All Clear
They’ve been at the forefront of progressive music since 1969, and Focus show no signs of slowing down with latest studio album Focus 12. Prog caught up with mainman Thijs van Leer, ahead of their recent North American shows as part of The Heat of The Moment Tour line-up, to find out more about their new material and why he’s so happy to get back on the road.
Words: Johnny Sharp Portrait: Raymond Steenwijk
In the moment: Thijs van Leer.
Back in the days when we naïvely imagined that musicians might do something as conventional as retire once they reached a certain age, it was comforting to think that they might all do so together. Perhaps, we pondered, they might relive their glory days together in some sort of rest home for ageing prog folk.
As it has turned out, few are taking that option, and instead many are playing, recording and touring well into their 70s and beyond –with their fanbase only too happy to support them. At the time of writing, Thijs van Leer, generously sideburned founder-member of Dutch prog trailblazers Focus, is preparing to tour the US supporting Asia as part of the July ’24 Heat Of The Moment shows, alongside former Wishbone Ash man Martin Turner and fellow Euro prog legends Curved Air. And according to van Leer, he’s anticipating a more social occasion than most, with a touch of the old package tour to the transport arrangements at least.
“Myself and Pierre [van der Linden, longtime Focus drummer] are going to share a bus with Geoff [Downes] and Sonja [Kristina], both of whom are good friends of mine,” he tells Prog over a video call. “So I’m looking forward to that, and I’m really excited about playing those shows.”
Meanwhile, van Leer also recently had lunch with Asia’s new singer and bassist, Harry Whitley, the 29-year-old Welshman who has stepped in to the formidable shoes of the late John Wetton for this tour. “A nice guy and a great musician,” says van Leer, who is no stranger to recruiting younger faces to play alongside himself.