366Art | Mariska Veres

Mariska Veres was born on October 1, 1947, in The Hague. Her father, Lajos Veres, was a Hungarian violinist, and her mother, Maria Ender, was of French-German descent. Veres grew up in a musical family. She began playing piano and singing at a young age, participated in talent shows, and became a singer in various local bands. With her distinctive voice and striking appearance—marked by her long black hair and bohemian style—she quickly became a familiar face in The Hague’s music scene.

In 1968, Mariska was asked to join Shocking Blue, a rock band from The Hague that had been formed a year earlier by Robbie van Leeuwen. The band achieved international success with the song Venus. Shocking Blue also had other hits, such as Blossom Lady,  Send Me a Postcard and Never Marry a Railroad Man, but Venus remains their most iconic track. Veres' unique voice and mysterious stage presence contributed greatly to the band's success.

Shocking Blue disbanded in 1974, but Mariska Veres continued to be active in music. She embarked on a solo career and released several singles, though she never achieved the same level of international success as she had with Shocking Blue. She was mainly successful in the Netherlands and Germany. She also participated in various music projects, such as The Shocking Jazz Quintet, where she performed a more jazzy repertoire.

In the 1990s, she briefly reunited with Robbie van Leeuwen for a few performances with Shocking Blue. Despite the enduring success of Venus and the iconic status of the band, she led a quiet life in The Hague, away from the spotlight. She was openly proud of her Roma heritage and felt a strong connection to Roma culture through her father.

Mariska Veres passed away on December 2, 2006, at the age of 59, due to cancer. Her death marked the end of an influential musical era, especially thanks to her distinctive voice and powerful stage presence. Venus remains a timeless symbol of the psychedelic rock era of the late 1960s.