Mariska Veres of Shocking Blue dies aged 59

Mariska Veres, frontwoman of Dutch pop group Shocking Blue, died last week at the age of 59 from cancer. Shocking Blue were most famous for their 1970 hit 'Venus', later covered with great success by girl band Bananarama of course. The group split in 1974, reuniting briefly in 1984. In the intervening years, Veres pursued an eclectic solo career, which included a period of jazz singing with the Shocking Jazz Quintet.