Focus Live 1990 - Sylvia

[ticonderogasou]

Muy bueno!!!! Excelente!!!!! Akkerman un maestro!!!!!

[49SDL]

Is this reunion concert available on DVD? I would love to own a copy. One of favorite bands EVER.

[Sludge9509]

talented fuckers

[Luukeeeehh]

waarom is focus uit elkaar?

[Geepereet]

@Luukeeeehh Echt heel erg duidelijk is het mij en wellicht velen ook nooit geworden maar de heren Akkerman en van Leer kunnen nou eenmaal sinds een bepaald moment niet meer gezellig door 1 deur zoals dat heet. Als vrienden is dat sowieso einde verhaal maar ook binnen een band (wat toch al vaak een pittige sociale klus schijnt te zijn) is dat fnuikend. Jan Akkerman heeft gelukkig zijn weg behoorlijk voortgezet met als een van de toppertjes de CD CU. Het blijft wel een groot verlies aan klasse.

[BluesBro95]

@Luukeeeehh

teeeeh tooooh

[Luukeeeehh]

@BluesBro95 tatatattat tiiieeeeee

[BluesBro95]

@BluesBro95

Hahahahaha

[thiesjaarsma]

Pierre vd Linden, Bert Ruiter, Thijs van leer & Jantje Akkerman. Pure magie, dit. Thanks for posting, Geepereet!

[ebudsellig]

Thijs has the same face mimics as in older videos from the 70's(Hocus Pocus).

First saw these guys in Quebec City in 1973. First part was done by an unknown Chick Corea.

[tet1963]

Akkermann is such a great guitar player, technique is flawless but plays with loads of emotion.

[chrisart7]

In a 1973 MELODY MAKER interview Jan says that Thijs took Sylvia from an old English hymn, but I've yet to find it. Anyone else? Just sounds like Bach rock to me (and quite good!).

[sirpc2]

No one plays Sylvia on guitar like Jan Akkerman :D

[Luukablee]

its greaat to see them having so much fun

and i love thijs' crazy faces haha

[andzwe]

They're not really "into it" anymore, IMO. Around this time Van Leer was getting difficulties with reaching the high notes, also. So, apart from other, personnel, reasons, probably the right decision of Akkerman to call it a day and let the classic-line up of Focus be history.

[Luukablee]

3:13:

"lifes good and a hot girl is sucking my balls of after this concert, god damn i love to be the best guitarplayer in the world"

[bananas73le]

The guitar being used on this set is the Robberts Solid Acoustic JA 705 made in the Netherlands, loosely based on the Framus guitar, but obviously customised to Jan's specifications.

[TedBoyRomarino]

is this mr. Bert Ruiter on Bass?

[Geepereet]

@TedBoyRomarino Yes!

[malcolmbryant]

There is no more delightful sight than to see great talent enjoying itself.

[Marzook37]

This song kind of sounds like the theme song of the game "The Sims Bustin' out."

= D

[hyperman64]

Volgende reunie maar een frisje drinken i.p.v...........?

[johncheesebacon]

MAAAAAN WHAT GUITAR IS THAT??

[marynightshade]

Great sound here-it makes Akkerman's playing even more impressive. I've toldpeople, "Never mind "Hocus Pocus"-and they'd usually just shrug, but now I can send this-thanks for posting it.

[hieronomy]

Focus - beautiful music !

[johncheesebacon]

does anyone knows which guitar jan is using?

[TedBoyRomarino]

@johncheesebacon I think it's called FRAMUS AKKERMAN, and it has a bad fame, I don't know exactly why. I heard it has Akkerman's favorite features from both his Gretsch and Gibson guitars.

[johncheesebacon]

@TedBoyRomarino hum. I searched on the framus website and i didnt see it. i'll check it out properly sometime.

[TedBoyRomarino]

@johncheesebacon on the framus website go on products -> guitars - > framus series -> AK 1974. That's the name of the model

[johncheesebacon]

@TedBoyRomarino but the model he is using in this video doenst have the inlays that the 1974s do.

[atman5150]

Can anybody out there tell me what kind of guitar Jan is playing in this performance???

I absolutely love his playing and take on instruments!

[Harald136]

drum beat is so wrong for that song

[zwartepaak]

@Harald136 You have criticism the way Pierre van der Linden drums?? Im speechless!! Makes me wonder do witch musical genius dares too?

[Harald136]

@zwartepaak i mean that the drum beat is wrong and it wasn't such originally

[nick1137]

what do you mean by occasional one time reuinion

[kalken000]

North Sea Jazz Festival ? I was there !

[chrisart7]

This was from their 1990 set which ran for ninety minutes on "Oud van Goud" ("Old Gold"). It would be great to see/hear more material from this concert. Jan Akkerman, guitar; Thijs van Leer, keyboards, flute, voice; Bert Ruiter, bass; Pierre van der Linden, drums.

[chrisart7]

Oops, that's "Goud van Oud." Forgive me, Dutch readers. Dag!

[thiesjaarsma]

Prachtig! Jan Akkerman en Thijs Van Leer van Focus! Sylvia...geweldige plaat. Thanks for posting Geepereet! Ramses...RIP!

[munchcat100]

i was there in 73

[jakob61]

give a miilion to see these legends back on stage , a dream?

