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Okidok, Focus
music is heavy stuff. A Focus song mostly lasts more than at least 7-8
minutes, never below, and a concert lasts aprox. 2 1/2 hours. And no, Jan
Akkerman is not with them anymore since the middle of the eighties. The
simple reason is, he didn't want to anymore. But founder of this gang in
1969, is another guy named Thijs van Leer. And that gentleman, aged 60,
is still sitting behind his keyboard very much alive. And he didn't forget
how to jodel.Oh yes, and there is another - almost original member in
Focus 2008, who is none other than drummer Pierre van der Linden,
meanhwile 62 years of age young. The rest of this lot consists of Niels
van der Steenhoven on guitar, and he truly is a so called
guitar-wonderkind. And last but not least the line up is completed by
bassist Bobby Jacobs. But heading back to the past for a quick one, this dutch artrock band has their biggest success in the middle of the seventies with hits like Sylvia, FocusI, Tommy, King Of House and the mega hit Hocus Pocus. In 1976 Akkerman left
the Band and Van
Leer carried one under the monicer of Focus. First in 1985 the couple got
back together for another album and played on one stage a few times. From
the early 90s onwards, it took another 10 years until Thijs van Leer
reformed the band in 2002.And with him, like mentioned before, - Pierre
van der Linden, who had joined Focus in first place on their second album
in 1971. The show starts strike 8.30
p.m. without supportact and lasts 'till 11.30 p.m. But Focus know exactly,
how to play a great show without any minute of boredom, but all those
greatest hits and some new stuff from last year's album 'Focus 9 new skin'.
(There's been another album in 2006 as well named 'Focus 8')
However, it is a fact, that
this here is a polished diamond, which has been hidden for too long in a
draw, and now trying to get back it's sparkle. We can only hope, that this
one will come back on the surface and pass on it's glitter to a younger
generation as well. Although I fear, that this difficult subject is not
understood by many youngsters. Because Focus is anything else but
definately not easy listening. A well known rhyme says: operation well
done, but patient is almost dead. What a shame, because this here is just
simply brilliant stuff. |
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