Focus - Hocus Pocus

Hocus Pocus (1973)

[@devitorules]

I love the idea of him coming to band practice and saying, "Guys, here's what i have in mind for the vocals"

[@neilwallace9068]

hahahaha and the rest of the guys including management thinking...."in the name of everything holy....what the F***!!!!" hilarious!

[@ernestogasulla7763]

I doubt Thijs explained much... just "take it down and I'll do my shit"

[@JackssonClark]

Looking through comments and see Joe DeVito. Never thought it was possible to recognize someone in the KZbin comments section.

[@leechongdingdong2000]

Joe DeVito in an interview they said it started with Akkerman playing a random guitar riff that everybody liked, then they moved on to adding the drums and then he started yodeling!

[@mikecimerian6913]

They are Dutch, lyrics are a challenge if you wish to go international.

[@nathanfowler6883]

I went ahead and liked everyones comment so you could get a notification to come back and watch it again... definitely worth the rewatch 🫡👍

[@DarthSinistris]

a true hero

[@07929858]

I’ve listened to this song for decades and never even imagined a video like this!!!

[@nebulosity7266]

It's 2023 and I never knew about focus in all my 27 years of living BUT IM SO HAPPY TO HAVE LEARNED IT NOW!!!

[@WeWillAlwaysHaveVALIS]

Congratulations 👏🎉! They are both criminally underrated, exemplary musicians and not to mention absolute titans of composition. You are going to be in for a very enjoyable time with them!

[@rayscutt7489]

I'm 49 and I'm just learning about them. I LOVE IT!!!!

[@psychochicken9535]

"You gotta play your 7 minute song in 4.5 minutes. You gotta cut something out." "No we don't, we just play faster."

[@absurddive]

if you can play it slowly you can play it quickly :D :D :D

[@bart5625]

@@absurddive or so cocaine would have us believe

[@shady1630]

This is way better than the original 7 minute haha

[@jacobcousins4234]

@@shady1630 i am debating whether i can afford the time to learn this version

[@lost45cross]

No they cut a few line of nose candy before playing.

[@jangotack]

Me: "This can't get any crazier!" *dude busts out the flute*

[@jean-lucpicard5510]

This dude is the shit.

[@Bram25]

That's Jan Akkerman, the leader of the band :D

[@alexanderohman1707]

Camera doesn't show it but I'm sure he pulls that float right out of his ass completely spontaneous.

[@stargazer555]

@@Bram25 Akkerman is the dude on the guitar, the singer's name is Thijs van Leer.

[@aryanson]

@@alexanderohman1707 Flute is laying on top of the keyboard

[@bmack2938]

Standing ovation is right. That was awesome.

[@idigbeaches]

I saw this band in 73 at a speedway outside Nashville, Tn. Strange song indeed but a rocker none the less.

[@khtnsuwdih]

Yodelling prog troll operatic speed metal... with psychoflute. And a whistling solo. That's my kind of wedding band.

[@hermanhelmich]

Ritchie Bear 😂😂😂😂🙌🏻

[@carlosarellano4883]

You summed up that perfectly nice

[@rientsdijkstra4266]

LOL!

[@XuliusCaesar]

You win all of the internet.

[@Jojo-uc9or]

Troll?

[@euronymousiv]

"musically they are one of the most together groups" *Crazed leprechaun noises ensue*

[@firepuppies4086]

Together and exciting. You gotta be together to sputter what seems like gibberish and make it sound this good

[@WhIte0NErd]

Fucking gold!

[@Martian74]

And angry flute playing is thrust apon us.

[@ericcook5224]

Comment of the year!!!!😂

[@killyourtelevision]

THisis the performance that inspired pink floyd to record "Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict"

[@zengalileo]

At a time when nobody ever played for real on tv, these guys did. Much respect.

[@metalmacabre9991]

They played for real on TV more back then, then they ever did. Nobody has played live on TVA since the 70s.

[@n1troni]

@@metalmacabre9991 how come?

[@cameronreed1021]

This song is more about cocaine than Eric Clapton's song Cocaine

[@123viveleheavy9]

J.J. Cale (r.i.p) Cocaine

[@silvobrecelj7208]

@@123viveleheavy9 r.i.p j.j. cale, one of the best. after midnight

[@briane173]

This song IS cocaine.

