Focus - Hocus Pocus (Live, 2021)

[@wjniemi]

Gotta give anyone who can still yodel after 50 years props for taking care of their voice.

[@rosscraig6859]

He's miming!! Guitar's excruciating in places. Sometimes you should just.......retire!!

[@iTRonTHS]

@@rosscraig6859 He was actually yodeling, moron. Yes the guitarist did do lead in places, but that doesn't mean the lead vocalist was miming. Why don't you make a KZbin video to show us how to do it if you think it's so easy?

[@mattgarratt5014]

@@iTRonTHS I saw him in 2018 on CTTE, MF can yodel like no one else! Great personality, hung out with us lowly passengers. Definitely a highlight.

[@Headwind-1]

@@iTRonTHS of course hi da man . . .

[@studa68]

That’s the exact reason I checked out the vid! Lol! Wanted to know if he still had it!

[@kaislivesoundchannel4706]

One of the craziest songs ever, that stood the test of time…. love it !

[@SanTM]

That drummer will always be incredible. Still amazing 50 years on, like everyone in the banc

[@melancholiac]

From memory ....Thijs Van Leer?

[@toilert]

@@melancholiac that's the singer ;)

[@melancholiac]

@@toilert Duh! Brain ain't what it used to be. 😢😢

[@thatfeeble-mindedboy]

I used to run my turntable down to 16 RPM and listen to those breaks at half speed, thinking I might be able to learn how to do what he’s doing… It just made it worse… The closer I looked, the more impossible it became … same thing happened when I was trying to figure out what Carl Palmer was doing on Karn Evil 9… it’s like fractals, or computer code for a recursive function…

[@melancholiac]

Fractal? Recursive? What a brilliant analogy! Not heard music described like that but it's spot on.

[@TWTexasA1]

This song was killer in the early 70’s and it still is….👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@davidtatum8682]

I love when they did the midnight special in like 73. Upped the tempo to fit in the time slot. And my man hit some inhumanly high notes. Those people got their faces melted off that night.

[@Psycho250785]

Yeah, it’s the version everyone knows best. ;)

[@song-explorer]

What a tragedy ... that the entertainment industry no longer has the guts to release music like this. Long live Focus!

[@biggusdickus1689]

Good thing musicians and audiences no longer need the industry to release and listen to great music anymore.

[@kreator1321]

It’s not the mainstream labels but there’s a ton of amazing prog bands out there

[@CockneyRebel1979]

Even back in the day, a number like this would've probably been considered peculiar.

[@song-explorer]

@@CockneyRebel1979 Yep. It was definitely peculiar and they weren't playing it on AM radio, but are you familiar with Paul McCartney's Uncle Albert Admiral Halsey? I am not sure it was on AM radio, but it was a HUGE hit and got a LOT of airplay.

[@ericbond5276]

@@kreator1321 I like Kayak

[@GTX1123]

A half a century later and still AMAZING. I was around 10 or 11 when this song got released in the U.S. It was one of those tunes that got a lot of airplay on top 40 and deservedly so. You just couldn't wait until your favorite radio station played it again even though they played it over and over. This song is one of many examples why the early 70's were the BEST era of top 40.

[@keithcarlson7267]

Pierre Van Der Linden!!! My freaking god!! He is like fine wine! Gets more awesome and awesome with age. He is a killer drummer!

[@rikuberndtson9246]

Yes, love his agressive but jazzy Playing!!🥰🥰🥰

[@chiguaguaverde]

Y fíjate en el detalle de la manera en que toma la baqueta en su mano izquierda.... es la toma tradicional, que también usó C Wats... Ya se ve poco esto en el rock!!!! Tuve el vinilo en LP, y hacia mas de 30 años que no escuchaba esto.

[@flstffatboy3910]

Oh yeah perfect flawless job

[@aloysiussnailchaser272]

@@chiguaguaverdeDoes it really matter how he holds the left hand drumstick? As far as I know it’s pure tradition from the days when drummers played on horseback. There’s no reason why it would make his playing any better or worse.

[@aschule5684]

Great to see him still with Thijs, He's a great drummer! Jan Akkerman is still active also I wonder why he's not with these guys??? I really hope it's not for a bad reason like "bad blood" with someone 😔

[@ManuelArmenta-qw1cu]

One of the most significant pieces of "Rock Art Songs" of all time, thank you brothers so very much, God Bless !!!

[@turbo7757]

Truth

[@knudvoecking]

I didn't even know the band still existed. Great to hear that classic played live.

[@Latexhandske]

They will always exist! Take Mr.van Gogh - he´s still around!

