Focus are a Dutch progressive rock band from Amsterdam. Formed in November 1969, the group originally included keyboardist, flautist and vocalist Thijs van Leer, guitarist Jan Akkerman, bassist Martijn Dresden and drummer Hans Cleuver. The group broke up in 1978, but later reformed with various personnel changes in 1985, 1997 and finally 2002. The current lineup includes van Leer, drummer Pierre van der Linden (originally a member from 1971 to 1973, again from 1975 to 1976, and most recently since 2004), guitarist Menno Gootjes (originally from 1997 to 1998, and since 2010), and bassist Udo Pannekeet (since 2016).

History 1969–1978 Thijs van Leer, Jan Akkerman, Martijn Dresden and Hans Cleuver originally formed Focus in November 1969. Shortly after the release of the band's debut album Focus Plays Focus, Dresden and Cleuver were replaced by Cyril Havermans and Pierre van der Linden, respectively, both of whom had previously worked with Akkerman as members of Brainbox. The new members debuted on the follow-up Focus II, before Havermans was replaced by Bert Ruiter in September 1971. The lineup remained stable for Focus 3, before van der Linden left in October 1973 due to musical differences with van Leer and Akkerman. He was replaced by Colin Allen, and Focus released their fourth album Hamburger Concerto in 1974. Allen was later fired after recording just one track for the follow-up album.

Released in 1975, Mother Focus featured drums recorded by session musician David Kemper. van der Linden subsequently returned, although by early 1976 he had departed again and Kemper had taken his place on tour. The tour in question also featured new guitarist Philip Catherine, who joined on short notice after Akkerman suddenly left in February due to increasing tensions with van Leer. By mid-1977, the group's lineup had changed drastically – P. J. Proby took over lead vocal duties, Eef Albers joined as a second guitarist, and Steve Smith replaced Kemper on drums. Focus con Proby was released in 1978; the band never performed live with Proby, returning to tour the following year with new drummer Richard James. After the tour concluded in August 1978, the group disbanded.

1985 onwards In 1984, van Leer and Akkerman reunited for a set of recordings under their own names, which were released the following March as Focus. The newly reformed group was intended to tour in promotion of the release, but disbanded again shortly after the album's release due to continued tensions between the two. Five years later, the pair reunited with former members Bert Ruiter and Pierre van der Linden for a performance of new and old material on a television special in the Netherlands, although it did not evolve into a full reformation. van Leer and Akkerman subsequently performed together again at the North Sea Jazz Festival in 1993, before van Leer attempted another short-lived Focus reformation with Ruiter, original drummer Hans Cleuver and new guitarist Menno Gootjes in 1997.

2002 onwards In early 2002, Thijs van Leer reformed Focus again with new guitarist Jan Dumée, bassist Bobby Jacobs and drummer Ruben van Roon. Bert Smaak replaced van Roon shortly after the reformation to complete work on the comeback album Focus 8, and remained until August 2004 when van der Linden returned to the band. Dumée was replaced by Niels van der Steenhoven in time for Focus 9 / New Skin in 2006, before Gootjes returned for a second stint in 2010. After the band released Focus X and Golden Oldies, Udo Pannekeet replaced long-time bassist Jacobs in December 2016. The Focus Family Album and Focus 11 followed in 2017 and 2018, respectively.

Former bassist Bert Ruiter died on 24 March 2022, aged 75.

Members Current ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsThijs van Leerall Focus releasesPierre van der LindenMenno GootjesguitarUdo Pannekeet2016–presentbass

Former ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsJan AkkermanHans CleuverMartijn Dresden1969–1970Cyril Havermans1971Bert Ruiter Colin Allen1973–1975David KemperPhilip Catherine1976–1977guitarEef Albers1977–1978Focus con Proby (1978)P. J. ProbyvocalsSteve SmithdrumsRichard Jamesnone Bobby Jacobs2001–2016Jan Dumée2001–2006Ruben van Roon2001–2002drumsnone Bert Smaak2002–2003Niels van der Steenhoven2006–2010guitar

