This is what happens when inspiration comes through a bunch of talented Dutch musicians... brilliant music but total mayhem. No two live recordings of this song will ever be the same... and may be that's all part of their charm.
Peter Marshall If I could be any guitarist in the world for one hour... I'd trade Clapton, Hendrix, Stevie Ray, Satch and little Stevie Vai... just to be Jan Akkerman.
It's a hell of a heavy thought. Jesus, the gravity of it, considering those in the scenario - but, damn, I'll bet there are millions of guy's who would very carefully and very seriously consider it................I saw these guy's when I was a kid in the early seventie's and a person simply cannot forget something like seeing these guy's live.
Truly the most rocking yodel ever performed. I love it! I tried to look up how wide the range was for that high note & someone referred to a G6? Help me out if you have any info. \,,/,
How about Pierre, the drummer? Watch the right foot (bassdrum)! No close miking in those days, bassdrum is not very loud in this mix. Pierre is really holding back, to let Jan and Thijs shine. Wonderful drummer.
Another great live version. This time, unlike on the American TV show, we can se Jan's hands on the key-board. He didn't play his flute on this one whereas he did on the American show. Both versions have there better points in different aspects. Excellent guitarist and the drummer was cool too.
WOW!! A scaled down even MORE ULTRA FRENETIC uptempo verison of the most eclectic progressive rock song EVER...a ROCKING guitar riff, yodeling, hysterical and zany scat singing, flute and absolutely FRENETIC MIND BARBEQUING guitar solos...they just don't make em like this anymore.
seems strange to hear this "raw" version, compared to the one which they put on album and played in most LIVE shows. Amazingly talented musicians, all of them.
That drummer was fantastic...when he quit...Mitch Mitchell almost joined..but instead the drummer from Stone the Crows...all the jazz is gone from the rock these days...
este video esta recortado, agradeceria muchisimo poder ver el video completo, lo vi hace años y no lo he podido volver a encontrar,, es lo MAXIMO EN SU VERSION COMPLETA gracias
thank you so much i have had such a bad few days. I have not laughed this much in a long timeI watched it about 5 times .I am considering downloading it. katy
Well picked up - Did u know that Jan has had the original White Falcon that those pups came from restored and has been using it this year( I think on the brainbox tour )
There was something on about 1976 and top of the pops and they mention the old grey whistle test and they show a few clips of prog rock and a clip of Focus Hocus Pocus i thought the clip was so funny i tried to find it on u tube old grey whistle test and there it was on page. I don,t think they would have made a huge amount of money off the of this but maybe i am wrong ! Though i have never heard it played out of anyones car or anything like that. so !
I actually really like the song though, especially the guitar parts boy rhythm and lead parts, if anything, the vocals emphasise how awesome they sound XD
Never mind that this was one of the most exhilarating hits of all time, but you have to admire the way these guys nonchalantly "Pass The Dutchie" while performing. It must be nice to live in a society where cannabis is legal. Marijuana prohibition laws are so fucking stupid. The only reason grass is illegal in the states is because the corrupt profit made from forfeitures and confiscations outweighs the trickle-down revenue that would be obtained from taxation. No wonder Focus was so damn good.
@missqueenieful They were famous for being great musicians...as most prog stars were in the era..Yes...ELP..etc. Akkerman was/still is a fine guitart/lute player. The odd, quirky, song never detracted from the musicianship. Back then; it mattered. Unfortunately, no longer!
Akkerman inspired me as a guitar beginner. I,m looking for a live version of this song that sounds closer to the original version. without the choppy guitar sound.Not that its bad, but,That I couldnt find it. Any ideas ?
Check your votes after 4 months :D obviously, people don't agree. Music is pretty subjective as well, not what one person says. Having said that, I agree with the the first bit of your comment.
This is what happens when inspiration comes through a bunch of talented Dutch musicians... brilliant music but total mayhem. No two live recordings of this song will ever be the same... and may be that's all part of their charm.
Peter Marshall If I could be any guitarist in the world for one hour... I'd trade Clapton, Hendrix, Stevie Ray, Satch and little Stevie Vai... just to be Jan Akkerman.
