FOCUS - Hocus Pocus:
The life & journey of rock's dutch masters (Paperback)

Mr. Peet Johnson (Author)

The first fully comprehensive chronological and biographical record of the innovative and hugely influential group, Focus - from its infancy in 1969 right through to the present day. Compiled from more than 180 exclusive interviews with past and present band members and associates. This 340 page book documents the dramatic roller-coaster ride from early struggles, meteoric global success, hits, misses, break-ups, tragedies, bitter law suits and eventual resurrection. Also includes 20 pages of - many never before published - photographs.

Now available in both $US:
(www.amazon.com/Hocus-Pocus-journey-rocks-masters/dp/0646577549)
and UK pounds:
(www.amazon.co.uk/Hocus-Pocus-journey-rocks-masters/dp/0646577549)
- in euro very soon.

PDJ.

Thijs Van Leer talks about the Hocus Pocus Book: (audio file)


From Bournemouth to Beverly Hills:
Tales of a Tub-Thumper

by Colin Allen

Paperback – October 2, 2018

Memoirs of a rock drummer who played with some of the most famous names of the last fifty years.
Why did I write my memoirs? It’s an idea I had toyed with over the last several years - people would sometimes say,

“You’ve lived a pretty interesting life and you've made old bones - you should write a book".

Also after almost fifty years of lyric writing and other compositional chores related to the music business, I thought it was something I might be able to pull off and at the same time, find some enjoyment in the process. I finally started to pound the QWERTY shortly after my daughter remarked,

"Yeah Papps, you should write a book - I want to know what you got up to".

So….. eighty years that followed my birth just prior to WWII, growing up during the "ration book" era in a southern seaside resort, then an apprenticeship in the aircraft industry during which time I discovered a love for jazz and consequently, a passionate interest in the art of playing the drums, as well as - like most men - being partial to the company of the fairer sex. I travelled the world, lived in three different countries, finally settling in Stockholm and can honestly say, I had a job I really enjoyed - perhaps that is the much sought after, "Secret of Life".

I’ll leave it there.

 


FOCUS: World Success, Egos and Power Struggles (Translation)

DUTCH LANGUAGE BIOGRAPHY

A Dutch-language only 'revealing' biography by Jaap Van Eik.

Anonymus III

 


IN AND OUT OF FOCUS: THE MUSIC OF JAN AKKERMAN & FOCUS
(2003 - SAF Publishing Ltd., London)

By David Randall

Book description:


An unauthorized biography of former Focus, now solo guitarist, Jan Akkerman. Of more interest to fans of Akkerman, than Focus (only 78 pages on the band) it is penned by a former associate of Jan's who successfully coaxed the legendary Dutchman into touring the British Isles after many years. Going back to his days as a teenage sensation in the 60s with Johnny and the Cellar Rockers to his highly acclaimed Passion CD of 1999, it also features a fully comprehensive discography and liner note translations. It is the very first book written about this music phenomenon and has over 130 pictures, some quite rare, throughout the book.

Anonymus III