Sad she died so young. Until these pictures, I never knew for sure if the singer was a woman or a high-pitched male.
Over the years, the chorus lyrics have confused many a listener who thought they sang "I'm your fetus" and a smaller few who thought they sang "I'm your penis".
In 1969, that would have been both shocking and blue.
LOL we sang the latter
I also was unfamiliar with the details of the group. I always thought it was a male singer.
Yes, it really is sad. She was still singing in public performances earlier this year.
Mariska Veres was a powerful natural singer with a good range. During the time she was lead singer in Shocking Blue, she did not push her voice to the maximum yaowling/screaming level as do so many female pop singers.
Still it is a bit ironic that some would think that Mariska Veres was a man because Shocking Blue's management and record company had pushed very hard to market Miss Veres as a sultry sex symbol.
From everything I've read thus far, the last thing Mariska Veres wanted was to be promoted as a sex symbol.
One report says that she was very straight in her personal life and in business dealings.
According to some reports, Mariska didn't use any drugs, smoke cigarettes, nor drink any alcohol.
Before she accepted Shocking Blue's invitation to become lead singer, Mariska Veres insisted that all band members agree that each individual's relationship with her would remain strictly business and non-romantic.