Jan Akkerman "Hocus Pocus" Breda 20 May 2007

[Knucklesiggi]

yes Jan do it

[MrLaurence19]

Myself like the yodels, but Jan does a fantastic job!

[Cronos7]

Don't listen to plasmidupmybutthole. I just had an hour and a half conversation about how the yodels are the the secret to overshadowing the world's inadequacies.

[Richie979]

I took my wife to Pacific Rd theatre in Birkenhead last year to see Jan Akkerman and she was so bored by it we went home. He only played 2 good tunes, Sylvia and Hocus Pocus? The rest of it was just fast and noisey musical dysentry?  Such a shame. Jan Akkerman is not focus! He just looked bored by it all. Sad.

[MrEvilCooky]

@Richie979

That's just a little dutch arrogance, when ever we KNOW we own monkey balls at something we try to make it look easy ;)

[Luukablee]

@Richie979 yeah jan akkerman looks bored sometimes, but i saw 2 shows of him and it was amazing

[19GirlBad]

@jh271055 Thanx!

[TheGnomeCity]

He is very forgiving of his drummer!

[icu12cme]

Excellent ! Jan Akkerman's Guitar solos on the original made the track & he's still showing his class on this. Thank you youtube

[kirkwallboy]

Sometimes I like my guitar heroes to be like this. Laid back, like an explosion of speed waiting to go off when they feel it is appropriate.

[ivanprog1]

Sorry, no Thijs Van Leer....No Hocus Pocus.

[fredje441]

Mogelijk Firefox ?

Gr

Fred

[zinger52]

@ivanprog1 Jaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

[sybex1982]

it sounds good but sorry man i like the older version more (live 73)

[red3chilli]

fuckin lame

[andzwe]

I wonder, was the drummer a stand-in? He makes the same mistake, twice, by missing the break at 0:55 and 4:25 Jan Akkerman is surely making fun of that.

[joetjuhh]

I'm going to see him tomorrow @ ScheldeJazz!

[marcelosoy1]

1:08 the guys is like "Hey guys look I can play while i scratch my leg with my other leg"

[MrStratman1]

love it great playin remember his at a jazz fest and hes jazzin it up brill

[newswood]

mediocre drummer playing good drumming music. sad

[Rattenhoofd]

@newswood The original drummer was sick so they got his teacher. As you can see they didn't rehearse enough, but he sure as hell isn't mediocre to me.

[ShitCrap]

I liked the yodeling :(

[cgalatro]

genial, este tipo sigue siendo un fenómeno. desde Argentina mis felicitaciones. Chalo

[riceski]

Heck of a Drummer for real - YES the guitar is great -sound is crummy but still the talent comes through -over all a 5 - but still he needs a better sound recording

[paulwall1981]

Very good, but hasn't Akkerman changed since the the 1970's. But like I said very indeed.

[BestMusicExpert]

This is a variation on the "USA Version" of Hocus Pocus (On CD reissue to Ship Of Memories) and on Best Of Focus: Hocus Pocus. He plays an Instrumental version for a few reasons. 1- He can't Yodel. 2- He wrote the music to the song, on his live album, he does it without vocals and does not credit Thijs Van Leer as a songwriter. They have a long running feud.

[azharkamal]

Jan Akkerman is phantastic. Somebody should save him from this shitty line 6 sound. he deserves the best sounding equipment not this plastic crap.

[theracix]

akkerman is definitely a great guitarist...... u think maybe his hearing is getting bad or something cuz, although i don't use line 6 amps, i have messed around with a flextone combo before and was able to get WAY better tone than this........

[holst1313]

wow

[KakashiOwnage]

W0000T!! why not 5 stars? omg I was hoping he'd play this song more recently!

[dantean]

Cool version. No need to compare it with the original. It stands on its own pretty well, I think.

[Sammerick]

Is that Jan Akkerman..>?!?!

[MOSKII58]

yes  cool version

[9cyrus]

Very good question, it says like him, but doesn't look like.

