Hello everyone and welcome to another edition of Interviewing the Legends I’m your host Ray Shasho

With their unique brand of progressive rock, Focus manifested themselves at the start of the '70s as the most successful and appreciated of all the Dutch pop-rock exports. Fronted by founding member Thijs Van Leer, and best known for their hits "Hocus Pocus", "House of The King" and "Sylvia", as well as critically acclaimed albums 'Moving Waves', 'Focus 3' and 'Hamburger Concerto'.

Focus Announces their new studio album “FOCUS 12” available July 5th, 2024. Founded by Thijs van Leer, Focus has been at the forefront of the progressive music movement since 1969, yet they continue to deliver engaging, innovative and skillfully crafted music. “FOCUS 12” exemplifies this and proves why they are still a firm fan favorite, the world over.

For Thijs van Leer (75) and Pierre van der Linden (78), age is nothing more than a number. Both continue to contribute to Focus with passion. Thijs, who has written most of the new album, rises at 4.30 am every day to work on his compositions. While the album boasts some of Pierre’s greatest and most energetic drum sequences to date.

“FOCUS 12” features a completely improvised piece which was captured as it spontaneously took place in the studio, during the recording process. Thus, proving that more than 50 years on, the band are still excited by undertaking something new and different.

The band continues their long association with legendary artist Roger Dean whose stunning artwork graces the front cover and packaging. The vinyl version features a stunning gatefold sleeve.

Focus continues to be one of the hardest working rock bands on the planet, touring the globe playing live. This July, they undertake a string of live dates across the USA and Canada, as part of Asia’s Heat Of The Moment Tour along with Martin Turner ex Wishbone Ash …and Curved Air … & MC’d by artist Roger Dean. Thijs van Leer concludes, “After all these years, Focus is in the here and now; the triumph of survival!”

PLEASE WELCOME VOCALIST, KEYBOARDIST, FLAUSTIST AND BAND LEADER FOR LEGENDARY DUTCH PROGRESSIVE ROCK FOCUS THIJS VAN LEER

TO INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS …

PREORDER

THE BRAND-NEW STUDIO ALBUM

BY

F O C U S

Entitled

“FOCUS 12”

Available July 5, 2024

“FOCUS 12” by Focus can be pre-ordered here: https://burningshed.com/store/focus

FOR MORE INFORMATION

ABOUT

Thijs van Leer

And

F O C U S

Visit

https://focustheband.co.uk/

Official website

https://www.facebook.com/focustheband50/

Facebook

https://www.instagram.com/focustheband50/

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/focustheband50/

Twitter

https://www.youtube.com/focus%20the%20band

YouTube

Heat Of The Moment

2024 Tour Dates:

Headlined by Asia

featuring Focus

Martin Turner ex Wishbone Ash

and Curved Air

& MC’d by artist Roger Dean.

The tour will commence on July 3rd 2024 and will incorporate 21 dates across the USA and Canada.

The tour has been masterminded by rock music keyboard legend & original Asia member, Geoff Downes (Buggles, Asia, Yes)

Wednesday, July 3: Ridgefield Playhouse, Ridgefield, CT

Thursday, July 4: Fallsview Casino, Niagara Falls, ON

Saturday, July 6: Chevalier Theatre, Medford, MA

Sunday, July 7: The Paramount, Huntingdon, NY

Tuesday, July 9: Bergen Performing Arts Center, Englewood, NJ

Wednesday, July 10: Count Basie Center, Red Bank, NJ

Friday, July 12: Tropicana Showroom, Atlantic City, NJ

Saturday, July 13: Wind Creek Event Center, Bethlehem, PA

Sunday, July 14: American Music Theatre, Lancaster, PA

Tuesday, July 16: Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium, Spartanburg, SC

Wednesday, July 17: Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN

Thursday, July 18: Columbia County Performing Arts Center, Evans, GA

Saturday, July 20: Hard Rock Live, Orlando, FL

Sunday, July 21: Pompano Beach Amphitheater, Pompano Beach, FL

Monday, July 22: Seminole Hard Rock, Tampa, FL

Wednesday, July 24: North Charleston PAC, North Charleston, SC

Thursday, July 25: Macon City Auditorium, Macon, GA

Friday, July 26: Saenger Theatre, Mobile, AL

Sunday, July 28: VBC Mark Smith Concert Hall, Huntsville, AL

Tuesday, July 30: The Arcada Theatre, St Charles, IL

Wednesday, July 31: The Pabst Theater, Milwaukee, WI

DISCOGRAPHY

FOCUS

Focus Plays Focus (1970; also known as In and Out of Focus)

Focus II (1971; also known as Moving Waves)

Focus 3 (1972)

Hamburger Concerto (1974)

Mother Focus (1975)

Ship of Memories (1976) (studio compilation)

Focus con Proby (1978)

Focus (1985) (as Jan Akkerman & Thijs Van Leer)

Focus 8 (2002)

Focus 9 / New Skin (2006)

Focus X (2012)

Golden Oldies (2014) (studio re-recordings)

Focus 8.5 / Beyond the Horizon (2016)

The Focus Family Album (2017) (studio outtakes from 2012 to 2017, plus solo tracks)

Focus 11 (2018)

Completely Focused (2021) (studio re-recordings)

Focus 12 (2024) (up-coming)

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