Saw them in 73 here in the States when they played at Merriweather Post Pavilion In Maryland with Peter Frampton's Camel as the opening act. Three dollars was the ticket price for lawn seats & six for the pavilion seats . As it were the place was almost empty but the ones that showed up got the concert of a lifetime, Focus played for 3 hours to a small but very appreciative crowd with two standing ovations. Answers ,Questions & Hocus Pocus as the ending of their set. Jan & the band blew the roof off the place without blinking an eye.
Just found this posting. The NY Philharmonic was the first stop on this, their first US tour. It was such a significant event that WPLJ FM in NYC did a live broadcast of it. I was a senior in high school; four of us got tickets to the early show, which was their first US performance - $8 tickets, 10th row, almost directly in front of van Leer. Huge p.a. system (by '73 standards) on each end of the stage. The high notes on the flute solo felt like a drill bit going through one ear and out the other. Absolutely incredible. If you google "Jan Akkerman" images you can see a b&w photo of him in his blue satin jumpsuit, playing a Les Paul Recording through a set of Acoustic amps. It's possibly from one of these shows. In Europe he and Ruiter used Fender transistor Super Showmans. I think in the States the Acoustic amps were about the best solid states you could get at the time. During the drum solo he must have crouched down somewhere backstage; when he came back the inseam of one leg of the jumpsuit had split almost all the way up. He and van Leer shared a laugh when he raised his leg to show him. No other group quite like them, before or since. Interestingly, the warmup was Eric Weissberg & Deliverence, of "Dueling Banjos" fame. What an interesting contrast. They, also, were excellent. Thanks for posting.
Awesome story! I have the cd of this concert somewhere. During Van Der Lindens drum solo you can hear the broadcaster from WNEW FM announce the live broadcast.
La fotografía es incorrecta, es Focus 1974 con el baterista Colin Allen (el penúltimo, justo antes de Akkerman). Focus 1973 incluía al muy superior Pierre van der Linden en batería.
Saw them in 73 here in the States when they played at Merriweather Post Pavilion In Maryland with Peter Frampton's Camel as the opening act. Three dollars was the ticket price for lawn seats & six for the pavilion seats . As it were the place was almost empty but the ones that showed up got the concert of a lifetime, Focus played for 3 hours to a small but very appreciative crowd with two standing ovations. Answers ,Questions & Hocus Pocus as the ending of their set. Jan & the band blew the roof off the place without blinking an eye.
Greatest prog rock ever! 👍
Just some of the best music out there. I can listen to their music for weeks straight, I never get tired of it.
I been at Focus concert two months ago, BETTER THAN EVER! Damn f....ng great band.......
I saw Focus in Helsinki, Finland, it was year -74. Lucky me!
Saw them in Utica, NY the fall of 1973. Incredible show! Spencer Davis opened!
I had a ticket to see them in Belfast .. the night they broke up... unlucky me... the best band never to have settled their personalities
really great to find these rare focus tracks! many thanx!!
Just found this posting. The NY Philharmonic was the first stop on this, their first US tour. It was such a significant event that WPLJ FM in NYC did a live broadcast of it. I was a senior in high school; four of us got tickets to the early show, which was their first US performance - $8 tickets, 10th row, almost directly in front of van Leer. Huge p.a. system (by '73 standards) on each end of the stage. The high notes on the flute solo felt like a drill bit going through one ear and out the other. Absolutely incredible. If you google "Jan Akkerman" images you can see a b&w photo of him in his blue satin jumpsuit, playing a Les Paul Recording through a set of Acoustic amps. It's possibly from one of these shows. In Europe he and Ruiter used Fender transistor Super Showmans. I think in the States the Acoustic amps were about the best solid states you could get at the time. During the drum solo he must have crouched down somewhere backstage; when he came back the inseam of one leg of the jumpsuit had split almost all the way up. He and van Leer shared a laugh when he raised his leg to show him. No other group quite like them, before or since. Interestingly, the warmup was Eric Weissberg & Deliverence, of "Dueling Banjos" fame. What an interesting contrast. They, also, were excellent. Thanks for posting.
Awesome story! I have the cd of this concert somewhere. During Van Der Lindens drum solo you can hear the broadcaster from WNEW FM announce the live broadcast.
La fotografía es incorrecta, es Focus 1974 con el baterista Colin Allen (el penúltimo, justo antes de Akkerman).
Focus 1973 incluía al muy superior Pierre van der Linden en batería.
Effortless inspired brilliance . What isn't too like ?
Geweldig hé en ik was erbij als geluidstechnicus.
Wow, wat gaaf zeg! Ik had er zo graag bij willen zijn, bij Focus in die tijd. Het vuur spat ervan af!
Ook gespeeld in de “Oude Schimmel” in Castricum
Thank you very Dutch!
If it's not Dutch it ain't much!
Such sweet compulsion doth in music lie,To lull the daughters of Necessity
Even better than the last.... such real music....but does IAN know keyboards? me 54 years old
Great x 100
This live version had never heard not only the rainbow theater in England !!
Rainbow was better.
My pleasure :-)
I like how the member on the very left looks like he's smoking a cigarette when it's just his thumb.
Me too :P