[@ginareddish2730]

😂😂😂😂

[@DannyGast]

I like how Jan Akkerman immediately begins packin' up as soon as the show is over. Crowd goes nuts and he's just worrying about his cables.

[@drowsynectar6173]

Haha I didn't even notice that. He was probably running on pure adrenaline from playing like that.

[@davidhasselhoff3090]

If you notice on other vids he does the same thing lol

[@meneerlagerwaard2047]

It's just professional courtesy for whoever is backstage waiting to get built up! These are all minutes sucked away from playing time and usually the reason gigs go over time or start late so often. A bass player I jammed with always said "go about a gig like you would go about robbing a bank. Get in, do your thing, and get out as quick as you can." As a matter of fact we will usually take some time rehearsing building up and disassembling drum kits and guitar amps together, so we'd be able to help each other out and have your time on stage go smooth and quick. Those 5 minutes you just took waving to the crowd like a doofus could have been spent making music!

[@w7100]

dammit he's got to be some where 5 minutes ago

[@bebeezra]

1973 clearly produced some of the finest nose candy ever snorted.

[@1kevinjay]

1971

[@bebeezra]

@@1kevinjay In the video description above it says: *_(Hocus Pocus 1973)_*

[@nicknamesarepointless5770]

And some gud tongue candy

[@delasoulsanxhes6432]

White Christmas

[@wadson990]

Woww... sweep picking in 1973 ( 0:33 )

[@newyorknick5852]

The song is 7 minutes or so. They were told to shorten it to fit their allotted time. They refused and just played the song at double speed. Awesome!

[@ShamrockParticle]

And I thought people were joking about the energetic pace. 🤯 most awesome indeed!

[@davidmoncholi6746]

That is a genius

[@HB45175]

Haha I thought you were joking at first but now I found the longer original. That's talent to just be able to speedrun one's song.

[@pocoapoco2]

That kind of makes the lead yodeler's expressions make sense and be even more epic.

[@nachbarnachbarsens7433]

and I always wondered about this curious "extended version" which sounded so lame after I first listened to this one.. (around a 1000 times)

[@joegongora2200]

This song came out when I was in High School, "Who's still listening to this song in July 18, 2021" ? I'm 65 Yrs old and perhaps will still be listening while I'm still standing. This is the 1st I've seen a live video of this band. Guys if you are still around and performing out there, Keep Rockin !!!

[@lucasd.garces435]

They are great 😁👍

[@MrWhoevr]

Rock used to have flute playing, yodeling and more cow bell back in the day.

[@rippspeck]

Yodeling and flutes weren't in every song, tho. Not even cowbells were, sadly.

[@kaydgaming]

I still think it needs more cowbell

[@italozanoti7180]

@@kaydgaming what is the thing with the cowbell? Idk the meme

[@hughsizzle]

@@italozanoti7180 kzbin.info/www/bejne/mYfWgn-ioJKHZtU

[@italozanoti7180]

@@hughsizzle tnks bro

[@phitownhustler4802]

Aside from the craziness...the singer has incredible range and the guitarist is way before his time as a shredder....I have loved this stuff since it came out but never saw the band live...GREAT STUFF

[@grahammaguire404]

Magnificent from start to .....I don't want it to ever "FINISH".

[@SteelyEyedMissileDan]

I’d say he was pretty on par with his time in terms of shredding. Blackmore, Zappa, Iommi, and Page did similar stuff before him.

[@michaelr8651]

Almost a hetfield vibe to the guitar.

[@raze7x]

The song is crazy as hell but the whole band got great talent!

[@daverowe4566]

Alan Holdsworth was in soft machine around the same time

[@johnaverick7468]

A nutty as this singer is you gotta give him props for his incredible voice range. He could go seamlessly high and then super low. Not easy !

[@trevortnidesserped3299]

Everything he said really connected with me on a personal level. Lyrically very superb. This man should be a poet.

[@kchandaman3012]

That yodeler/whistler... holy crap. What a range.

[@sandmanscruffy7701]

i like to call it yodlescating

[@Laeela_]

It's actually called "hard-jodel" xD

[@dwinosishadowsteel8536]

+sandman scruffy Yeah man! That's what I've called it too, didn't know someone else thought of that.

[@stevecraig6076]

That's Thijs van Leer.