Timeline

Lineups PeriodMembersReleasesNovember 1969 – November 1970Thijs van Leer – vocals, keyboards, flute Jan Akkerman – guitar Martin Dresden – bass, backing vocals Hans Cleuver – drums, percussion, backing vocalsFocus Plays Focus (1970) Ship of Memories (1976) November 1970 – September 1971Thijs van Leer – vocals, keyboards, flute Jan Akkerman – guitar Cyril Havermans – bass, backing vocals Pierre van der Linden – drums, percussionFocus II (1971)September 1971 – October 1973Thijs van Leer – vocals, keyboards, flute Jan Akkerman – guitar Bert Ruiter – bass, backing vocals Pierre van der Linden – drums, percussionFocus 3 (1972) At the Rainbow (1973) Ship of Memories (1976) November 1973 – May 1975Thijs van Leer – vocals, keyboards, flute Jan Akkerman – guitar Bert Ruiter – bass, backing vocals Colin Allen – drums, percussionHamburger Concerto (1974) Mother Focus (1975) May – June 1975Thijs van Leer – vocals, keyboards, flute Jan Akkerman – guitar Bert Ruiter – bass, backing vocals David Kemper – drums Mother Focus (1975) Ship of Memories (1976) June 1975 – February 1976Thijs van Leer – vocals, keyboards, flute Jan Akkerman – guitar Bert Ruiter – bass, backing vocals Pierre van der Linden – drumsMarch 1976 – June 1977Thijs van Leer – vocals, keyboards, flute Philip Catherine – guitar Bert Ruiter – bass, backing vocals David Kemper – drumsLive at the BBC (2004)June – late 1977P. J. Proby – vocals Thijs van Leer – keyboards, flute Eef Albers – guitar Philip Catherine – guitar Bert Ruiter – bass, backing vocals Steve Smith – drumsFocus con Proby (1977)Late 1977 – August 1978Thijs van Leer – vocals, keyboards, flute Eef Albers – guitar Philip Catherine – guitar Bert Ruiter – bass, backing vocals Richard James – drumsBand inactive 1978–19851985Thijs van Leer – vocals, keyboards, flute Jan Akkerman – guitarBand inactive 1985–19901990Thijs van Leer – vocals, keyboards, flute Jan Akkerman – guitar Bert Ruiter – bass, backing vocals Pierre van der Linden – drumsBand inactive 1990–19971997–1998Thijs van Leer – vocals, keyboards, flute Menno Gootjes – guitar Bert Ruiter – bass, backing vocals Hans Cleuver – drumsBand inactive 1998–2002February – April 2002Thijs van Leer – vocals, keyboards, flute Jan Dumée – guitar, backing vocals Bobby Jacobs – bass, backing vocals Ruben van Roon – drumsApril 2002 – August 2004Thijs van Leer – vocals, keyboards, flute Jan Dumée – guitar, backing vocals Bobby Jacobs – bass, backing vocals Bert Smaak – drumsFocus 8 (2002) Live in America (2003)August 2004 – 2006Thijs van Leer – vocals, keyboards, flute Jan Dumée – guitar, backing vocals Bobby Jacobs – bass, backing vocals Pierre van der Linden – drums, percussion2006–2010Thijs van Leer – vocals, keyboards, flute Niels van der Steenhoven – guitar Bobby Jacobs – bass, backing vocals Pierre van der Linden – drums, percussionFocus 9 / New Skin (2006) Live in Europe (2009) Live in England (2016)2010 – December 2016Thijs van Leer – vocals, keyboards, flute Menno Gootjes – guitar Bobby Jacobs – bass, backing vocals Pierre van der Linden – drums, percussionFocus X (2012) Golden Oldies (2014)December 2016 – presentThijs van Leer – vocals, keyboards, flute Menno Gootjes – guitar Udo Pannekeet – bass Pierre van der Linden – drums, percussionFocus 11 (2018) Focus 12 (2024)

References

External links Focus official website