Artist Profiles: Focus

Focus is the best known and most influential of the Dutch progressive rock bands of the 1970s. Focus combines rock with classical music and jazz elements. They had three major hits with the yodeling song ‘Hocus Pocus’, ‘Sylvia’ and ‘House of the King’. Band leaders, keyboardist, and flutist Thijs van Leer and guitarist Jan Akkerman were two of the 1970s finest rock musicians in Western Europe.

The first line-up of the band featured Thijs van Leer, Jan Akkerman, bassist Martin Dresden and drummer Hans Cleuver. Their debut album was titled Focus Plays Focus (also known as In and Out of Focus) released in 1970.

The band went through several changes. By 1971, Focus featured Jan Akkerman, Thijs van Leer, bassist Cyril Havermans, and drummer Pierre van der Linden. That same year, they released Focus II (also known as Moving Waves), which brought the band their first hit in Europe and North America with the radio edit of ‘Hocus Pocus’.

The third recording, titled Focus 3, was a double album released in 1972. It featured a song called ‘Sylvia’ that became a hit in many countries. In late 1973, Focus released the album At the Rainbow.

In 1974, Pierre Van der Linden was replaced by former Stone the Crows drummer Colin Allen, before Focus recorded the Hamburger Concerto album.

The album Mother Focus came out in 1975. It featured yet another drummer, David Kemper. In February 1976, Jan Akkerman quit the band. Thijs van Leer recruited jazz fusion guitarist Philip Catherine for the tour. By the time of the BBC ‘In Concert’ recording in March 1976, Catherine had caught up.

Focus made one final album, ‘Focus Con Proby’ which featured the unexpected presence of 1960s pop star PJ Proby. Van Leer continued to pursue a successful solo career, while Catherine returned to jazz. David Kemper who had played drums on several of the Mother Focus tracks filled in on the tour and subsequently returned to session work. Bert Ruiter reappeared in his wife’s progressive rock band Earth and Fire.

In 2001 Thijs Van Leer re-formed the band and since then, Focus had additional changes in its line-up. The 2012 lineup included Thijs van Leer on Hammond organ, flute, and vocals; Menno Gootjes on guitar; Bobby Jacobs on bass; and Pierre van der Linden on drums.

In 2012, Focus released X, featuring cover art by Roger Dean (Yes). Largely instrumental, X (pronounced Ten) expanded on the band’s traditional base. Focus incorporated jazz, Middle Eastern and other influences.

Focus 12, released in 2024, was recorded at the Wisseloord Studios, in the band’s native country of the Netherlands. A first for Focus, the album features a completely improvised piece which was captured as it spontaneously took place in the studio, during the recording process.

The band in 2024 included Thijs van Leer on flute, organ, piano, synths; Menno Gootjes on guitars, piano, synths; Pierre van der Linden on drums; and Udo Pannekeet on bass, synth, and programming.

Discography:

Focus Plays Focus (Polydor, 1970) (reissued as In and Out of Focus)
Focus II (Polydor, 1971) (reissued as Moving Waves)
Focus 3 (Polydor, 1972)
Hamburger Concerto (Polydor, 1974)
Mother Focus (Polydor, 1975)
Ship of Memories (EMI, 1976)
Focus con Proby (EMI, 1978)
Focus: Jan Akkerman & Thijs van Leer (Vertigo, 1985)
Focus 8 (Musea, 2002)
Focus 9 / New Skin (Red Bullit Production, 2006)
Focus X (Eastworld Recordings, 2012)
Golden Oldies (2014)
Focus 8.5 / Beyond the Horizon (In and Out of Focus Records, 2016)
Focus XI (In and Out of Focus Records, 2019)
Focus 12 (Spirit of Unicorn Music, 2024)