[@ShitizenGayne]

Focus did a little Cocus before they played this rendition of Hocus Pocus.

[@jameslorman33]

I laughed out loud when I read this....holy cow.... Too funny

[@Jeffrey.Seelman]

Now that's funny. I have been to Holland many times in Dutch bands can be very interesting

[@AndresFigari]

probly took a couple tokus

[@aryanson]

A LITTLE ???

[@ozzy7109]

😂

[@jmcc7464]

I have been disconnected from all things internet for around 4 weeks now. First video i have watched today and the silliness has NEVER felt so AWWWWWEEEEEEEEEESOME!

[@stephenvanasten8046]

Just LOVE this song! One of my all time favourites! Musicianship second to none.

[@specimenlarry6068]

When you have 4 minutes to play a 7 minute song lol

[@McDoinky]

Literally

[@freekingawwsome]

Thank you that's FreeKing Awwsome Funnny. God Bless You

[@concatinate]

AKA: the tentative birth of speed metal.

[@KeyofDavid5778]

Well that is hilarious! I did think they kept playing faster Especially at the end of the song!!!

[@crashman27]

I wish they had recorded at this tempo for the album

[@chrisbel15]

It's amazing how perfect this yodel is, and he does live, with no pitch correction! That's some musician here!

[@craighoward3934]

Agreed ! You,ll never see a band like this again !

[@amandabernsen9174]

Yah, it used to be that musicians made music -- all by themselves!

[@lukagovorcin3610]

FOR SHURE YOU HAVE WRIGHT! THIS IS CRAZY FANTASTIC!! MY GOD,THAT WAS YEAR 1973!!! WHAT TO SAY,ONLY FANTASTIC BAND,AND PERSONS ALL TOGETHER,THEY MAKE IT,WITH SPECIAL WHISTLE,OF THE MAIN CRAZY MAN FROM THE BAND!! SIMPLY FANTASTIC!!!!

[@thespeckler1]

You had to be able to play in those days...Digital has fucked up music.

[@sb_dunk]

I have a strong feeling they're not playing live

[@elwhastrummer]

I am amazed by the sweeping arpeggios the guitarist is ripping out. Remember, this is the early 70's. Some might think that was a bit sloppy, but I would challenge ANY guitar player to cover that. And I'm sure some could....but not many. I'd like to hear Joe Bonamassa play it.

[@maninthecrowd5076]

The guitarist, I always forget his name, has often been revered as the forerunner of all the modern technical progressive metal guitarists. If I remember correctly, even Brian May of Queen named him as one of his influences. His later shows when he grew old and the techniques matured with him has absolutely masterful guitar playing that's tasteful and heavily technical.

[@DuxJerome]

@@maninthecrowd5076 Its Jan Akkerman

[@maninthecrowd5076]

@@DuxJerome yes, searched him up. He's also a great classical player and lute player. If there was a battle of the greats, the only people who will be able to face him are probably Al Di Meola and Chet Atkins/Tommy Immanuel. Jan Akkerman is a wizard beyond comprehension.

[@karilamervo5343]

@@maninthecrowd5076 Jan Akkerman was in top of his game during this performance. A true legend of progressive rock guitar...and from Holland like one Eddie Van Halen.

[@1sharingbeinglove756]

The sweep blew me away too!!

[@kungfuskull]

Just seeing how much FUN he is having making those sounds is joyful. 🤣🤘

[@azaramoon4027]

I loved this when I was 15, still do at 61.

[@kingt.hawkings32]

Azara Moon I loved it too man, im 59 and still rocking!

[@luciohermans7613]

I'm 17 and this is as good as it gets

[@lennonmccartney2164]

Azara Moon me too, No I'm 60

[@pdd60absorbed12]

Same here....62 in January 2019. Wow! thought getting old happened to other people.

[@marie-evepaquet7495]

Im 41 and my musical preferences are the eighties punk and new wave. But that stuff is simply... amazing!

[@FoxPopvli]

"Our song is almost 7 minutes long" "4 minutes or bye bye" "Fiiiiine!" *and they play it at 250bpm*

[@feralcyborggaming1531]

How am I the second person to like this comment? It speaks such profound truths.

[@anthonybranch4712]

I thought it was an exaggeration, but it really IS 250 bpm, isn't it??

