Jan Akkerman en Focus Live

Jan Akkerman reunited with Focus for the Goud van Oud event from Veronica in 1990. What a great memory and also Pierre van der Linden and of course my old friend Bert Ruiter are doing great. Compared to Jan's play today this is just a start. But hey, what an inspiration!

[@markjamesmeli2520]

What an outstanding group this is. And still today.

[@thethinkingmindz]

This is Focus, one of the most versatile, original and by far ahead of anything rock has ever birthed.

[@stewartquark1661]

The words "talented" and "gifted" have always fallen short in describing Focus and it's music....

[@mirojr6854]

How wonderful guitar Mr Jan Akkerman is.

[@robertl6591]

Love Focus, Jan Akkerman's guitar playing is so emotional, Thijs Van Leer so multi-talented and they all play with such joy in the music they are making. Thank you all guys.

[@mysterioussquirrel4456]

I heard my first Focus track in 1972 and was instantly hooked. Dammit! That's 45 years!! Now I feel old.

[@p.j940]

It's just numbers. You're still young 🙃

[@George.Andrews.]

12 years old and didn't know I was watching my all-time favourite guitarist

[@barrye5376]

What Ripping from Jan No One Like Him A True Master!!

[@cristelbrandon582]

Sweetest track ever. We lost our virginity whilst listening to this.43 yrs ago. Thank you.

[@malthuswasright]

Don't care what it takes, just get the classic line-up together again - van Leer, Akkerman, van der Linden and Router. I'd die happy seeing that line-up again.

[@nicholasleboutillier4020]

Like all 'classic line ups' Focus here are greater than the sum of their parts; they all bring a little magic with them too. Jan Akkerman is outstanding of course, but so are Van Leer, Van Der Linden and Ruiter - it just goes to show what an amazing band they were and what fantastic music they made together; I wish they had done more of it!

[@dougperot1819]

Lord in Heaven what a joy it would have been to see this in person! Thanks so much for sharing. I saw the band three times 1972 - 1975. People today are just missing out. A thousand blessings!!!

[@PlanetaryCitizen]

Yes, it must have been a great gig! I saw them live in the early seventies too. I remember first hearing them when I was 16. Kid Jensen was so blown away by their album "Moving Waves" he played it in its entirety one night. I heard it on my tranny! This was, and still is, one of the best "prog" albums, in my opinion.

[@robaire.b]

It doesn't get better. Best band I ever saw live

[@George.Andrews.]

Focus in 1972 and Jean Luc Ponty 1976. I have not heard anything better. Ozric Tentacles were good.

[@carlosmarques3252]

one of my favourite badnds of all time

[@rhermans1683]

Jan Akkerman was the Johan Cruyff of the guitar!

[@paulbuxton1326]

Pele of the guitar 👌🎼

[@WvhKerkhof]

Johan Cruijff had no succes in the USA.

[@amsedelm]

Jan Akkerman! Truly one of a kind.

[@NYVoice]

Jan was one of those musicians who stopped you dead in your tracks when watching him. One of the greats.

[@BrickwallJackson]

Nothing like the original lineup! Love the bright, snappy guitar tone mixed in with the full organ. Great stuff!!

[@fueledbylove]

Some of the first Jazz Rock fusion music I ever heard. And Thijs is such a cut-up bugging-out his eyes and yodeling - makes me smile everytime.

[@RichardTyTrevino1963]

...and oh how delightly "Jethro Tullesque" that Thijs Van Leer can be on the flute! *applause*

[@rainayoung6838]

Without WJZZ this CITY girl would have NEVAH heard of TRUE ARTIST like Mr. Akkerman and soooo many others from all over this world of ours. "I Feel What Ya Playing" Let's say a prayer for the youth today !!

[@malthuswasright]

I saw Focus years ago in Bilston (around the time of Focus 9). On the posters at the venue were ads for Jan Akkerman gigging a week later. I'd have loved to be a booker who "accidentally" booked Focus and Jan for the same night....

[@andyfell5879]

There is no better guitarist out there than Jan Akkerman. Stunning lyricism and tone! Focus at the Rainbow is an all-time great album.😃

[@1macholele]

Focus !que buenos!! Lo mejor del rock progresivo

[@mallard4998]

Tommy is just incredible, and Jan excels as usual

[@kelvinwilson9217]

Such a great opener. Good to see people still enjoying this stuff - as always quality always lasts.