[them4ster4]

pretty cool

but i still prefer the origional

especially with th vocals :P

[MattJoyce]

eh, this version is just sower, i don't really like how the drummer plays it either... he pretty much forgets how the song starts too. still a pretty cool video, but nothing compared to the original focus.

[marcfedak]

I agree. The Focus live 1973 video is by far the best performance, partly because of the insanely fast but tight musicianship, and partly because of Thiis van Leer's organ, flute and -- amazing yodelling.

[sunbeam11]

the yodelling i could live without

[slackrivet]

There is no yodeling in here sunbeam.

[sunbeam11]

i got bored before I got to that part, im glad to hear that.

[mdoubles]

i wouldnt doubt it, if you watch the live version of hocus pocus in 73 he absolutely tears it up. hes not even giving 10% of what he can do. seriously, watch hocus pocus, you wont regret it

[sslouis07]

oh m god love that video

[jazzernauts]

@mdoubles I know, right? But, there is a live version of the original band (might be the same you are referring to) where the drummer counts it off so fast, the drummer has....well he barely keeps up with his own count-off. Oops. The Ack has NO problem with that faster tempo, however! Haha! But, THIS live version - although from an audiophile standpoint sub-par - the single camera mic can still pick up most of the articulation of Ack and the newer Drummer. Nice, real nice.

[jazzernauts]

@mdoubles I know, right? But, there is a live version of the original band (might be the same you are referring to) where the drummer counts it off so fast, the drummer has....well he barely keeps up with his own count-off. Oops. The Ack has NO problem with that faster tempo, however! Haha! But, THIS live version - although from an audiophile standpoint sub-par - the single camera mic can still pick up most of the articulation of Ack and the newer Drummer. Nice, real nice. IT's in Guitar Hero 2!

[BroncoGretsch]

lol "the guy playing the Gibson isn't bad"

Maybe it's 'cuz he was voted Worlds greatest Guitar player by UK rock magazine Melody Maker in '73, leaving Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton behind :)

[BONGUSTHEDOG]

very good point!

that must be the reason...we are talking about Jan Akkerman...lol

Regards

[sonykroket]

Good rendition of the original.

Not bad after 30 years.

[drkermit1992]

pretty cool!

[p1mpinsid]

I like it, but it is much better with the crazy yodel vocals

[Dennizzz119]

@p1mpinsid

The Jodel vocals... Buh Moron

Thats what made it so special you bleeding imbecil

[p1mpinsid]

@Dennizzz119

So I misspelled jodel, I'm 16.

I'm pretty sure buh isn't even a word.

[Dennizzz119]

@p1mpinsid

Im 16 too 4-11-93...

It is a word.. grow up man

[p1mpinsid]

@Dennizzz119

You're the one who needs to grow up.

And if you were born in 4-11-93, you would be 17, not 16.

Do the math better next time.

[Dennizzz119]

@p1mpinsid

Aww such a shame to you...

I am 16 ;) ill be 17 in November,

Your now officially the dumbest kid on earth

[p1mpinsid]

@Dennizzz119

When typing a date, the month always goes first, not the day.

So it was your typing error, not me.

[rijnie123]

@p1mpinsid dude, are you from mars? in hole the world they type the day first, not the month. get lost

[p1mpinsid]

@rijnie123

I'm from a little place called earth, where they spell whole right.

[rijnie123]

@p1mpinsid and where they say the month first right?

[Anticrombie918]

@rijnie123 yeah, its called america

[p1mpinsid]

@Anticrombie918

Damn straight.

[p1mpinsid]

@rijnie123 Anticrombie's got the right idea.

[p1mpinsid]

@Dennizzz119

And FYI, it's spelled you're, not your.

[Swonkneo]

@p1mpinsid fyi ur a fag

[p1mpinsid]

@Swonkneo

who the hell are you?

[Swonkneo]

@p1mpinsid just some guy

[jh271055]

Maybe, but the guy playing the Gibson isn't bad.

[wildmanhawkes]

Drummer sucks!

