Focus was a Dutch progressive rock band of the 1970s. It was founded by classically trained organist/flautist Thijs van Leer in 1969 and leaned heavily on two of the Netherlands' contemporary music's heavyweights, Thijs van Leer and Jan Akkerman.

Guitarist Jan Akkerman joined the band in 1970. In 1971 the group released their second album, Moving Waves, which received international acclaim.

The band's biggest international hits were the guitar-based instrumentals "Sylvia" and "Hocus Pocus" (The title may have been a deliberate joke on DJs: "That was Hocus Pocus by Focus"). The latter also featured some eccentric vocalisations and yodeling.

The musical egos of Van Leer and Akkerman proved incompatible. In 1976 Jan Akkerman left the band, which finally dissolved in 1978.

In 1985 Van Leer and Akkerman reunited for an unsuccessful Focus album.

In 2001 Thijs van Leer re-formed Focus with Jan Dumée (guitar), Bobby Jacobs (bass) and Bert Smaak (drums) and recorded a new album called Focus 8.

In October 2004 Pierre van der Linden took over on drums. Van der Linden had been the drummer during the band's most successful period during the early 1970's.

Hits

• Hocus Pocus
• Sylvia

External links

• Official Focus Website