Focus are a Dutch progressive rock band formed in Amsterdam in 1969 by keyboardist, vocalist, and flautist Thijs van Leer, drummer Hans Cleuver, bassist Martijn Dresden, and guitarist Jan Akkerman. The band has undergone numerous formations in its history; since December 2016, it has comprised Van Leer, drummer Pierre van der Linden, guitarist Menno Gootjes, and bassist Udo Pannekeet. They have sold one million RIAA-certified albums in the United States.
Jonathan Paul Clegg, was a South African musician, singer-songwriter, dancer, anthropologist and anti-apartheid activist.
Peter Joseph Andrew Hammill is an English musician and recording artist. He was a founder member of the progressive rock band Van der Graaf Generator. Best known as a singer-songwriter, he also plays guitar and piano and produces his own recordings and occasionally those of other artists. In 2012, he was recognised with the Visionary award at the first Progressive Music Awards.
Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine were an English indie rock band formed in 1987 by singer Jim "Jim Bob" Morrison and guitarist Les "Fruitbat" Carter. They made their name with a distinctive style of power pop, fusing samples, sequenced basses and drum machines with rock 'n' roll guitars and off-beat wordplay-loaded lyrics. They reached the height of their fame in 1992. Over the following years the band took on new members, reaching a six-piece, but struggled to regain their earlier popularity. They initially split up in 1998 after releasing seven albums.
Gito Baloi was an African musician, from Mozambique. Originally known for his collaborations and as a member of the trio Tananas, he also released solo albums as vocalist and bassist: "Ekhaya" (1995), “Na Ku Randza" (1997), "Herbs & Roots" (2003) and the posthumously-released "Beyond" (2008).
Fokofpolisiekar is an Afrikaans alternative rock band from Bellville, near Cape Town, South Africa. Due to the obscenity in the name, they are also commonly known simply as Polisiekar or FPK.
Louis Mhlanga is a Zimbabwean artist based in South Africa, an award-winning guitarist and producer. Mhlanga taught himself to play the guitar at a young age and is considered one of the best Southern African guitarists.
Sheer Sound is a South African independent record label formed in 1994 by Damon Forbes.
Fire Through the Window (FTTW) is an indie pop rock group hailing from Durban, South Africa. The band was originally formed in late 2006 by couple Marc De La Querra and Sinéad Dennis, however since 2007 Fire Through The Window has performed as a full five piece band. The band signed to Witchdoctor Records early in 2007 after expressing interest in the band to Shaughn Pieterse, the label manager. He agreed to sign them and assist in production of their debut album. De La Querra wrote all the music and tracked all the instruments (guitar, bass and drums) in the recording studio, while De La Querra and Dennis co-wrote the lyrics and melodies. The album was released nationwide in the 3rd quarter of 2007. The first single "Just Like You Are" was played on radio stations around the country and was also chosen as the official soundtrack for the first ever South African Apple iPod Nano commercial which was broadcast regularly on multiple channels on satellite television over the festive season.
Urban Creep were a seminal South African rock band.
Roger Lucey is a South African musician, journalist, filmmaker, actor, and educator. In the late 1970s and early 1980s his early career as a musician was destroyed by Paul Erasmus of the Security Branch of the South African Police, because the lyrics to Lucey's protest songs were considered a threat to the Apartheid State. Although already aware of his anti-apartheid songs, the South African Government's security apparatus only swung into action to destroy Lucey's career after he performed a radical song in a programme on Voice of America radio. The criminal methods used against Lucey formed part of the testimony given by Paul Erasmus in front of the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Zebra & Giraffe is an alternative rock band from South Africa. The band's debut album, Collected Memories, was released on 5 May 2008.
Jim Neversink is a South African musician, singer and songwriter. His musical style spans indie rock, country, americana and punk.
Fruitbats & Crows is the follow-up to Farryl Purkiss's 2006 self-titled album. In the three years between albums, Purkiss had toured Australia three times, Europe, United States and South Africa. His songs have been used in campaigns by Nissan (Greece), Audi (UK), MTN as well as placement in the film "Adopted". In 2007 he was voted the most popular musician by Heat Magazine
The Shaolin Afronauts are an Afrobeat band based in Adelaide, Australia. Their music is heavily influenced by West African Afrobeat artists such as Fela Kuti, but also incorporates elements of avant-garde jazz, soul and other traditional African and Cuban percussive rhythms. They describe their music as "interstellar futurist afro-soul".
Taxi Violence is a South African rock band from Cape Town. The group consists of George van der Spuy (vocals), Jason Ling (bass), Louis Nel (drums), Rian Zietsman (guitar) and Loedi van Renen (guitar/bass). They have released five studio albums: Untie Yourself (2006), The Turn (2009), Unplugged: Long Way From Home (2011), Soul Shake (2013), and Tenfold (2014). They are influenced by bands such as: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Queens of the Stone Age, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana, and Pearl Jam.
Guy Buttery is a South African musician primarily known as a guitar player.
Lizé Heerman is a South African-born singer-songwriter, Supersport presenter, radio DJ and a finalist of the fifth season Idols South Africa. She currently lives in Australia, and recently appeared as a contestant on The Voice.
Jean Morrison is a South African alternative rock singer-songwriter and musician. He released an EP in 2008 (F.A.W.E.) which was produced by Video Killed The Radio Star guitarist and Squeal frontman, David Birch. His music has been compared to Radiohead, Jeff Buckley and Muse and he has supported South African acts such as Stealing Love Jones, Josie Field, Farryl Purkiss and Squeal. He toured South Africa nationally with Steve Murray from Stealing Love Jones.
Kenneth Edward Henson, better known as Ken E Henson,, was a South African singer, guitarist, sitar player, and composer. He co-founded the progressive rock bands Freedom's Children and Abstract Truth. He later formed the duo Finch & Henson with the late Brian Finch.