[Rattenhoofd]

This drummer is the teacher of the one that originally got booked in this band, that means he had to rehearse like 1 time and get it all right.

Great performance of the drummer if you ask me and I'm a drummer myself so.

[Sponky56]

The best guitarist is Michael BLOOMFIELD!!!!!

[kocisko]

I dont know where you are from. But, fuck sake.....you are great! Keep going guys!

[91866290]

vlatko or jan akerman? how is better gitarist?

[biggayone]

great to see herr ackkerman is still going strong, missed the chance to see him at bristol in about 76, if he is around this year i shalln't miss him again!

[OBEJOYFUL2007]

saw him at the half moon about 3 weeks ago. One of the best gigs I have seen for years. Catch him!

[slorkman]

bloody hell.. he even does the "jodeling" on his guitar..

proud dutchy here..

[randypcole]

Great guitarist

[sonnyplay]

God yes, great drummer as well =)

[alanjonesdrummer]

Not Pierre van der linden standard!

[sonnyplay]

Sadly, no... He's among the best ;)

[15050683]

great just absolutely great, as music shuold be played.

[ViluR123]

Why don't Thijs van Leer and Jan Akkerman get back together to make some "high quality" music?

[qezjeh]

They had some beef back in the days, which resulted Jan akkerman to leave Focus early on. Thijs van Leer was a great artist an componist, graduated from a conversaty. Jan was an socalled 'street artist', and that clinched back in the days.

[hasbeenshaken]

jumping up the flat, that 's exactly what these guys from a flat land are doing! fine performance of a real classic - see it on yt with akkerman's former group focus (back in 1973)

[tvaughan1]

Smokin!

[pumkinbreath]

the guys getting the job done.

[vuilemafkees]

laip

[superbrian113]

Nice - Out wih the steam,,,,Cool done.

[Sonseeker07]

Nice. VERY nice! It is very cool to be able to experience the transition from the 70s. On the been there done that wagon, I can say, well done. Applause, applause.

[LPcustom76]

ever notice jazz trained dummers make the best rock drummers?

[ahlustik]

Yep, just notice Mitch Mitchell ... honestly though, I'm not sure if the drummer playing in this clip falls within that club.

[officialaftershock]

I really like this version. My favourite part of the song is the main riff.

[SirLassi]

I liked this very much. I miss the hair he had during the 70's..

[temohead]

What are yu complaining about?

Considering he is a instrumentalist and many yrs have pasted since the 70's, this is a pretty good version of the song......if you want the song to sound just like the original version....go buy the record.

[voyager71390]

this man should be put in jail for what he did to this song

[19Martinez79]

Breathe deeply, because the unselected can fill their lungs with pure magma pain 8()

[vuilemafkees]

why?

[gareththefireman]

I have cadged roll up cigs off Jan. He's a great musician and a great guy.

[altarman]

after seeing this.........i dont like this man at all

[Pectiniculus]

why?

[altarman]

And....focus is still playing loud andFOCUSED!! jan akkerman ..............i do not like the man.......too much air.

[steve161057]

best version!!!

[codenameblitz]

Akkerman is one of the greatest guitar players on the world (for me...)...Both technically and rhytmic...

Sad he isn`t well known...I would love to see Thijs van Leer and Akkerman play together one more time...it would be epic...

...`Bout the video,made my day...:p

[blackbirdtwigg]

Magnificent !! Jan is as good as ever and,in my opinion,THE most underated guitarist in the world today !!!!!!!!

[ronaldveneboer]

Hier speelt heer Akkerman. Wien vroeger bij focus mocht spelen. Hij werd altijd van Thijs van Leer in elkaar geslagen. Jan Akker is op latere leeftijd het flat opgesprongen. Ja u leest het inderdaad goed het flat afspringen lag niet in zijn aard.

Akkerman dacht wij springen omhoog , ja in de lijn zijn gitaarspel het word beter eerder dan slechter.