It's a hell of a heavy thought. Jesus, the gravity of it, considering those in the scenario - but, damn, I'll bet there are millions of guy's who would very carefully and very seriously consider it................I saw these guy's when I was a kid in the early seventie's and a person simply cannot forget something like seeing these guy's live.
You forgot the part with the large amounts of LSD...
A message to certain contemporary rock bands. "Focus" on how good this is!
indeed. Even Metallica played is wrong. (missing chords)
Mr. Bungle concurs
incredible musician in all four members. Jan Akkerman had amazing control mixed and the perfect tone. A perfect song for 4am driving.
OMG,I was 8 years first time I heard this track still sounds brilliant 👏
I was about 11 years old when I first heard this,still sounds amazing though.👍
Amen for this one. He's still playing great now a days! { Greetz from Holland}
God, I remember when this dominated the airwaves - it's what sent me off to school every morning :)
I will always love this song...played on the radio ALL THE TIME..way back when.....(From USA.. CHEERS LUV!)
This "Guitar Heroes" series from the BBC is kick-ass.
Devo Davis Is sure does! I've always dug Jan's main riff on this song. I salute the camera man for holding the frame steady as Jan did his thing...
Truly the most rocking yodel ever performed. I love it! I tried to look up how wide the range was for that high note & someone referred to a G6? Help me out if you have any info. \,,/,
sure...this is about jan...but take a closer look at what great pierre van der linden does...although he's way too discrete :-)
Now THIS is rock n' roll. Modern bands take notice.
Saw these guys in Coral Gables (U of M) ‘72/‘73 outstanding musicians all of them. Good times.
What a great era of musical creativity. WOW. How original is this.
How about Pierre, the drummer? Watch the right foot (bassdrum)! No close miking in those days, bassdrum is not very loud in this mix. Pierre is really holding back, to let Jan and Thijs shine. Wonderful drummer.
I remember this video, Everybody I knew at school talked about it the next day! What a timing, sound, band, Great stuff, love it, Thanks!
Another great live version. This time, unlike on the American TV show, we can se Jan's hands on the key-board. He didn't play his flute on this one whereas he did on the American show. Both versions have there better points in different aspects. Excellent guitarist and the drummer was cool too.
what a great song to listen too when your feeling down in the dumps. :o)
I was 11 years old when this came out, it still sounds amazing.
Excellent live rendition. Brings back good memories. Thanx !
Great guitarists were everywhere back then, but great yodeling is rare.
I thought his head was going to blow up on that high note! =) I've heard this before and never knew what the band was called.
RiFFAGE❤
The BEST.....!!!!! Thanx Mr.Akkerman..
Love this track!!
WOW!! A scaled down even MORE ULTRA FRENETIC uptempo verison of the most eclectic progressive rock song EVER...a ROCKING guitar riff, yodeling, hysterical and zany scat singing, flute and absolutely FRENETIC MIND BARBEQUING guitar solos...they just don't make em like this anymore.
seems strange to hear this "raw" version, compared to the one which they put on album and played in most LIVE shows. Amazingly talented musicians, all of them.
This song is like one of those -"Can you remember where you were when you heard/saw this for the first time?" events. 😲
Yeah!
That drummer was fantastic...when he quit...Mitch Mitchell almost joined..but instead the drummer from Stone the Crows...all the jazz is gone from the rock these days...
este video esta recortado, agradeceria muchisimo poder ver el video completo, lo vi hace años y no lo he podido volver a encontrar,, es lo MAXIMO EN SU VERSION COMPLETA gracias
fast version ,i love it...
In the days when pop was live music! I miss that a lot.
Love Jan laughing his ass off every time the yodelling starts.
that fucking guitar solo is so on point lmao
guy on keyboard = mad as a bag of spanners
they did it so many with few recourses, very nice group
You watch how they look at each other. They were close friends. What a connection.
You don't get many getting up at the karaoke bar doing this one 😮
Crazy thing, but I really always love it ! :))
thank you so much i have had such a bad few days. I have not laughed this much in a long timeI watched it about 5 times .I am considering downloading it. katy
So good. Wow-ee!
Wow, is the first time I see these guys, but they really kick ass. Bravo, Focus!!! And this is the best video, it's in HD.
