The secrets behind Jan Akkerman's guitar tone on Hocus Pocus by Focus

Jan Akkerman
(Image credit: Fin Costello/Redferns)

Trivia question: who was the first Dutch guitarist to record a song called Eruption

The answer is not Edward Van Halen, but rather Jan Akkerman, who recorded Eruption with his band Focus in 1971 for the album Moving Waves (titled Focus II in Europe), although Focus’ song was a sprawling 23-minute prog-rock concerto based on the tale of Orpheus and Euridice instead of a blazing solo showcase. 

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Chris Gill

Chris is the co-author of Eruption - Conversations with Eddie Van Halen. He is a 40-year music industry veteran who started at Boardwalk Entertainment (Joan Jett, Night Ranger) and Roland US before becoming a guitar journalist in 1991. He has interviewed more than 600 artists, written more than 1,400 product reviews and contributed to Jeff Beck’s Beck 01: Hot Rods and Rock & Roll and Eric Clapton’s Six String Stories.