Focus (band)
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Focus are a Dutch rock band formed in Amsterdam in 1969 by keyboardist, vocalist, and flautist Thijs van Leer. The band have undergone numerous formations in its history; since December 2016 it has comprised van Leer, drummer Pierre van der Linden, guitarist Menno Gootjes, and bassist Udo Pannekeet.
The band's first endeavour was performing in the pit band for the Dutch production of the rock musical Hair. Focus gained popularity following the success of their second album Focus II (1971), better known as Moving Waves, which contained the international hit single "Hocus Pocus". Their success continued with Focus 3 (1972) and Hamburger Concerto (1974), the former containing their second successful single, "Sylvia". Following their break up in 1978, Focus reunited in 1985, 1990, and 1999.
In 2002, van Leer reformed the band with a new line-up, after which they met with renewed interest after Nike used "Hocus Pocus" in its 2010 World Cup commercial Write The Future. The band continues to tour and release albums; their most recent is Focus 8.5 / Beyond the Horizon (2016).
Discography
Studio albums
- Focus Plays Focus (1970) (reissued as In and Out of Focus)
- Focus II (1971) (reissued as Moving Waves)
- Focus 3 (1972)
- Hamburger Concerto (1974)
- Mother Focus (1975)
- Focus con Proby (1978)
- Focus: Jan Akkerman & Thijs van Leer (1985)
- Focus 8 (2002)
- Focus 9 / New Skin (2006)
- Focus X (2012)
- Golden Oldies (2014)
- Focus 8.5 / Beyond the Horizon (2016)