Well picked up - Did u know that Jan has had the original White Falcon that those pups came from restored and has been using it this year( I think on the brainbox tour )
I don't think they ever played it the same way live twice.
I just can't get over them guitar chops that Jan akkerman. errrrrm Liam neeson is kicking out.
Красота !
Great Drumming on that cool (now vintage) Premier set. Great Band
If you ever take a yodeling class, probably the hardest thing is to keep from just trying to yodel right off. You see, they build to that:
Awesome and unique... Love it!
wow, excellent quality!!! thx
2024 and still going strong!
There was something on about 1976 and top of the pops and they mention the old grey whistle test and they show a few clips of prog rock and a clip of Focus Hocus Pocus i thought the clip was so funny i tried to find it on u tube old grey whistle test and there it was on page. I don,t think they would have made a huge amount of money off the of this but maybe i am wrong ! Though i have never heard it played out of anyones car or anything like that. so !
@freitasnetuno You, sir, made my day.
real thx man great band and vid.
Hermosa historia gracias
I actually really like the song though, especially the guitar parts boy rhythm and lead parts, if anything, the vocals emphasise how awesome they sound XD
Told you to stick to beer and dope but you had to take speed and coke...Look what happened! Amazing
Realmente. Isso é muito raro em uma televisão.
Abraços do Brasil.
Excellent !!
The keyboard player could have been in The Shining!!
Nothing to say. Just to applaud.
Still Awesome!!
There are people that are really good and then there are people that make it look so easy.
My favorite focus
Yeah Dave - go to NBC's Midnight Express from'73 (should find it on the right hand side)
Thanx Pierre Van Der Linden!
I can totally tell that the drummer in this band LOVED Buddy Rich, lol
That was cool man
Legendary stuff!!
Before this there normally is a very cool freejam with a flute solo, have it on dvd
A song with 4 vocal ranges !!!
MUSICIANS .........enough said !!
And that drummers fuckn sick
hace unos años pasaban la versión completa de este video si alguien podría ubicarlo le rogaría publicar su direccion
Hocus...HAPPY HALLOWEEN 🦇...Pocus
What an ending! Love it! :-)
Bloody fucking beautiful!
When rock and roll had balls!
Heh heh heh! A Dead Kennedys fan. I used to have Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables. Top album!
Dont remember ever seeing the lyrics printed in Sounds or Melody Maker
excelente
bravo, bravo, bravo! xo)
Fast and Bulbous baby!!
I like the slower, album version better. Much easier to understand the words and to sing along. But this is fun.
Never mind that this was one of the most exhilarating hits of all time, but you have to admire the way these guys nonchalantly "Pass The Dutchie" while performing. It must be nice to live in a society where cannabis is legal. Marijuana prohibition laws are so fucking stupid. The only reason grass is illegal in the states is because the corrupt profit made from forfeitures and confiscations outweighs the trickle-down revenue that would be obtained from taxation. No wonder Focus was so damn good.
now that is some heavy duty falsetto
NO FLUTE! Boo
@missqueenieful
They were famous for being great musicians...as most prog stars were in the era..Yes...ELP..etc.
Akkerman was/still is a fine guitart/lute player. The odd, quirky, song never detracted from the musicianship.
Back then; it mattered. Unfortunately, no longer!
Akkerman inspired me as a guitar beginner. I,m looking for a live version of this song
that sounds closer to the original version. without the choppy guitar sound.Not that its bad, but,That I couldnt find it. Any ideas ?
some highly talented Dutch fruitloops
6 years ago and still the best comment hahahahaa
I remember it in black and white.
BABY DRIVER!!
Jan Akkerman's black beauty is singing nice!
Right on!
Ils sont géniaux !!!!!
BigMama §:-)
@monochrome35 That would be perfect!!
I don't know why but it reminds me a lot of "Had To Cry Today" by Blind Faith.
Totally Dig it.....Yeah!
i like how the others are laughing when he is yodeling
Dutch band, right?
*YUM BA BAH*
It's because its in a studio, without any public.
Check your votes after 4 months :D obviously, people don't agree. Music is pretty subjective as well, not what one person says. Having said that, I agree with the the first bit of your comment.
at 01:29 is that Latka from Taxi?