[@AidenMacIver]

@@anthonybranch4712 Nearest whole I counted was 257 BPM 😮

[@factenter6787]

Play it at 2x speed😜😂😅🤣

[@grunthostheflatulent9649]

The guitarist has such a clean technique. Amazing...

[@qwal1984]

His name is Jan Akkerman. In 1973 he was voted Best Guitarist in the World by readers of the UK magazine Melody Maker. As a session musician, he's been working with Alan Price, Herman Brood, Peter Banks, Jack Bruce, Charlie Byrd, Phil Collins, Paco de Lucía, Ice-T, and B.B. King.

[@ArfstWa]

Ganz großes Kino. Und die Mukke von Jan Akkerman liebe ich bis heute!

[@markdominic296]

Man about whistled that front tooth straight out of his head!

[@scottyjonas7592]

Mark Dominic HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[@lordnimrond]

Ha ha haaaaa! YES! I was actually worried for a second, when he revealed that disturbingly-offset piece of chicklet...

[@foxmulder3748]

I havent laughed so hard in a long time.

[@abelincoln3287]

Funniest comment I've ever read. You put in words, what we were all thinking

[@michellesmith7323]

Fox mulder I needed that laugh.

[@keithcamardelle739]

I doubt that many would agree with me, but i truly think this is one of the best live performances by any band ever! Not even kidding! Despite the obviously silly, whimsical nature of the song, the musicianship is incredible!

[@grannywalter]

I agree, every band member is a master of his craft. Incredible performance indeed!

[@keithcamardelle739]

@Woody Last Name Yep! You never know sometimes!

[@moreapropos]

The guitarist was shredding on this one; really impressive.

[@petersmith1163]

Very Original...Great musicians...Eight miles High...😀

[@iarwainolorin5678]

I agree iron maiden are the best in the universe, that' s all ; but it' s very good sound

[@Shimmy8]

This is a wild adventure of a song, and there’s no words.

[@jjl2844]

there's actually a really deep and touching message within the lyrics of this song. You just need to smoke/do what these guys did in order to understand 💀

[@thetimahawk1]

One of the most underrated and underappreciated bands of all time !

[@bartonpercival2147]

Yup!!!!!!!!!!!! Along with other bands like Cheap Trick

[@philipcounsell4709]

No they wasn't, they enjoyed great success

[@WeWillAlwaysHaveVALIS]

​@@philipcounsell4709in the modern age they are very much under appreciated.

[@scorpiosheepwest1316]

Oh God, how good is this stuff??? Revisiting in 2021, aged 67 and I love it as much as I did waaaaaay back then. Pierre Van der Linden is a master of the drums.

[@givdb5513]

Yes my father(hippie) born in 1956 told me exactly the same he said Focus was the top band of the 70s

[@leowalding]

I am only 66 and I too, love this.

[@charlesgoede2809]

@@leowalding hey, 65 here and I still remember hearing this on FM radio all the time in Southern California. I was into everything from CCR to Gentle Giant but this version made my night. You just don't find much that is on this level anymore. Imagination, raw and real.

[@UseYourNikesBro]

That guitarist is WAY ahead of his time, holy shit

[@jonathanking8800]

Jan Akkerman was doing shit Eddie Van Halen "invented" 10 years before EVH invented it lmao.

[@brucefranklin6295]

He was voted best guitarist in music, one of the years in early 70's.He is an amazing talent at least 10 years ahead of his time. Those solos are all improvised.Never plays the same twice.

[@davidneff5055]

Y’all better put some RESPEKT on Terry Kath.

[@Guitarraeficaztutorialesytabs]

Check Soft Machine with Allan Holdsworth. Jan Akkerman also has a great solo album

[@UseYourNikesBro]

Facundo Cuevas Guitar oh Allan Holdsworth is my guitar god. Him with Soft Machine was AMAZING

[@arturslunga3415]

When his face starts twitchin', that's when you know it's gonna be bitchin'.

[@LesEmanglonsTheatre]

J'ai découvert ce groupe atypique en achetant un vinyle 33 t le 27 décembre 1973 et je n'arrêtais pas de l'écouter en boucle. Ce sont de grands musiciens comme il en existait tant dans ces années-là.

[@Jackdelroy1]

It's a crime that this band didn't get in the hall of fame. True talent.

