Remember this supergroup from the early 70s?

Discussion in 'Bulletin Board ARCHIVE' started by Mr Badger, Aug 2, 2016.

  1. Mr Badger

    Mr Badger Well-Known Member

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    Must dig out my Focus 3 lp and give it a whirl.
    Jan Akkerman is still going strong and is still a wonderful guitarist, a lot more mellow and jazzy now. Thijs van Leer became a top classical flautist.
    They were amongst the very best in their time, top class musicians.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5u4qwK-RQ4
     
    Mr Badger, Aug 2, 2016
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  2. tosh

    tosh Well-Known Member

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    No
     
    tosh, Aug 3, 2016
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  3. Red Watch

    Red Watch Active Member

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    Saw them live at Sheffield's City Hall. Brilliant.
     
    Red Watch, Aug 3, 2016
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  4. Brush

    Brush Well-Known Member

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    Jan Akkerman died a few years ago, it's his son playing now.

    Saw them at Sheffield City Hall in 1973/4. Brilliant.

    I don't think you could describe them as a "supergroup", that term was applied to bands like Cream and ELP whose members were already superstars when the bands were formed. Focus were all unknown (at least outside Holland).

    Ignore the title of this post, I was getting confused with the guitar player from German band Can, Michael Karoli.

    Senior moment.
     
    Brush, Aug 3, 2016
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  5. Red

    Red Rain Well-Known Member

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    I was never a big fan of Focus. However, I was a member of the Classic Rock Society in Rotherham and I still go to a good number of the concerts that they organise. I saw Thijs Van Leer and his band at Oakwood School in Rotherham about 15 years ago when he played for the CRS and he was excellent. Jan Akkerman also played for them at the same venue in his band and he was even better. His music was different to my ears, but played so well and with such feeling, it went down very, very well.

    The CRS still organise concerts, though it is now under different management. If you enjoy this type of music, why not try them. Their Autumn gigs are listed on their web site and there are gigs locally at Wath and Maltby. Listen to the bands on Spotify first though.
     
    Red Rain, Aug 3, 2016
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  6. qqkachew

    qqkachew Member

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    Yes. Was just listening to the hamburger concerto last night. Ackermann is an extraordinary musician.
     
    qqkachew, Aug 3, 2016
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  7. Prince of Risborough

    Prince of Risborough Well-Known Member

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    Vaguely remember seeing them at the Barnsley Civic Hall some time in the 1970s. Really good group.

    Check out the crushed velvet top in this House of the King clip. I may have had one similar to this! Certainly had an orange chiffon scarf :D

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciobkL3qHj4
     
    Prince of Risborough, Aug 3, 2016
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  8. Prince of Risborough

    Prince of Risborough Well-Known Member

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    Worth having a look at this, much later, live performance as well.

    Focus 1, Focus 2 and a brilliant House of the King at the end.

    Just how cool is Jan Akkerman!! You know how, when you are growing up, you want to BE somebody else from musical or sport environments? Well I wish I could have been like this guy. Looks great and a brilliant musician. All of them are superb musicians. Compare these to something like........er, 1D. Pfffftttt!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPlNcYgy-fA
     
    Prince of Risborough, Aug 3, 2016
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  9. Mr Badger

    Mr Badger Well-Known Member

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    You may have seen this then?
    I've got the scratchy old lp of this, bought in Woolworths, Barnsley, many many moons ago !

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqaa9qwpmSA
     
    Mr Badger, Aug 3, 2016
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  10. Harry Hough

    Harry Hough Well-Known Member

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    Re: Jan Akkerman died a few years ago, it's his son playing now.

    Was this the time they played 5, yes FIVE! encores. Three with the house lights on and fans all round them on stage? At the end the City Hall management had to tell us to leave. Happy days!!!
     
    Harry Hough, Aug 3, 2016
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  11. Brush

    Brush Well-Known Member

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    Re: Jan Akkerman died a few years ago, it's his son playing now.

    Yup, that was the one, unfortunately one of my mate's dad took us in his car so we had to leave after about the 4th encore to get our lift home.

    They cut the power to the stage and even that didn't stop them playing. To this day it remains about the best gig I've ever seen.
     
    Brush, Aug 3, 2016
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  12. Opp

    Oppent'gates Member

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    Saw them at Birdwell club a couple of years ago. they were outstanding. The shame was that there were about 200 in the audience. Only van Leer from original line up. They had a drink with the punters after and signed albums.
     
    Oppent'gates, Aug 3, 2016
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  13. Xer

    Xerxes Well-Known Member

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    No. And why super?
     
    Xerxes, Aug 3, 2016
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  14. Mr Badger

    Mr Badger Well-Known Member

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    I think it was "Whispering" Bob Harris who called them a supergroup in the 70s. They did a concert on tv from the Rainbow Theatre.
     
    Mr Badger, Aug 3, 2016
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  15. Harry Hough

    Harry Hough Well-Known Member

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    When I last saw them at Holmfirth, Van Leer was on keyboards with Peiere van der Linden from the original line up on drums. Van Leer walked in with a curry for his missus who was manning the merchandise stall!
     
    Harry Hough, Aug 3, 2016
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  16. Durkar Red

    Durkar Red Well-Known Member

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    Saw them with Golden Earring in the 70's Jan Akkerman was immense
     
    Durkar Red, Aug 3, 2016
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  17. tobyornottoby

    tobyornottoby Well-Known Member

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    3.6 to 3.8 on RYM for their first few albums which is well respectable.

    Quite often it's the radio play stuff that defines the band.

    I recall Sylvia (?) and Hocus Pocus (?)

    They are remembered be me as a sound that more leaned towards live performances.

    At that time I was leaving Rod Stewart for Bowie and Genesis.
     
    tobyornottoby, Aug 3, 2016
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  18. Sloppy Tyke

    Sloppy Tyke Active Member

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    a supergroup in the early 70s.. surely its got to be Badfinger ? ;)
     
    Sloppy Tyke, Aug 3, 2016
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