[@deeper2012]

QUE BELLA MUSICA!! PASA EL TIEMPO Y ME SIGUE DANDO UN INMENSO PLACER ESCUCHAR FOCUS DESDE QUE TENGO 12 AÑOS!! ALLA POR ´74 EN EL FIN DEL MUNDO, EN ARGENTINA, MI PRIMER DISCO......MOVING WAVES!!! AMO FOCUS!!!!!

[@lastdaysguitar]

The years away have brought a little rust here & there in Jan's playing early in the set, but the heart of the music is still so strong!

[@dilsonmalvaresmalvares7218]

untill Today i Hear Focus like i used heard in 70's, with the same feeling

[@mekiwiguy]

Oh this is magic - Pierre van der Linden simply takes me to a new world and Bert Ruiter is really way above the best on bass.

[@erikholzer7957]

Een stukje jeugdsentiment voor een van onze grootste elektrische gitaristen die ik al zag met Brainbox, later via mijn buurman Van Otterloo en zijn Focus vrienden (Thijs) weer in beeld kwam en tot vandaag de dag eindeloos door-evolueert. Daar word ik nog steeds stil van.......

[@stichtingokapi]

#rip Bert Ruiter. Groot bassist, aardige vent.

[@myway43]

What masterful guitar work.

[@mallard4998]

absolutely!!!

[@dblau2000]

Jan's playing was superb, even then... but of course, he now plays better... it comes with the age...

[@jhrharrison]

I drove my parents crazy with the Focus III 8-track tapes, and then all the rest of their catalogue - before my parents heard the metal I began listening to!

[@sonykroket]

Akkerman will always be the greatest.

[@nicko7054]

Brilliant band!.

[@warvandal3443]

Tommy is just terrific

[@edsroraphael]

maravilha! !! q solo me faz voltar ao tempo, anos 80 época muito boa da minha adolescência.

[@gerhardprasent3358]

It has to be said: as brilliant as the playing is - the compositions are even greater!!! ❤❤❤

[@ivanivanov6750]

Фокус 2, 3 Ян Аккерман исполняет блестяще, лучшие годы для него вместе с Фокусом!

[@carlolf]

Oh Boy! Those were the days! BTW: Jan Akkerman was the first rock guitarrist playing far from pentatonic.

[@cesarbr1000]

I confess, I cryed ! great !

[@thewizardsofprogg2431]

The guitar on the Moving Waves segment is amazing.

[@Ierlandful]

The best music ever after Mozart and Beethoven

[@RecliningFurniture]

What about Bach? 🤨

[@RecliningFurniture]

What about Bach? 🤨

[@Primordilian]

Bach is Tesla of music

[@MrPeter3011]

GREAT,great Dutch PROG-Rock.....

[@CHAVOROCK]

¡Felicitaciones! gracias por subir este video. Saludos desde Colombia.

[@optanteBR]

Que lindo concerto a nata do progressivo...especial espetacular sem mais adjetivos.

[@radiobeijum]

Holy mother, how swell can a band be ?

[@mallit]

wonderful !!!!! Even Jans bum notes and sloppy playing at times, but truly inspirational... Love them.

[@thedolphin5428]

Ah ha, so someone else reckons Jan is sloppy and drops a few notes.

[@henrico7niente]

This four are the best Dutch band ever I think. And there are / were several very good.....Thank you. A pity that Jan and Thys were no friends anymore. Music can join and separe..

[@sjoerdmeijer1]

Allso populair at that time ,GOLDEN EARING

[@cesarindf1]

Una muy grata sorpresa haber encontrado este video de la reunión de FOCUS en 1991, como siempre un sonido muy limpio en vivo...gracias!!

[@dbsound88]

They were unrecognized as they were a great progressive band in the 70s' and still are!

[@michelhille8107]

Music for emptions and passion.

[@henrico7niente]

Its a challenge to not join the competition about and in the band. It was a lot I presime. They were all excellent musicians who were together for some years....

[@benvoiles2048]

I saw them in 1973 at Indiana University. Loved them.

[@guitarhack210]

What a Incredible band ! from the the first time i heard these guys in 1974 I still listen to it , it never gets old , just better I don't want to sound old but they sure as fuck don't make music like this anymore , and if you have any ideas of who you think is as good and innovative please tell me !

[@kevinbowes1738]

Like !

[@PaulAmende]

Thanks for being part of my (musical) life. :)

[@piotrdewiszek8932]

I know only a few viewers opens this link nowadays, but anyway I'd like to post here my opinion: there's no Focus music without Jan Akkerman, there's no Focus's heart&spirit without Thijs van Leer. Thanks Thijs for Focus, thanks Jan for excellent music!

[@WvhKerkhof]

Jan paid a lot for this reunion it was worth the money!