[@yunarukami14]

@@Latexhandske This killed me.

[@Latexhandske]

@@yunarukami14 I hope in a pleasent way.

[@yunarukami14]

@@Latexhandske Gave me pleasure

[@Polyphemus47]

@@yunarukami14 I'm dead now, too.

[@dave3657]

👍👍🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥❄️🌞🌜 All hope is not lost in this world if Focus is still playing. Made my day!

[@andrewmcgee1001]

When I was a young kid growing up in the '70s and this or Golden Earring's 'Radar Love' came on, I would get so excited. The Dutch know how to rock AND Prog! Thanks for posting!

[@jackwhite6030]

Been listening for 50 years to these guys......MERCY

[@timorean320]

How can you not love this song? It rocks has yodeling, a little Popeye scat, and is just a Classic!

[@gss2855]

Love this song. . ...

[@jimbosteen2935]

I fn do!!!!!!,probably the senseless song ever, I'd rather hear zappa i think, thats brilliantly annoying

[@paulhayward62]

Pre-Speed Metal with yodeling !

[@kooringagnd]

After all these years the band still smile when he yodels and sings scat.😄😄😄

[@michaelbolton2741]

"Popeye scat!" Love this! 😆

[@Zerbey]

So glad these guys are back touring again, they're still on my bucket list.

[@drphelps9017]

Saw thrm in '74. Outstanding concert. Opened for Santana. An hour into Santana's show, people were sleeping. Thys van Leer has written some of the most beautiful music I've heard

[@11calman]

Jan Ackerman, These guys were just brilliant in the old days, & this song is still just as good in 2023,, Well done keep up the good work

[@gerardcooney1810]

This song was a staple on Rock and Roll radio in the 70's.Back then Bands were Bands!

[@nocash669]

oh did bands suddenly disappear when boomers lost their souls or what?

[@Meansnare]

Bands are still bands, in-fact seeing as this generation has stood on the shoulders of giants and learned the masterpieces of your generation as their beginner practice songs, as well as being in my mid 30s and having first hand experience of performing in bands for over half my life, playing at professional levels that would dwarf most musicians from your generation back in the day. I can safely say that you have no idea what you are taking about.

[@greenbeej]

I’ve always loved this song. I was not expecting this - they are freakin amazing still

[@adamsmethurst798]

One of the best and most beautiful drum solos ever recorded is on the focus album moving waves. Pierre Van der linden executes the solo with such warmth and soul and sheer musical talent that it simply inspires.

[@Mascotal]

This song was important in the 70's. It's brings memories.

[@stephenmortimer1653]

Pierre Van Der Linden, what an awesome drummer, still got the chops. That song never gets old.

[@al81yoo]

Incredible

[@derhkist]

At that point in time he was 75-76 years old according to wikipedia. Simply incredible.

[@flapjackson6077]

Holy moly! Had no idea these guys are still kicking it! Great to hear!

[@ysfawolfpack]

I love this song since the first time I heard it back in the early 70's ! I still crank it up when ever it comes on the radio IMO it was one of the first Heavy Metal guitar shredding leads, I ever heard. and it still stands up to this day. A testament to this awesome bands incredible musicality. I 'm so happy this video showed up on my youtube

[@144Donn]

Boy this tune ..I recall hearing back in the 70's it was magical and still is!

[@TheSamsdad25]

I just don't get it

[@dennisyoung4631]

KMET, high school, kitchen table, PCB art work. 1977 - I think. (I was handicapped, so no drugs. Too dangerous for someone like me. I needed to have what little (social) smarts I had.)

[@danielpassigmailcom]

@@TheSamsdad25 Their live versions of this in the 70's were phenomenal

[@Lu-MingPan-b5w]

@@keithschneidly3922 Progressive Rock.

[@mtcruse]

One of the first songs to draw me into the incredible world of progressive rock. Loved seeing Focus on the Cruise to the Edge cruises!

[@johnregan8585]

What about that! Brings back some great memories. Glad they are still performing and still sound great.

[@roobs52]

Saw them a few times back in the 70s and they always were one of my favourite bands. Pierre always was a top drummer and he still is!

[@Hawkrvo]

Love the Hammond organ lead in. He is a legend!

[@marionodom9585]

Love a Hammond organ PERIOD!

[@johnroberts3723]

An absolute classic.

[@roymashburn1553]

I just saw them Sunday night in Ft. Lauderdale with Asia. Good Times

[@hassenfuttingah2744]

Good to hear and see them again, especially the original twosome, Thijs van Leer and Pierre van der Linden ( he still gets some chops)

[@petepalmer9281]

Having fun watching this for the first time and its cool

[@georgeshumate8174]

I listened to this on 8 track when I was a kid. Found it to be one of the most mind blowing experiences of my youth!! Still do actually!!

