Shocking Blue

Shocking Blue formed in The Hague in 1967, originally called The Motions. The band's lineup included Robbie van Leeuwen on guitar and vocals, Mariska Veres as lead singer, Klaasje van der Wal on bass, and Cor van der Beek on drums. They built a local following with energetic shows and straightforward pop songs.

In 1969, van Leeuwen wrote "Venus," which became an international hit. The song's distinctive opening and Veres's vocals made it stand out, reaching number one in multiple countries. That success defined the band's career, though they also recorded other material like "Devil's suite" and "Saw You In June."

After "Venus," the group faced lineup changes and internal difficulties. Van der Beek left in 1971, replaced by Henk Smitskamp, and van der Wal also departed. Shocking Blue disbanded in 1974, though they had brief reunions later. Veres died in 2006.