[@leomessi7058]

Have you listened to their new album? It has some great songs.

[@paulbrown1585]

Are you nuts ????

[@btdpro752]

Screw talent. Do you have any idea how much practice it takes to become a professional musician.

[@TMPreRaff]

You've got to be kidding.

[@terrygraham9977]

Grand Funk Rail Road and others!

[@jimchristopherson]

Producer: We can’t let you play Hocus Pocus. You only get 4 minutes 30 seconds. Focus: Hold my coke.

[@robertsimmons6098]

Music was the best in the 60s and 70s. What happened to ROCK &ROLL. it's all manure now. Country rock ? Rap music ? Rap isn't music, some beat machine. Rock and even MOTOWN.

[@capaya8139]

@@robertsimmons6098 Rap is music, the reason rock and metal arent on the scene anymore is because it stopped evolving; while you can hear a clear progression in rap as it moves through the 80s to even now

[@jamiepowell3795]

Hocus Pocus was played 30% faster than Focus normally played it!

[@O3IWAN]

​@@robertsimmons6098 "Music was the best in the 60s and 70s. What happened to ROCK &ROLL" well ...TOOL happened.

[@TheFamousMockingbird]

@@robertsimmons6098 rap is absolutely music. Do you think all these sounds just appeared together at once spontaneously? kzbin.info/www/bejne/fKOolZWBrM6peas

[@AMikeOnLine]

Simply awesome. I wish I could go back in time.

[@vincentbearinger2242]

I can never get sick of that song every one of them guys are going balls to the wall great job

[@alexfielden9743]

this is, hands down, my favourite ever youtube clip. A bunch of lads having a laugh, at themselves, at progrock, but doing it with really outrageous talent. From a guitar player's point of view, Akkerman is off the scale here, its not just the technique and speed, its the ridiculous, outrageous jazz licks - one after another. Mindblowing.

[@keenanbartlome8153]

Self aware prog is the best kind of prog.

[@lesleylesley5821]

I'm amazed at how fast he is, it really stands out.

[@awkward_tendencies]

Love how they’re just standing around all chill while playing 95 miles per hour

[@ripplegaming7393]

Ikr xD

[@leannezobole2997]

Drugs🤪✌🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😅😅

[@Drchainsaw77]

@@leannezobole2997 Musicianship!

[@Andrizzless]

Lmfaaaoooo

[@dawnbilyeu4050]

I'm thinking that if you're playing at that speed, ALL you can do is stand there while you're trying to keep it together, man!

[@Marv_0815]

Hoooooly shhhhhiiii*****!!!!!! What a performance!!!!!! 😳👍🥰

[@Marv_0815]

Live performance of the century!!!! 👍👍👍👍👍

[@mzmadmike]

"We're getting paid time-and-a-half for this gig?" "No, you're playing at time-and-a-half." "Got it."

[@jmcc7464]

Lol love it!

[@godlidabju2454]

Don't let the ridiculous (and impressive) vocal distract you from the fact that guitar player is the goddamn truth.

[@catarroja3]

& don't even let the ridiculous comments distract u from the song

[@namaste91]

Jan Akkerman,the friesian beast.

[@michaelciccaglione3921]

Absolutely

[@sargerobo5792]

Jan Akkerman, one of the original shredmasters

[@xpinchx]

It's true considering how much drugs they're on they play incredibly tight and they're all super talented. The guitar and drums are on another dimension in more than one way ;D

[@jackburton840]

This is the only group Mike Patton's parents would let him listen to growing up

[@jamesspencer9836]

Lol.... How many people would even get this comment.... Well done

[@themainmanify]

listened to this song many times over the years,finaly thought about fantomas/mike pattons correlation with this....yep..hit the nail on the head jack burton!!

[@themainmanify]

@@jamesspencer9836 i did..CHEERS...yes great comment

[@jesustralfaz2804]

good one! gave me a good chuckle

[@thegreatwebstar]

MP, lol I called his mom,,, we had a nice chat... she said it was a staple in every vinyl crate west of the Mississippi👍

[@DarthShayanTool.]

Prod: do it half time Focus: challenge accepted Heavy metal is born!

[@Heideggerr1]

The Band is playing like their Tour Bus is double parked.