[@ArneSaknussemBackUp]

Ouvi essa banda, pela primeira vez, na década de 70. É emocionante reencontrá-la após longos anos. Eles continuam ótimos. Saudações do Brasil.

[@aoz823]

Such a classic hard rock tune…. Never gets old….

[@eugenesteenhuisen4065]

What an awesome band they were and still are. Amazing

[@francomartini4328]

I saw Focus at Edmonton Sundown in London on Jan 12, 1973. I remember sitting on the floor close to the stage until everybody got up and started dancing. I have lived about 1 km from there since 1998 but what had been a theatre/cinema, the Regal Theatre, since 1934, only lasted lasted about three years as a rock venue (1972-74) and since the '90s it has been split between a UCKG church and a Lidl supermarket.

[@lawrencejohanson5178]

I belonged to the Columbia Record Club in Canada and in 1973 they sent me Moving Waves,which was their first album.I used to crank this song at some of my parties along with Slade Alive.

[@FocusVideoArchive]

Moving Waves was their second album!

[@lawrencejohanson5178]

@@FocusVideoArchive Not according to Billboard.Moving Waves came out on Jan 1st of 1973.It peaked at No 8 on the Billboard charts.There is no record of any albums before January of 1973 unless they had an uncharted album.

[@Vinterfrid]

@@lawrencejohanson5178 What do you mean by "uncharted album"? An album is an album, whether it's on the charts or not. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Focus_discography

[@edmourgagnon1504]

Mental orgasm? I first heard this song in a private college some 50 years ago. I reacted the same way as i do know. I can't remember the teacher's name but i wish i could thank him for opening my mind a little. Where ever you are thank you. I wish i could go.back in time to know more about you! Oh... Thanks to the group as well!

[@DR-lc9qg]

Privileged to have seen Focus twice, in smallish venues, fantastic. I never thought I would ever get to see them live. So grateful they graced my part of the world with their magic. Keep rocking.

[@michaelrobshaw4345]

saw them in Coventry when I was a student in the early 70's-great band/musicians

[@oldshovelhead]

I remember when this song came out. 187 BPM - whoa!! Im over 60 now and still listen to this song a few times a week with coffee and a spliff before work. This song and John Mayall Room To Move make a great pair! Thanks for posting this 👍

[@lauriewhincup5635]

Awesome drumming yodeling and playing♥️🎶🥁 These guys have been around for so many years and Never forgotten. A+ RESPECT ♥️🎶🥁🎙🎶🎵🎼💞

[@thosoneill]

Looking forward to seeing them in Glasgow in April

[@dawnclaibourne2183]

Oh wow, I'm so grateful this showed up on my KZbin feed! I'm old enough to remember when this song came out, and it remains one of my all-time favorite songs. It's just too much fun! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

[@TheMetalus1]

This is soo very good! Love to see this Band still going strong and playing a great show!

[@angusmoffat]

50 years! Fantastic band. Wow!

[@glenminnick3724]

I had their album, moving waves in 1973 at age 19, still rocks !

[@outsider2222]

me too

[@dan71559]

Me too I wore this album out. So love this tune.

[@michaelwagner8859]

Me three...😊 Loved that album.

[@RobbyTheGlitch]

Been one of my all time favorite songs ever since I first heard it over 40 years ago. Seeing these musical talents still jamming it out makes this Dutch drummer a happy boy.

[@satirically-yours]

Love it or hate it ya gotta admit it was 1 of the most original songs ever 2 get on the radio then and now. Even within the realm of prog it was pretty unique.

[@AudiophileTubes]

Classic and influential! Growing up in NY and NJ, this song was a staple on NYC rock stations! Jan Akkerman was considered a 'guitar god' back in the day!

[@alexroberts9349]

It was a staple on Los Angeles FM ROCK stations as well.

[@ogrebattle22763]

Indeed in fact I was so into him I bought his solo album "Profile" & played it into the ground.... I was so lucky to find another copy in mint condition at some vinyl records store down at Bleecker street in NYC.... a few years back...

[@johnlattimer350]

Jan still is to us who are still playing. ;) I know of a bar in a small town in between Cleveland and Youngstown that still has the 45 on the juke box and it gets played a lot! ;D Best tour de force of yodeling prog I've ever heard!!!

[@AudiophileTubes]

@@johnlattimer350 Nice! I'm now living near Westlake. Where is this bar?

