Pierre van der Linden
Encyclopedia
Pierre van der Linden, born 19 February 1946 in the Netherlands
, is a jazz drummer whose style was influenced by his childhood hero Buddy Rich
.
In the 1960s he drummed with noted guitarist Jan Akkerman
in bands such as the Friendship Quartet, Johnny and the Cellar Rockers, the Hunters, and Brainbox, as well as in other Dutch groups such as After Tea, Tee Set
, and ZZ and the Maskers. In late 1970 he rejoined Akkerman in Focus
, the progressive rock
band which brought them to international fame. His drum fills on the serio-comic, proto-metal
opus "Hocus Pocus
" single became, in the seventies, what those of "Wipe Out" were in the sixties, an FM radio staple in the United States. Dissatisfied with the band's change of direction to a more commercial, mainstream sound (which included less-syncopated, simpler time signatures) he left Focus
in October, 1973 and was quickly enlisted to Trace
, a Dutch supergroup led by classical keyboardist Rick van der Linden
(no relation) and bassist Jaap van Eyck.
When his Focus
replacement Colin Allen
left the band, Pierre briefly rejoined the group in 1975 for live dates and an unreleased track, "Glider", subsequently released on the "Ship of Memories" LP. He toured and recorded with Jan Akkerman
on Jan's solo album "Eli" in 1976, and on "Floatin'" on Akkerman's eponymous 1977 release. He also recorded with jazz keyboardist Jasper van 't Hof
and with band Sweet d'Buster's "Out of the Blue" in 1980. In the 1990s he recorded and performed live with Advance Warning, a free jazz
group, and in 2004 he rejoined keyboardist/flautist Thijs van Leer
in Focus
with whom he currently records and plays live in venues across the world.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, is a jazz drummer whose style was influenced by his childhood hero Buddy Rich
Buddy Rich
Bernard "Buddy" Rich was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. Rich was billed as "the world's greatest drummer" and was known for his virtuosic technique, power, groove, and speed.-Early life:...
.
In the 1960s he drummed with noted guitarist Jan Akkerman
Jan Akkerman
Jan Akkerman is a Dutch guitarist. Akkerman is a distinctive guitarist, constantly experimenting with new equipment and guitars. Akkerman's distinctive guitar sound is characterised by his pioneering use of volume swells which produce a smooth, fluty, sustained tone, and other complex techniques...
in bands such as the Friendship Quartet, Johnny and the Cellar Rockers, the Hunters, and Brainbox, as well as in other Dutch groups such as After Tea, Tee Set
Tee Set
Tee Set was a pop rock band formed in 1966 in Delft, Netherlands.The group recorded a single in 1969 entitled "Ma Belle Amie", which was a hit in their native country, selling over 100,000 copies...
, and ZZ and the Maskers. In late 1970 he rejoined Akkerman in Focus
Focus (band)
Focus is a Dutch rock band which was founded by classically trained organist/flautist Thijs van Leer in 1969, and is most famous for the instrumental pieces "Hocus Pocus" and "Sylvia"...
, the progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band which brought them to international fame. His drum fills on the serio-comic, proto-metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
opus "Hocus Pocus
Hocus Pocus (song)
"Hocus Pocus" is a 1971 instrumental from Focus II , the second album by Dutch rock group Focus. It was written by guitarist Jan Akkerman and flautist/keyboardist Thijs van Leer...
" single became, in the seventies, what those of "Wipe Out" were in the sixties, an FM radio staple in the United States. Dissatisfied with the band's change of direction to a more commercial, mainstream sound (which included less-syncopated, simpler time signatures) he left Focus
Focus (band)
Focus is a Dutch rock band which was founded by classically trained organist/flautist Thijs van Leer in 1969, and is most famous for the instrumental pieces "Hocus Pocus" and "Sylvia"...
in October, 1973 and was quickly enlisted to Trace
Trace (band)
Trace is a Dutch progressive rock band founded by Rick van der Linden after leaving Ekseption.- History :In 1973 after releasing their album entitled Trinity, the members of the band Ekseption asked Rick van der Linden to leave the band...
, a Dutch supergroup led by classical keyboardist Rick van der Linden
Rick van der Linden
Rick van der Linden was a Dutch composer and keyboardist. Van der Linden first gained fame as a member of Ekseption, but played in several other bands including most notably Trace, as well as solo...
(no relation) and bassist Jaap van Eyck.
When his Focus
Focus (band)
Focus is a Dutch rock band which was founded by classically trained organist/flautist Thijs van Leer in 1969, and is most famous for the instrumental pieces "Hocus Pocus" and "Sylvia"...
replacement Colin Allen
Colin Allen
Colin Allen is an English blues drummer and songwriter.-Career:Allen took up drums at the age of 18, playing initially with local jazz musician in Dorset...
left the band, Pierre briefly rejoined the group in 1975 for live dates and an unreleased track, "Glider", subsequently released on the "Ship of Memories" LP. He toured and recorded with Jan Akkerman
Jan Akkerman
Jan Akkerman is a Dutch guitarist. Akkerman is a distinctive guitarist, constantly experimenting with new equipment and guitars. Akkerman's distinctive guitar sound is characterised by his pioneering use of volume swells which produce a smooth, fluty, sustained tone, and other complex techniques...
on Jan's solo album "Eli" in 1976, and on "Floatin'" on Akkerman's eponymous 1977 release. He also recorded with jazz keyboardist Jasper van 't Hof
Jasper van 't Hof
Jasper van 't Hof is a Dutch jazz pianist and keyboard-player.Van 't Hof was born in Enschede, Overijssel, Netherlands, and began studying piano at the age of five. He was playing in jazz bands in school, and by the age of 19 was playing at jazz festivals with drummer Pierre Courbois...
and with band Sweet d'Buster's "Out of the Blue" in 1980. In the 1990s he recorded and performed live with Advance Warning, a free jazz
Free jazz
Free jazz is an approach to jazz music that was first developed in the 1950s and 1960s. Though the music produced by free jazz pioneers varied widely, the common feature was a dissatisfaction with the limitations of bebop, hard bop, and modal jazz, which had developed in the 1940s and 1950s...
group, and in 2004 he rejoined keyboardist/flautist Thijs van Leer
Thijs van Leer
Thijs Van Leer is a Dutch musician, singer and composer, best known for heading the Dutch progressive rock band, Focus, as primary vocalist, Hammond organ player, and flautist. He also yodels and whistles...
in Focus
Focus (band)
Focus is a Dutch rock band which was founded by classically trained organist/flautist Thijs van Leer in 1969, and is most famous for the instrumental pieces "Hocus Pocus" and "Sylvia"...
with whom he currently records and plays live in venues across the world.