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1) Focus is a Dutch progressive rock band founded by classically trained organist/flautist Thijs van Leer in 1969, along with guitarist Jan Akkerman.
They are one of the most well-known and influential rock bands from the Netherlands. They successfully fuse inspired jazz, rock, and blues improvisation, classical musical structures, and accessible pop melodies into a powerful and instantly recognizable sound.
Akkerman’s technical mastery of the guitar and the often unpredictable brilliance of his improvisations were the perfect counterpoint to Van Leer’s extensive knowledge of musical styles and disciplined approach to composition. Van Leer’s tongue-in-cheek musical references include the reworking of motifs from an early Monteverdi opera in the extended piece “Eruption” on the Moving Waves album, the contrapuntal passage in the middle section of “Carnival Fugue” on the Focus 3 album, the Renaissance-era harmonic progressions in “Anonymous II” (also on Focus 3), and the quote from the first chorale of J.S. Bach’s oratorio St. Matthew’s Passion in the track “Father Bach” on “Mother Focus”.
Focus are possibly best known for their “Hocus Pocus”, a top 40 hit from the Moving Waves LP, which included inspired bits of yodeling (believe it) and explosive guitar work.
They are one of the most well-known and influential rock bands from the Netherlands. They successfully fuse inspired jazz, rock, and blues improvisation, classical musical structures, and accessible pop melodies into a powerful and instantly recognizable sound.
Akkerman’s technical mastery of the guitar and the often unpredictable brilliance of his improvisations were the perfect counterpoint to Van Leer’s extensive knowledge of musical styles and disciplined approach to composition. Van Leer’s tongue-in-cheek musical references include the reworking of motifs from an early Monteverdi opera in the extended piece “Eruption” on the Moving Waves album, the contrapuntal passage in the middle section of “Carnival Fugue” on the Focus 3 album, the Renaissance-era harmonic progressions in “Anonymous II” (also on Focus 3), and the quote from the first chorale of J.S. Bach’s oratorio St. Matthew’s Passion in the track “Father Bach” on “Mother Focus”.
Focus are possibly best known for their “Hocus Pocus”, a top 40 hit from the Moving Waves LP, which included inspired bits of yodeling (believe it) and explosive guitar work.
Top Albums
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8
Focus
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In And Out Of Focus Live At The Rainbow
Focus Buy- Download Album
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Moving Waves
FocusBuy- Download Album
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The Best of Focus: Hocus Pocus
FocusBuy- Download Album
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Top Tracks
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Tamara's Move (Allegro-Adagio-Allegro)
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Shoutbox
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russianvoodoo wrote:
Moving Waves - отличный вообще! группа супер! мне как большому фанату флойдов очень понравилось!
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mayra_coldplay wrote:
I can't believe it! they will come play in my city!
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ultrafeel wrote:
Yep, guipotter4 is totally on spot: Focus is one of the greatest progressive rock bands ever!
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ashoman wrote:
For all Hammond Organ lovers - http://www.lastfm.pl/group/Hammond+organ+lovers
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Turbo081286 wrote:
The true official Metal Camp song.
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Cacophony89 wrote:
Fooly & cooly...
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guipotter4 wrote:
One of the most underrated and greatest progressive rock groups in rock history. [+1]
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Pizardini wrote:
HOCUS POCUS ETERNA!
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Its_Laura wrote:
sometimes I'm really proud to be from the Netherlands
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Headbanghoofd wrote:
Rock and Rio
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dardar227 wrote:
One of the most underrated and greatest progressive rock groups in rock history. Clearly some of the best musicians ever assembled. Jan Akkerman is a guitar god and I continue to enjoy his solo work today. My favorite Focus song is "Answers? Questions! Questions? Answers!" which is hard to pick a favorite having so many great ones.
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BabaOReally wrote:
completely agree: Anonymous is a great song
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LukaszKomala wrote:
'In and out of focus' - One of the greatest albums I've ever heard. Every song is beautiful. Especially Anonymous. And Sugar Island. And Black Beauty... Every fuckin' song is great !
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lugarsinlimites wrote:
tamara's move its THE perfect track for some of us
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hawkon wrote:
Awesome gig in trondheim
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mhunke wrote:
'Recession feat. Phonte' is absolutely amazing
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DaddyPobbin wrote:
Moving waves - great album
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FjordSweetFjord wrote:
very relaxing music, love playing them late at night
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RandyRhoadsRIP wrote:
Hocus Pocus it's more hard rock than prog.
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orgazm wrote:
i fucking LOOOOOVE focus!!!! seen them live baby! <3
Videos
See more
Events
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Feb
18
Focus
Luz de Gas, Barcelona, Spain
1 shout
| 7 attendees
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Feb
24
Focus
Spirit of 66, Verviers, Belgium
Add shout
| 3 attendees
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Feb
26
iO Pages Progfestival
Boerderij, Zoetermeer, Netherlands
2 shouts
| 24 attendees
Listeners
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GaryDPalma
Listening now
to Rock & Rio -
ColiX
Listening now
to La cathedral de… -
The_Yes_Man
Listening now
to Hocus Pocus -
rivanool
Top Listener
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NKoo
Top Listener
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ilraster
Top Listener
Recent Activity
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Legumme, jules_w, figueiredo08 and 4 other people added Focus to their libraries. 2 hours ago
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dedup tagged Focus with ‘alternative rock’. yesterday afternoon
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dedup added Focus to dedup’s library. yesterday afternoon
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TeenageCreep connected Focus to the group Morte Macabre. yesterday afternoon
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Jo85, johnprater, krisselv and 9 other people added Focus to their libraries. yesterday afternoon
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Mark_H wrote about Focus in Prog Albums: Decade: 2000s. Sunday morning
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Mark_H wrote about Focus – Hamburger Concerto in Prog Albums: Decade: 2000s. Sunday morning
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Proghardrocker, Axtlan21, ardellwarren and 2 other people added Focus to their libraries. Sunday morning
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ricz_dm tagged Focus with instrumental and progressive rock. Saturday afternoon
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vahurcad, bloedmann12, lechefjojo and 3 other people added Focus to their libraries. Saturday afternoon
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