Groet Ronald Enschede

[kirbyy]

mag je van goede huizen komen om op een flat te kunnen springen

[Gustavson777]

Akkerman is still amazing. Even though we all miss focus with Akkerman and Van Leer is still good that both of them are still performing.

Thanks for the upload

[DannyDesperate]

punk101 has a point, which is probably why there is so much vitriol flying around. being negative about other people's music saves us from drowning in mediocrity. can you imagine a world where we couldn't hate barbara streisand or radiohead or eric clapton or the beatles or prog rock or take that or u2 or sting or jamie cullum or amy whinehouse or folk music or the royal family or all politicians or billy bragg or condaleeza rice? how dull would it be? thx 2 punk 101, go tell dad to f** off!

[alexander4200]

you just named the beatles within in the same sentence as barbara streisand and take that, what are you completly insane?

[lawelmor]

That drummer is immense =] Do we know his name out of interest?

[xxsophiexx101]

oh sorry are my true comments upsetting you oh im so sorry boohoo i feel for your ears i mean you must like it but they must be in agony to listen to this shit!

[sam123t]

why watch it then you fuck tard

[xxsophiexx101]

because my retarded prick,

if u have read my other comments u would have seen that i said..... i didnt want to whach this it crap, dads making me! soo theres your answer! and for the record im not a fucktard

[peaceonearth777]

You are a stupid kid. Listen to the music, and your dad!

[xxsophiexx101]

why am i a stupid kid if i dont like this shit!

[peaceonearth777]

Correct. Why? Think kid.

[xxsophiexx101]

... k well im just gonna say that your on somewhat retarded

[peaceonearth777]

I hope to God English is your third language!

[xxsophiexx101]

Oh so you are a grammer checker now are you?

Ha Ha well im sure alot of people do not find you annoying. Now go read a book you do not want to lose all your brilliant vocabulary!

[SerjTankian33]

Wow, worst and most irrelevant comment ever.

[xxsophiexx101]

thanks :) means alot really does!

made my day!! :D

[peaceonearth777]

Punks, what would do without them? I mentioned nothing of grammar. Read your tripe.

[IferMasterofFire]

There is no reason for you to be negative about other people's taste in music, but neither is your father in "forcing you" to listen to his (ours). Please do refrain from using offensive words though, that's just childish.

[SjoerdDekker]

Man that Akkerman is sharp as a razor....

way to go Jan!!

[lafierra]

very good

[mauricemp]

jan akkerman best of world:D

[xxsophiexx101]

this shit crap i only whatching it cause my dad making me >:(

[DrummerDan1]

and yet you have jessica simpson in your faves. I think you're the "shit crap" and you're lucky to have a dad with good taste in music.

[xxsophiexx101]

lol good taste this is shit i mean jesica simpson gd and all but i only like that one song of hers to be honest i dont mind this type of music it ok. But this... not my thing soz if it fkn hurts ur feelings

[coeji]

sophie jan is gwn de beste je pa het een goeie smaak:p no way crap;p

[xxsophiexx101]

yes way crap :p

[SjoerdDekker]

Als jouw pa je hier naar laat kijken lul dan gewoon nederlands!

[xxsophiexx101]

huh soz i speak english not being rude but i didnt get that...at all!

[yesyesjuicy]

no yodling = bad cover, the rest is very good but one of the best bits is the yodling

[reynouts]

Haha, yes that's a great part of the song. But he is covering? Not really, he wrote the song with Thijs van Leer, so he's playing his own song.

[mariosilveyra]

Este es uno de los creadores de FOCUS. No es un cover, ignorante. Es su versión sin Van Leer. Es decir es una re interpretación del tema que crearan en los primeros'7s.

[hope336]

five stars for the drums alone!

[Hattataa]

He's alive!!! |o/

[Crackproduction]

the original version is best hos with me

[acetilcisteino]

Good drumms xD

[OmenPON]

no vocals ;( ...