[@alexroberts9349]

@@johnlattimer350 I live in the SAN FERNANDO VALLEY suburb of LA and there is a bar where the Hells Angels hang out and the juke box contains the 45. It has been on the bars juke box rinse at least 1987.

[@tomaburque]

There are only a few songs I can remember hearing for the first time 50 years ago. This is one of them.

[@Patechno1]

J’avais 15 ans quand j’ai écouté Focus la première fois, aujourd’hui 67 ans toujours autant de plaisir à l’écouter… 😊

[@Thomas-nz8lr]

Me. too

[@richardmitchell8213]

The guitar and drum chops make this song incredible but when you throw in the yodeling, keyboards and cool ass flute part. Wow, still amazing after all these years.

[@josepaltarriba5436]

Un temazo. Todos los instrumentos y la voz están geniales 👍🎶🎤🎸🎧

[@glenchapman3899]

An interview I saw, all the band knew they had something special the first time the guitarist ran through that signature riff.

[@icemike874]

Don't forget the bass , he's a Beast

[@giraffewaggoner8119]

I was time traveling and jumped to a live performance with this band back in 72, the guitarist was cool, he had licks way ahead of popular music then. Wish i could go back, but i have to use the power for good now. Great to see we both made it from 72, maybe I'll be back again, good luck guys, and it was a great show again, 5 decades, so fresh in my mind, still have a vox vibro pedal from the show, sorry i needed it for something in another time.

[@kylefewkes2000]

Who the hell would dislike this?

[@billchessmen]

They still rock!!

[@benavich8]

I was lucky enough to see these guys in their prime, 1974 up in Michigan...Suzi Quattro was first, then Focus, then the headliner, Aerosmith. What a concert that was! I was 17 at the time. Tickets were about $7.00

[@alankalaf2743]

Actually, I was also at that show. What a great band.

[@benavich8]

@@alankalaf2743 Jan Akkerman - certainly one of the all time underrated guitarists!!

[@Real2ReelStudio]

Love it. I still share their works with my friends.

[@eddiperales]

La escuchaba cuando era un joven en un ford facón 1968 nunca creí que la volvería a ver es increíble......

[@scottallan6770]

What an amazing venue... AND show!!!

[@1961stardust]

Unbeleivable!!Great to see! Please tour in the US!

[@bradleymaclean4553]

Top 10 All-time Greatest Tracks......🙏

[@denniesdeutschmann3193]

These Gentlemen Still know how to Rock 👍... A masterpiece of music history

[@jeffroegner1499]

Lived in cologne for half a year in 2005, found a guy from Tennessee playing on the street and took lessons from him. Taught me this tune. 👍👍

[@lennybobbio35]

Saw them live in San Diego on June 30, 1973 at the Golden Hall. First row, section C seat One. Great concert. Back then Jan Akkerman was the guitarist. Thank You guys.

[@efrenmontes7763]

Wow...Still Awesome yes they are.. after all these years, they're still alive & kicking..More power to u guys, Focus. Keep on Yodeling & Rockin'.. God bless u all..

[@raulgailhac8585]

Genial, un clásico de mi juventud...que placer...!!!!

[@Awake2Evil]

What a talented group of guys man

[@MrMustard2U]

When I was a little Kid, I use to go to my friends house & we would attempt to do magic shows, & he would always play this 45 single & his old school record player, while doing the magic... awesome to hear this after all these Years... your never to Old to Rock...

[@maxt7564]

That's Rock n Roll. Wish I had thought of that when I was a kid.

[@dangerousd9187]

Cool when I was a kid I was skipping school & listening to this in the local pool hall which was a couple of blocks Away from my school

[@Alex-b4p3y]

This is great👍👏

[@marcelgommans2020]

I was lucky enough to be able to attend this concert. They were fantastic!

[@fredshepard1550]

Where is this place?

[@capebuatid]

was it suddenly rain ? damn feel sorry for that hammond

[@adriangoede7433]

DAMN! So incredible. That's sad though... they should be performing in front of a sold out crowd in a massive venue. That was ROCK at its finest. God Bless!

[@kurtgeib1106]

Beautiful, Makes me smile.

[@williamchristian8705]

Very happy to see them.

[@petermill3909]

They still have fire!! Wonderfull!!!

[@luizantoniovieira9894]

Cooles! I'm a huge fan for years!

[@Arturo-sm1tb]

A forgotten early influence and contribution to metal guitar with those memorable solos and chorus.

[@pappakilo3965]

Superb. Brings back memories of listening to Focus in the mid 1970s on Radio Luxembourg via an overdriven ancient 'tube' radio set. I could ignore sparking across the electrodes of the speaker drive device because spares from scrap TVs were free and easy to get

[@marcfedak]

Wow, I wish I was at this show! Thijs van Leer can still yodel very well 50 years later.