[ADCuitA]

@jakob61

certainly not... still touring

[BestMusicExpert]

Sadly yes. Jan and Thijs absolutely do NOT get along. Wish they'd do a tour and album together. Bury the hatchet for ONE MORE FOR THE ROAD!

[mrspivvy]

@BestMusicExpert Amen to that. together they are absolute gold

[bobjijofbobik1]

I've seen Focus this year, with old members Thijs van Leer and Pierre van der Linden. And a while ago I've seen Jan Akkerman solo:)

[kenziexxpodders]

wow i'd forgotten how good focus were....this brings back great memories........

[stringz63]

love focus - what a band!

[jakob61]

me too bernard!!!!!! jakob

[bernard35]

I wish they would reunite again

[jakob61]

what a combination these two. world class. thanks thijs and jan . holland at his best in music.

[magnus902]

Jan Akkerman is one of a kind guitar player!

[smf961]

So great, Focus 70's original line-up, awesome !!!

[Russel1110]

what's the song they play on beginning? or is it just random intro?

[Geepereet]

Just like Chrisart7 already thought sounds the intro like another song which aint familiar to me but I heard a far more recent version of Akkerman (without Focus) on which he played the same intro like this one. Seems he (or they) preffered this alternate for live performances.

[BestMusicExpert]

Its just the live intro they did. I imagine written by Jan since he is the one who usually plays it live though not sure about Focus's current incarnation.

[Geepereet]

@BestMusicExpert This intro differs from the original but for the rest its Sylvia. The outtro is the main different imo

[BestMusicExpert]

so..... both are different or what? Thats confusing. Anyhow, the end isn't too different. The intro is the usual live version from later days at least.

[bobfree66]

At the moment both the focus and Jan Akkerman Intro's are quite similar, just Jan Akkerman's version is a bit more jazzed up.

[BestMusicExpert]

Jan came up with it from the time he left Focus in 1975/6 to this reunion, Thijs adapted it after. Its a good intro though!

[BassplayerNL]

@Russel1110 It's called "On The Table" as performed on the "Focus in Time" CD...

[Eric22]

@Russel1110 This intro in not originally for this song but is a piece that Jan played at his solo performances.

[chrisart7]

Yes, this is a reunion of the classic 1972-73 Focus line up: Thijsvan Leer - vocals, organ, flute; Jan Akkerman - guitar; Bert Ruiter - bass; Pierre van der Linden - drums

[chrisart7]

I thought they were playing the Who's "Eminence Front" at first with that intro. ;)

[LeandroMagu]

It's a progressive rock band!

[luddsz]

plagat

[kjazka]

la mejor banda de rock progresivo  y no massss

[francepourmoi]

I just luv thaat voice.

[MrBluesboy21]

That's a masterpiece

[conexionaerea]

El "abuelo" Akkerman....compartiendo su emocion creativa....con la simpleza de quien va a hacerse un cafe a la cocina...

[schaaapje123]

Gisteren Jan + band weer zien spelen in Bluescafe, Apeldoorn. Nog steeds geweldig!!

[brucefan072]

Ik was hierbij! Veronica's Goud van Oud Live in de America-hal in Apeldoorn, dit was echt een van de hoogtepunten van de avond!

[Geepereet]

Vreemd genoeg kan ik het aan het publiek in deze video niet zo ontdekken maar als ik daar zelf zou zijn was ik dezelfde mening toegedaan. Sowieso een historische reunie.

[barie666]

Is er die avond Hocus Pocus gespeeld, zoja, is daar een filmpje van?

ik hoor er graag van!

Groeten,

Barend

[Geepereet]

Nee helaas niet, voor zover ik heb kunnen overzien is dit ook alles wat ze toen hebben gespeeld

[Stratman70]

@barie666 HocusPocus is wel gespeeld die avond en is ook uitgezonden door Veronica, dus wie weet verschijnt dat filmpje ooit nog eens op internet

[jOntzohr]

nice :D

[lespaulthebest]

Great! Everyone knows how great Jan and Thiis are, but the rhythm section are criminally overlooked!!

[xpaddy01]

I'll second that statement lespaulthebest. Since this is the first time seeing this, I'm assuming that both van der Linden and Ruiter are in this video?

[iamthepwnerer]

Van Der Linden is definitely on drums, and I would assume Ruiter is on bass, but its hard to tell :P

[hanjomorren]

Als ik zo naar Jan Akkerman kijk, bekruipt me het gevoel dat hij het hier niet naar zijn zin heeft. Als hij het wel leuk vindt, dan zijn er natuurlijk weinig gitaristen die beter zijn.

[Geepereet]

Ik denk ook dat je best wel gelijk hebt, ondanks het feit dat ik deze reunion best kan waaarderen proef ik ook een zekere gerserveerdheid. Heb ook e.e.a. van de zeer korte interviews. Wel leuk hoor, anekdote zoals 'maar heel kort gereperteerd' en zo. Maar na het optreden zo'n ff te duidelijke uitspraak van Jan dat een vervolg er niet zo 123 in zou zitten. Zeker jammer dat zij zoiets als Supersister qua reunion niet meer mee kunnen maken, des te leuker dit soort files.

[deadwoodmountain]

Jan Akkerman is gewoon te "cool" volgens mij......hij is altijd lakoniek en een beetje "stand offish" but he sure know how to make his guitar sing like no one else!