Mystery (band)
Encyclopedia
Mystery are a Canadian Progressive Rock
band formed in 1986 by guitarist/keyboard player Michel St-Pere. Originally the band had no stable lineup, but in 1990 a lineup formed featuring Pere on guitars, along with Raymond Savoie on vocals, Stephane Perreault on drums, and Benoit Dupuis on Keyboards. This lineup, with Gary Savoie replacing Ray Savoie on vocals and bass player Richard Addison on bass guitar, was the first recording lineup of the band. This lineup recorded the band's first album.
Stephane Perreault was taken ill with a crippling illness in 1992, which led to a hiatus until 1993, when the band regrouped. The band brought in new bass player Patrick Bourque to replace Addison, and Michel Painchaud joined on saxophone and acoustic guitar. In 1995, the band was reduced to four members when Dupuis and Painchaud left. This lineup not only recorded the band's second album, "Theatre Of Mind", but brought the band to an audience outside of Canada.
During the recording of the band's third album, entitled "Destiny?", Stéphane Perreault left and was replaced by Steve Gagné. By the time it came to record the band's fourth album in 1999, singer Gary Savoie left due to musical differences, and was subsequently replaced by Benoît David
, who Michel St-Pere had met after a Yes tribute gig by David's then-band Close to the Edge. Benoit David
now fronts Yes
as well as Mystery. This lineup of the band continued until 2007 when the band's fourth album, "Beneath The Veil Of Winter's Face", was released. Patrick Bourque died a few months after the albums release in September 2007, the cause of death was determined to be suicide. He was also a member of Emerson Drive
up until a year before his death.
Following the demise of Bourque, St-Pere, David, and Gagne, soldiered on, hiring Francois Fournier to replace Bourque on bass, and bringing second guitarist Dean Baldwin to the fold. Former keyboard player Benoit Dupuis rejoined the band in his original role. This lineup has released the band's fifth album, "One Among The Living".
St-Pere has his own studio, called Studio Illusion, owned by himself and his friend Serge Gangloff. He also owns the record label that Mystery are signed to, which is called Unicorn Digital.
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band formed in 1986 by guitarist/keyboard player Michel St-Pere. Originally the band had no stable lineup, but in 1990 a lineup formed featuring Pere on guitars, along with Raymond Savoie on vocals, Stephane Perreault on drums, and Benoit Dupuis on Keyboards. This lineup, with Gary Savoie replacing Ray Savoie on vocals and bass player Richard Addison on bass guitar, was the first recording lineup of the band. This lineup recorded the band's first album.
Stephane Perreault was taken ill with a crippling illness in 1992, which led to a hiatus until 1993, when the band regrouped. The band brought in new bass player Patrick Bourque to replace Addison, and Michel Painchaud joined on saxophone and acoustic guitar. In 1995, the band was reduced to four members when Dupuis and Painchaud left. This lineup not only recorded the band's second album, "Theatre Of Mind", but brought the band to an audience outside of Canada.
During the recording of the band's third album, entitled "Destiny?", Stéphane Perreault left and was replaced by Steve Gagné. By the time it came to record the band's fourth album in 1999, singer Gary Savoie left due to musical differences, and was subsequently replaced by Benoît David
Benoît David
Benoît David is a Canadian singer who is the lead vocalist of the English progressive rock band Yes and Canadian band Mystery. He was selected by Yes in 2008 to stand in for long-time vocalist Jon Anderson, who left the band due to ill health...
, who Michel St-Pere had met after a Yes tribute gig by David's then-band Close to the Edge. Benoit David
Benoît David
Benoît David is a Canadian singer who is the lead vocalist of the English progressive rock band Yes and Canadian band Mystery. He was selected by Yes in 2008 to stand in for long-time vocalist Jon Anderson, who left the band due to ill health...
now fronts Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
as well as Mystery. This lineup of the band continued until 2007 when the band's fourth album, "Beneath The Veil Of Winter's Face", was released. Patrick Bourque died a few months after the albums release in September 2007, the cause of death was determined to be suicide. He was also a member of Emerson Drive
Emerson Drive
Emerson Drive is a country music band founded in Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada in 1995. The band is Brad Mates , Danick Dupelle , Mike Melancon , Dale Wallace , and David Pichette .Early on, the band found minor success in Canada, releasing two albums under the name of 12 Gauge, the first Open...
up until a year before his death.
Following the demise of Bourque, St-Pere, David, and Gagne, soldiered on, hiring Francois Fournier to replace Bourque on bass, and bringing second guitarist Dean Baldwin to the fold. Former keyboard player Benoit Dupuis rejoined the band in his original role. This lineup has released the band's fifth album, "One Among The Living".
St-Pere has his own studio, called Studio Illusion, owned by himself and his friend Serge Gangloff. He also owns the record label that Mystery are signed to, which is called Unicorn Digital.
Current lineup
- Michel St-Pere (guitars/keyboards/bass guitars) (1986-present)
- Benoît DavidBenoît DavidBenoît David is a Canadian singer who is the lead vocalist of the English progressive rock band Yes and Canadian band Mystery. He was selected by Yes in 2008 to stand in for long-time vocalist Jon Anderson, who left the band due to ill health...
(lead vocals) (1999-present) - Steve Gagne (drums) (1997-present)
- Benoit Dupuis (keyboards) (1990-1995, 2007-present)
- Francois Fournier (bass guitars) (2007-present)
- Dean Baldwin (guitars) (2007-present)
Former members
- Patrick Bourque (bass guitars) (1994-2007) (Deceased: September 26th 2007)
- Gary Savoie (lead vocals) (1991-1999)
- Stéphane Perreault (drums) (1990-1997)
- Michel Painchaud (saxophone/acoustic guitars) (1994-1995)
- Richard Addison (bass guitars) (1991-1994)
- Raymond Savoie (lead vocals) (1990-1991)
Discography
- Mystery (1992)
- Theatre of the Mind (1996)
- Destiny? (1998)
- At The Dawn Of A New Millennium (2001)
- Beneath The Veil Of Winter's Face (2007)
- One Among The Living (2010)