[@rogerturner5504]

Saw Focus 50 in York, England a couple of years ago and they were outstanding. The guitarist is brilliant. First saw Focus fifty years ago when Phillip Catherine was with them. Oustanding too as was Jan Akkerman.

[@Flintster56]

Still amazing after all these years!

[@Isacjacobmaleh]

Long live Focus!!!

[@rodgreen6021]

Man , this is going back always!! Haven't heard Focus since the seventies .Hocus Pocus was the first Rock record I ever bought . Yep Jan Akkerman , legendary guitarist for sure.

[@gordantomislav8055]

no Akkerman here

[@rodgreen6021]

@@gordantomislav8055 Noted

[@Rhythm911]

WOW Almost 50 years later and I get to see the newest version, 2 years later, from the boys.!!!! I first saw the original version, (which you can find on KZbin now), first on Radio, then about the same year, on one of the North American late night Rock shows in 1972/74. I bought the 45 rpm vinyl disc as soon as i found it. I never did find the album. And we thought they were a, Jethro Tull 'want-to-be' band on drugs!! But then I saw them on TV !! The energy level was enthralling and scary !!!

[@terryblank6424]

First comment in years...music doesn't die.. The world, meanwhile...

[@Ricwfunk10]

I saw a show in Limeira, Sao Paulo - Brazil with these guys. So strong, so full of musicality , so energizing that is impossible to forget. Long life to Focus

[@dan71559]

I freakin loved that tune when I was a kid!

[@noeldsouza412]

Happy birthday Thijs... Many happy returns of the day, born this day 31st March back in 1948...may you have many, many more birthdays...was lucky to see you perform live at our hotel in Dubai late 90's...you wrote me with your own hands your Dutch address which is my prized possession 😉 would love to see you live once again...do come and perform in India... Till then keep yodelling Thijs... God bless you and Focus🎶🎵☮️❤🇮🇳

[@bradforward850]

OMG! What an experience that had to be seeing them live now. I'm jealous.

[@AVSSharky]

Saw them in Winterland,San Francisco back in the 70’s. Boy were they fun! This song is definitely for someone driving in the fast lane!

[@roneichstaedt8853]

As much as I liked hearing it on the radio in the 70's, it's even better to see it. There's a clip on KZbin (Midnight Special I think) with a lot of close-ups of Thijs. To see his wild expressions it shows how much fun he was having. Not to mention watching Jan Ackerman shred. I do agree with many posters that it's a shame most only know this song. Personally, Sylvia has always been my favorite. It was true with many prog bands: the casual fan knows only a song or two, but the true fan knows the whole breadth of the band. Look at Yes-many fans think they started with Going For The One (although they'd probably recognize Roundabout) And I shed a tear for Genesis fans that only know the pop Invisible Touch era, and have never heard Supper's Ready or Carpet Crawlers.

[@mikaelellerberg9122]

Amazing! Brings back memories.

[@dasboot5903]

Dutch guys ,.... I am your fun, since I could hear you for the first time, a very long time ago in Polish Radio III, when I was living in the communist Poland that time !!!! It is nice to see and to hear from you after a while. :o) CONGRATULATION !!!! You are in great music condition in 2021, especially your drummer !!!! This time ... greetings from Canada to Holland !!!!! Stay tuned together forever !!!!!

[@albacore101]

Greetings from Oregon. 50 years. seems like yesterday. I'd be starting a mosh pit in the rain! thank you!

[@gregjames2684]

Glad for the overhead view of the stage , started thinking this was a film shown at a theater , , This is awesome seeing these guys around after 50+ years , , I do remember when Focus first came out with Hocus Pokus , that was awesome for myself back then , , ,

[@timbotaff]

Looking forward to seeing them in Norwich in November - will be third time, first was in the late 70’s! Superb!

[@Wazoo60]

Thought they were brilliant at Epic Studios 👍🏻

[@timbotaff]

What a great gig! Such talent both old and new!

[@Johnny35130]

Guitar work was way ahead of their time in '73.

[@persjogren-gulve8563]

@ Roberto and positive others: I fully agree! Focus had pivotal influence on my and my co-musicians' evolution in the 1970s. In Sweden, we miss Björn J:son Lindh [dead 2013; who's played, for example, with Janne Schaffer and Chess' (Ulvaeus & Andersson) One night in Bangkok]. So happy to see Thijs live and thriving!

[@Greywolf12010]

FRIGGIN LOVE THIS 🤘🍻 Keep kicking ass guys!!