[@JoakimKanon]

Heideggerr1 😂😂😂 Nice one.

[@ekcoylejr]

Heideggerr1 ...and on fire.

[@yogertslinger84]

They gotta get back to finish that mountain of coke they've been working on all day

[@rh-paving4642]

Lol

[@Sinovis]

That might have been the funniest thing I've read all week 😂😂😂

[@gearsofwar3xXx]

They asked the singer, "Are you tenor, baritone, bass or basso profundo?" He replied, "Yes."

[@sibyl999]

and soprano!

[@pit2ryan3]

@@sibyl999 - I guess you mean countertenor...

[@pit2ryan3]

gearsofwar - Not all the vocal part is live here, though...

[@hansolo2121]

@@pit2ryan3 Everything about this performance is 100% live. This is not a show from nowadays where cheap dance moves, instagram and 'sexy looks' are more important than actual talent. This is rock from the early seventies. Back then musicians actually had to perform live on stage. Can you imagine...

[@pit2ryan3]

@@hansolo2121 - Though at 2:19 the vocal part seems enhanced somehow...

[@robertozakinja4291]

Fenomenalna rokačina. Vokal fantastičan, pa još i flauta, pa zviždanje. Ma sve super.

[@donstillwaugh2864]

Back in the day..mid-1970's....high school soccer team...we would crank this tune on the bus before the game to give us an adrenaline rush....boosted our spirits as we rushed onto the pitch....

[@alfredolampert1317]

Legalize that, whatever it is!

[@THEmaggspie]

lol we'd advance 50 years of tech overnight if it were lol

[@user-qg5bl2kt7u]

I don't think scientists would use it any more than they already do, but family reunions would surely become way more interesting

[@drivinsouth651]

@@THEmaggspie How do you think we got this technologically advanced? LSD, coke, and methamphetamines.

[@THEmaggspie]

@@drivinsouth651 lmao.....you might be on to something there lol

[@the9-2-5outlawdoestech9]

The dutch are light years ahead of drug legalization.

[@jamiepastman5594]

laugh all you want, this is an unbelievably great band. top shelf musicianship

[@jamespaultaylor8525]

I was only one year old when this came out and the first time I heard this was last fucking night and just from hearing this one song I would have to wholeheartedly agree with you Sir! I bought their Greatest Hits CD on Amazon immediately following my first ever helping of this delicious song! And YES...I am one of those people who STILL buys CD's. And YES...I know that Greatest Hits albums are usually not the best albums to start with if you're looking to get a true feel for a band's sound having never heard the band before...but like I said ...didn't know they existed 24 hours ago so I didn't know where else to start but with their Greatest Hits or Best Of or whatever the album I bought last night is called...idk...I'm high on Methamphetamine at the moment lol

[@WillemJanWollants]

I am laughing, but I also agree:)

[@barneyrubble4827]

Not laughing, cranking it up!!!

[@scottshawnderocks705]

Absolutely brilliant lyrics, music and theatrics.

[@Tranarpnorra]

Thijs Van Leer is so close to crazy that it's scary but he pulls it off so well that I can't but admire the guy. He is Focus, the other members do their part but Thijs is the engine. I'm so glad I discovered Focus some 35+ years ago and regret that I've never seen them live.

[@gfdggdfgdgf]

Still a chance, pre covid Thijs van leer was still touring.

[@adamchaifetz5876]

I'll give Thijs Van Leer a 10/10 for the facial gymnastics-Vintage Rock is the best, I was there.

[@theoldtank470]

That guitarist was shredding like there's no tomorrow ...... remember listening on the radio in the 70s

[@darreljohnson3644]

Look up Russian Spy and I by the Hunters. He was in that band too and does a bang up job!!!!!

[@danielg335]

The name is Jan Akkerman.

[@darreljohnson3644]

@@danielg335 Yep.Thanks

[@retohofmann5878]

1973 wurde Akkerman von der britischen Zeitschrift Melody Maker zum weltbesten Gitarristen gewählt....or....in 1973 Jan was voted by Melody Maker "Best guitar player of the world!)

[@hanstubben]

Jan Akkerman one of the greatest ever!

