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Free-form guitar virtuoso Jan Akkerman and classically trained keyboard player Thijs van Leer teamed up in their native Holland to form Focus and recorded Moving Waves; one of the 70s most original and startling LPs. The epic 'Hocus Pocus' took the Reading Festival by storm, and Focus went on to the US where they scored top 10 singles and albums. In an explosive period of three years Focus collectively scooped many music awards, had best-selling chart albums, and in 1973 Jan Akkerman was voted 'best international guitarist' by the readers of UK music paper Melody Maker. Not surprisingly, with two classically trained musicians in the band, tensions ran high, and the inevitable split occurred. Akkerman went on to become a respected guitar master and still successfully tours Europe today. Long-time associate David Randall has assembled Akkerman's journey, lavishly illustrated, from cult hero to guitar superstar.
ISBN: 0 946719 44 6 Publication: November 2002 224 pages (illustrated). Hardback. Price UK £20.00 US$30.00 |
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IN AND OUT OF FOCUS
The Music of
Jan Akkerman David Randall About the Author David Randall worked closely with Jan Akkerman in the years 1997-2000 and was responsible for the official website, Akkernet. His work also extended to organising Jan's first UK tour for 20 years in 1999 and another UK tour in 2000.
The book is based on interviews with Jan Akkerman, Thijs van Leer and other key players including producer Mike Vernon and Yde de Jong the long-time Focus manager. This is the first full biography of Jan Akkerman and Focus and is heavily illustrated with more than 130 photos and items of memorabilia. |
£18 plus postage (Special Pre-Publication Offer) |
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