of a striking rock-guitar chord sequence used as a recurring theme, intermingled with spasmodic interludes that included accordion playing, alto flute riffs, guitar improvisation, drum solos, whistling, nonsensical vocals, falsetto singing, and yodeling.
The musical egos of Thijs van Leer and Jan Akkerman eventually proved incompatible. In 1976 Jan Akkerman left the band, which finally dissolved in 1978. A belated reunion in 1985 resulted in a commercially unsuccessful album (although many diehard fans still rate it to this day). Later in 2001, Thijs van Leer re-formed Focus with musicians who had originally formed a Focus tribute band; Jan Dumée (guitar), Bobby Jacobs (bass) and Bert Smaak (drums). They recorded a new album called Focus 8. In October 2004, Pierre van der Linden took over on drums.
Focus were, in many people's minds, the best band to come out of the Netherlands in the 1970s. Golden Earring's single 'Radar Love' enjoyed more success, but Focus' musical achievements were more significant. Their extended, almost exclusively instrumental compositions and improvisations contained many clear references to the classical music canon. One notable example is the quoting of Monteverdi's landmark early opera in their extended piece 'Eruption' on the album Moving Waves. Another demonstration of their stylistic awareness is in the well-constructed Bach-like counterpoint that begins 'Carnival Fugue' on the album Focus 3, or the renaissance harmonic progression of 'Anonymus II' from the same album.
Some feel their finest musical testament is Moving Waves (which included 'Hocus Pocus'). Others believe the peak was reached in 1972 with Focus 3. This included the sprightly jazz-tinged 'Round Goes The Gossip', and the band's biggest single success, the robustly lyrical Akkerman's electric guitar vehicle 'Sylvia'. The second half of the album, where the tracks are extended up to 27 minutes, feature extended improvised solos. The interplay between keyboards, flute, guitar and even a penny whistle, was highly innovative for its time.
Whilst a number of British and US bands attempted to fuse rock/classical/jazz themes, Focus were probably the most successful band in the world to succinctly blend together these styles. Focus' 'Hamburger Concerto', continued this theme.
Focus' main achievement in their short but bright heyday was, unlike many other progressive rock groups of the time, their ability to construct concertos, incorporating both rigorously composed material in the classical style, and rambling jazz-style improvisation. Their inventiveness and tongue-in-cheek stylistic references were also unusual in their wit and technical prowess. It is to the regret of many rock fans that the two major talents of Thijs van Leer and Jan Akkerman were unable to collaborate further, as together they were more than the sum of their formidable parts. The band leaves a small but significant contribution to the rock scene of the early 1970s and beyond.
'House of the King' (from the band's 1970 debut album 'In And Out Of Focus') was used as the theme to 'Don't Ask Me', a science-based British TV show of the 1970s that made household names of Dr Magnus Pyke and Professor David Bellamy. The track is also used as the theme to Steve Coogan's BBC2 sitcom Saxondale.
Discography
Albums
- In and Out of Focus (January 1971)
- Moving Waves (October 1971)
- Focus III (November 1972)
- Focus at the Rainbow (October 1973)
- Hamburger Concerto (May 1974)
- Mother Focus (October 1975)
- Ship of Memories (September 1977)
- Focus con Proby (January 1978)
- Focus (August 1985)
- Focus 8 (January 2003)
- Live at the BBC (May 2004)
Singles
- "Hocus Pocus" #20 UK, #9 US
- "Sylvia" #4 UK
External links
Progressive rock groups | Dutch musical groups | Focus (Band) | Focus (band) | Focus (grupa rockowa) | Focus (banda) | Focus (skupina) | Focus (musikgrupp)
"Focus (band)"