[@lautaromontoya3993]

Snorlax is blocking the way* Speedrunners: 3:01

[@luigymerlet7291]

I get it ^^ fucking good

[@ClaptonsWig]

Lol yes

[@ZombieNationLTD]

Lautaro Montoya that’s amazingly funny

[@intraterrestrial5035]

Hahaha

[@manfromnantucket9544]

A Pokemon reference in a 70s acid rock video. Amazing.

[@GregJonson]

Why aren't we as rock community giving more appreciation to Jan Ackerman? He's a jewel!

[@robertszymanski717]

In the mid 1970's.....my neighbor across the street met a badass guitarist Chuck Flanagan and he showed me how to play guitar.... this is one of my favorites ❤!!!

[@rolanddedie5700]

OMG! This is what you get in the seventies when putting the best Dutch musician and composer (Thijs van Leer) together in a band with the worlds best guitar player (Jan Akkerman). True magicians!

[@chuckm4540]

Jan can Jam.

[@michaelstevenson470]

" the worlds best guitar player". Yawn. As rational and objective people are aware, this potential contenders for this title number at least two dozen

[@rolanddedie5700]

@@michaelstevenson470 not by me (would be Jimmi Page), but by some magazine in 1973

[@pho2]

Don't see many pub bands covering this number.

[@Mrtapp5357]

pho2 somewhere in Vegas

[@lendrury2771]

pho2 lol who the hell could possibly cover this guy

[@Mr.Classic91]

Well you gotta be able to piss pure lightning first

[@lendrury2771]

Mr. Tuba the band is great and the wildman rocks

[@paulduncan4146]

pho2 watch for Boston based ban Space Junk is Forever covering this, minus the flute bit, and, tbf, the whistling.. Ace.

[@marioluiztrombim2204]

Adoro o focus banda holandesa já tive 2 discos na década de 70 hocus pocus e hambúrguer banda muito louca👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@thomasjeanjr.2966]

A long lost rock classic! I was about 13 when released, have never forgotten it!

[@adruery]

That guitar tone is f-ing amazing.

[@SaintFranssoix]

and moreover he fuckin kills it

[@419rule]

And those of us sitting around the TV watching this live as it happened turned to each other when it was over and said in one great voice: WTF did we just see??? We'd heard it on the radio before this, of course, but this performance is still seared in to my brain some 40-odd years later.

[@coolmesser]

dude, thats one of the greatest things I have ever seen and I didnt know it existed until just now. of course I am high as a kite too but it's still awfully cool.

[@EmoEmu]

If anyone wonders why Generation-X turned out a bit weird then realize that these are our parents.

[@McOuchies]

Today's artists couldn't comprehend such performance and skill. Focus was divine!

[@MasthaX]

They still play live mostly in the Netherlands, seen them a few years back killer show.

[@jamesmartin9401]

My understanding is that for the Midnight Special here, they were asked, as many groups were at the time, to cut down the song. It's actually about 6 minutes long if I remember someone saying. So instead of clipping it, they ripped it at 125% throttle. That is psychotically, epically awesome.

[@benwhiting4013]

And the original was fast enough...RESPECT!!!

[@koettfaers]

Actually many bands play their songs faster live, very common amongst rock band, atleast to my own experience. With that said, this was really good, very entertaining, and pure fun to see and hear :) Never heard this song before!

[@jonasthemovie]

How would the yodeling sound at that speed?

[@chimptor50]

It's like high energy thrash polka/free form jazz/metal/thrashcore!!! And kicking it live and at double speed!!! Just plain off the hook!!

[@isettajohn]

Always come back to watch this again. Saw them do this Live Early 70's at the Capitor Theatre Passaic, NJ.

[@kimnielsenthewordyvikingett159]

I don't remember that version but I still liked it bravo guys bravo bravo 👏 bravo you're unbelievable musicians. Fantastic job 👏 👍 👌

[@starlitblond]

Whoa.. I still have this album. My friends thought I was nuts, they clearly didn't appreciate it. Awe, the good ol' days.

[@flowerdalejewel]

The whole album was amazing!

[@starlitblond]

@@flowerdalejewel Isn't it!

[@scottanderson5533]

Yeah the songs are so nice and I have this album to and I love those old school songs a lot

[@Ghostofenzo]

As goofy as this song may be it 100% takes real talent to Play something like this!