[@patpao6933]

BELLISSIMO grazie veramente che emozione!

[@malthuswasright]

Wish the old line-up would get together again. Last gig I saw had Van Leer, Ruiter, van der Linden, and bizarrely Jan was playing the same venue a week later. I hope if I was booking I'd have "accidentally" booked them for the same week.

[@paullevine1813]

Saw Focus in 1973 on their only USA Tour , they played at Merriweather Post Pavilion in MD & tickets were a whopping 3 bucks for the lawn seats & 6 to sit in the pavillion. At that place you can see great from either. They played for close to 3 hours & several standing ovations . Jan is as good as anyone that plays professionally if not better & that band was off the charts awesome . They were only known here for Hocus Pocus but all the folks that came to see them play knew that was just a silly cool song but it was not the real Focus & they like me were there to hear the real Focus just like all the rest of the tracks on those early albums were & they didn't disappoint the crowd . One of the best shows i've seen . Shame they never came back to the States , even these days Jan is fine staying in Europe but it sucks for we that know he's one of the best there is.

[@uhuhuuuhhh9883]

The supergroup !

[@valton9651]

focus is no focus without jan akkerman.

[@ZzZ0ne]

helemaal top de nu ja bijna "hele set".... dank u

[@arievrolijk6947]

Wow. Wow wow wow. Jan is geweldig en zeker niet ‘sloppy’.

[@sandrocaria1379]

BRAVISSIMI !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@patpao6933]

Jan Akkerman un genio

[@josb5884]

geweldig !!!

[@athanator35]

maravilloso!!!

[@janduemosenielsen3793]

Great song, Great band. Just great

[@JoseRuiz-ep2zv]

Oh!Focus what a great band!

[@jeanmariezeyen111]

this is one helluva band, where reunion would make sense !!

[@armandocorzano4319]

La potencia de la música clásica revitalizada en el genio de Focus !!!!!

[@ChrisMezzolesta]

God I love this band.

[@shaunkelly9860]

There is no better guitar player in the world.

[@user-ul4li7mn9j]

One of those classics.. Thijs Jan pierre no idea

[@RicardoRMartinelli]

AMAZING!

[@ninoachcar9426]

Adoro o Focus desde sempre !

[@Happysongkla]

東京からです。upしてくれてありがとう😊

[@charliequinn160]

not the best at all that I've heard Mr. J.A......but when i was 17 to 30..Focus were as big as anyone in my musical adventures. I saw them with my three Brothers in New York at the Felt forum to hear Hamburger Concerto tour...Genesis the very next night in the same place. Back to back the best i remember in my life. I'm sixty now and much prfer listening to new prog like..Big Big Train or LifeSigns..or Even my boys Pendragon who are always great !! But what memories ! LOve Focus and Mr. Ackerman..!!

[@drumier]

if this is after jans almost fatal car accident it is nothing short of miraculous.

[@thedolphin5428]

I think Jan has fallen into "hero status" and become uncaringly sloppy.

[@JoseManuelFernandezCano]

Genial!!!!

[@sandrocaria1379]

FANTASTICI !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@dimitriskaraganis]

love them!

[@umqua]

Sweet. Just.......sweet.

[@celljog]

so good they played it twice

[@George.Andrews.]

If Tommy isn't the most beautiful track ever played what is Maybe love remembered?

[@hush7648]

Mooi sjaaltje Jan.

[@reinaldolahojadelsur]

Magnifico!

[@stanjanssen1218]

focus was top in composition and in style with Jan and Thijs. Both egoes made it unique

[@UNOENELTODO]

Just the people that can "focus" properly can understand , can feel ,can enjoy the music of focus, unfortunately not many, just a few.

[@johnawakening9908]

Super!

[@jimihendrix3144]

super jan und thijs beste jongs

[@Labbhe62]

The mountains will kneel before thee

[@saurobortesi5285]

Wonderfull

[@vincentlyons]

Excellence!

[@rolandtrebbin7764]

I saw him more times than my own face in the mirror 🤗

[@screamingdizbuster7722]

Are you a vampire?

[@rolandtrebbin7764]

You got it 🤘🤘🤘

[@charlesschalken7601]

excelente

[@Governmenttruth]

Did you all see Thijs van Leer play the flute and his Hammond organ simultaneously? These old guys have some tricks up their sleeves....

[@ItsMeTheUser]

00:01 Focus III 03:23 Focus II 07:25 House Of The King 12:26 Sylvia 16:28 Tommy

[@ARPSMUSIC]

Most distinctive Dutch tone!