[superalihare]

Was wondering who was gonna perform the yodling

[Mikem22222]

I bet yodling is a ton harder than it sounds, even though it sounds really fkn hard

[kissarmy305]

Ow srry my fault did'nt know that :$ .

Well yeah you're right Thijs still does a great job nowadays ;) .

[kissarmy305]

That's not Jan Akkerman, that's Niels van der Steenhoven the Guitarist that plays in Focus nowadays.

[ennemanne]

DAMN this drummer is one sick mofo

[frontiera]

they already announced take part in their own way many times ago.

definetely, spliting the band was not a good idea for them but i think they weren't had a bad choice, i wish that i could watch Focus's performance line-up as original(or they did in 70's) before they turn into ashes.

[frontiera]

*definetely -> definitely

[woefbeer]

Kick-ass drummer but for the rest very very average, nothing more. Jan's gettin' old!

[nicoric]

please comme back with Thys...

[billyauld]

Thijs is a musical genius just as Jan is. They should get back together. Time waits for no man. Together they are awesome. It would be utterly criminal for them not to sort out their differences and play together again. If ever two uniquely brilliant musicians belonged together it's these two. Please,please,please!!! resolve your differences and do the right thing!!!

[FordFiestaMK1]

klinkt goed

[skezness]

i hate that version with the cheesy beginning

[Rattenhoofd]

Thijs van Leer can't sing high anymore.

[TheOverseer4003]

Sure it's not the same without Thijs van Leer, but I miss his amazing mustache just as much! I hate when old rockers lose their trademark appearance.

[mosquit0]

agree totally

[st00f]

Saw him play, and before him I saw Ana Popovic. Jan Akkerman is nothing without the original focus.

Besides, I really hated the attitude. (smoking sigarettes, taking his time to change guitar strings.. didnt pay money to see Jan Akkerman smoke or see him putting strings on his guitar.

[kissarmy305]

This sounds strange without Thijs.

I miss his high screams and his flute an wizzle solo.

But stil Jan Akerman is a great Guitar player and thumbs up for keeping this classic song alive.

peace ;) .

[lespaulcustomplus]

Yo insisto en que esa viola no es Gibson y es Tokai. En todo caso que modelo de Les Paul es? Tiene el cutaway, muy redondeado, nada que ver con les les pauls????

Alguien sabe????????

[ygg69]

No se :-)

[lespaulcustomplus]

está usando la misma viola que en el '73!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

no lo puedo creeeeeeeeer! genial!

[provaboy]

vind geen fuck aan i love de focus versie

[clutchruner]

Jan Akkerman is very talented. And very dedicated to the music.

[cardcreekdesign]

Jan is great as always, sadly....it's just not the same without Thijs...

[manti2112]

Jan is great! thank you for upload.

[ajarvinen]

The best in my book is Zappa, but JA comes right after him.

[viendoapepebiondi]

al minuto 2:45 pela un solo el mono Jan, que garpa todo el tema... es un salvaje :)

[kaspervanriemsdijk93]

Jan Akkerman is just one of the best guitarists of all time, you can either accept or be a guitar-pagan.

[jt123egypte]

The journalist of BN/de Stem was right!

[poconomoe]

speak english !!!!

[Fabritis]

Meu deus o cara toca muito !

Agora é nossa vez Brasil, da uma olhada no site do auditorio ibirapuera dias 23 e24 de novembro, esse show vai ser de mais

Abraços

[ZoomRmc]

May be a little bit faster? Hey, Jan, we all know you can! ;)

[mosquit0]

zeer goede drummer ook!!

[manti2112]

the drummer is good.

[mosquit0]

that's what i said XD

[zweeden]

lekker numer dit is nog echte muziek :-D

[Rattenhoofd]

Welk lied komt daarna? Klinkt goed, is daar ook een filmpje van?

[OJJVZ]

hoop dat ze het vanavond gaan spelen :D

(Live in Groningen, stadspark) Zo'n gaaf nummer.

[Rattenhoofd]

Ik was er, wat een geweldig optreden! Jammer dat die klootzakken van De Stem er anders dachten.