[@garyfinch8267]

and so much better than bohemian rhapsody

[@jonathanking8800]

@easy rider Kerry King can't play arpeggios, nor can be play that fast lmao

[@Nefariousbig]

drummer is popping the fuck off

[@SonofCali999]

It's not goofy though maen. Rock on!!🤟🏾

[@v1__sherpa114]

Kerry king is a shite guitarist hahahaha

[@mewsicsmary]

Hey Simon Cowell (and others who dont judge but dont sing or play)...dont ever say again that a Flute or whistling can't be freaking awesome!! Akkerman and Van Leer and band were excellent musicians. This was originally a jam session and became one of the biggest songs on the 70s and still beloved today. It makes me soo happy. 😃😂❤

[@Lawofimprobability]

Simon Cowell's advice often came from the business side of music, not the artistic side. Art is great but the artist still has to eat and good business advice is good help. Just don't confuse the business side with brilliance.

[@PokemonGeezer]

Greatest song of all time? Yes.

[@tmeiskin6449]

The drummer is amazing!

[@joshuayettou3552]

Yes!

[@Howesenberg]

I am sat, slack jawed in awe of the amount of passion and talent I am witnessing

[@johnwesolowski7393]

I remember watching this when I was 14. I had heard the song on the radio, a bit confused. When I saw it on TV, I was amazed.

[@maurazerbini9268]

le loro canzoni sono splendide.senza tempo.ascoltarli a sedici anni e cinquanta anni dopo,sembra che mezzo secolo non sia neanche passato.

[@gaminawulfsdottir3253]

Jan Akkerman is one of the most underappreciated guitarists ever recorded.

[@lesleylesley5821]

Amazing.

[@LoneWolf-yp2mo]

I F**KIN' LOVE these guys !! The singer looks like he just might EXPLODE at any given second !! LOL !! And at the end ... THE CROWD GOES WILD !!

[@theoos1957]

I saw them perform in the Netherlands around '72 '73. Jan Akkerman did his incredible guitar playing, but it didn't go the way he wanted. He loosened his guitar strap, his guitar fell on the stage and he walked off the stage annoyed. The band played on and after a minute Akkerman came back and played his solo like ever before!

[@arthurkornblum9771]

Incredible musicianship!!! In a league all their own!!!

[@sski]

So many people "focus" on the keyboardist/vocalist's antics, glossing over the fact that every one of these guys were fantastic musicians. This was thrash before there was such a thing.

[@m.r.heppener8659]

sski Jan Akkerman

[@Rmadmanmetal]

Fukin A, well said!!!

[@kyledefreitas8506]

hes also a floutist

[@nicobrown3614]

I said speed metal but yeah first time watching the video.

[@basserman]

agreed, especially the drummer and guitarist

[@Jhietanen]

After watching this I know the saying is 100% true ..... there's a fine line between Genius and Insanity!!! that was crazy good!!

[@unclegladys]

Some of the greatest guitar work EVER

[@Georgeth-kb6rg]

AMEN

[@markjohnson4962]

Recall that WPLJ 95.5 FM in New York City had the Focus song "My Sweetheart" as their station ID bed during the 1970's. Who remembers this stuff. 65 year old music fans from the NYC area. Priceless. Also had "White Port & Lemon Juice" but that's another story.

[@atfgarage9459]

Host: “is he having a stroke, on every drug known to man, or mentally unstable?” Entire band in unison: “yes”

[@ElMamuco]

Goddamn this version is way better than the studio one

[@eduardopereira7207]

True!

[@flash001USA]

It has so much raw energy live that it's crazy! They kill it live!

[@chrisranz2714]

Extremely innovative , I And ahead of its time, freaking awesome.ll 👍

[@siem8160]

I didn't know Focus, but what an incredible performance. Have a single moment like that in a concert and you can be that fulfilled.

[@nightfall22]

This song kicks ass, but the comment section has me in tears lol.but I love this song so much

[@allenstyer81]

So much yes 🤘

[@johnhandcock7744]

I can't second that enough!!!! SO great. Both...

[@Reggie-The-Dog]

I love the standing ovation. They sure deserved it.

[@halbedejong7963]

This year 1973, Jan Akkerman was proclaimed the best gitarist in the world.

[@deadshot4245]

man that organ guy i want the stuff he tokes on man what a legend of a musician including everyone else too but him so much energy and passion for music