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Mystery
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Mystery
are
• Benoit David - Vocals
• Michel St-Pere – Keyboards, Back Vocals
• Steve Gagné - Drums, Back Vocals & keyboards
• Benoit Dupuis - Keyboards, Back Vocals
• Dean Baldwin - Guitars, Keyboards & Back Vocals
• Francois Fournier - Bass, & Back Vocals
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Band Bio …..
Mystery was formed in 1986 by Michel St-Pere
in the Montreal region. Originally created as a studio project,
it would take nearly four years before a stable line-up takes
form. By 1990 the band consisted of Michel St-Pere on guitars,
Raymond Savoie on vocals, Stephane Perreault on drums, and
Benoit Dupuis on Keyboards. During the same time, Studio
illusion is created, a recording studio owned by St-pere and
long time friend Serge Gangloff.
In 1991, Mystery records 25 original songs. In addition, Michel
St-Père decides to produce Mystery's first CD with additional
help from Ray Savoie's brother Gary on lead vocals, and Richard
Addison on bass guitar. It will take a few months to produce but
finally their first independently released 5 song CD is released
in 1992.
Mystery generates interests from many record labels. Then, due
to the unfortunate and untimely illness of Mystery's drummer,
Stéphane Perreault, Mystery is forced to take a break and each
member uses this time to work on different projects. Michel St-Père
and Gary Savoie take the whole summer of 1993 to record another
20 original songs at Studio Illusion and they get ready for the
next CD.
Autumn 1993, Mystery gets back together as they welcome back
their courageous friend, Stéphane Perreault. His illness leaves
him without the use of his legs. However, Stéphane's strong
determination, will and his passion for his craft give him a new
and unique approach in drumming. He becomes one of the first
drummers to play from a wheelchair without the help of any
preprogrammed sequences.
Summer 1994, Mystery plays the whole summer in venues all over
the province, bringing their music to their numerous and growing
Fans. Winter 1994; Mystery starts recording Theatre of the Mind,
their first full lenght CD at Studio Illusion. While recording,
Mystery's lineup introduces Patrick Bourque on bass guitar and
Michel Painchaud on saxophone and acoustic guitar.
1995, Michel St-Pere forms UNICORN RECORDS as they are
finalizing the mix for their Theatre of the Mind. Originally
created to promote the music of Mystery, no one suspected that
the label would become a major force in the progressive rock
community a few years later. Benoît Dupuis and Michel Painchaud
quit Mystery as the band is testing their Quadraphonic live
sound system while preparing for the Theatre of the Mind
promotional tour in various small venues in the province.
1996, Unicorn Records releases Theatre of the Mind. MYSTERY is
by now a four-piece band including, Gary Savoie on vocals,
Michel St-Père on electric, acoustic guitar and keyboards,
Patrick Bourque on bass and Stéphane Perreault on drums and
synthesizers, The band is tighter and stronger than ever and
they are ready to bring their music to the whole world. Theatre
of the Mind was the turning point in MYSTERY's career and for
the first time the music of MYSTERY was heard outside of Canada.
Then came a first review from a Canadian magazine and then more
were coming from all around the world. Progressive rock radio
programs would start playing songs from Theatre of the Mind and
some Record labels would start selling Mystery’s CDs in
countries like: France, Norway, USA and Canada.
1997, MYSTERY begins work on the third album but during the
recording sessions, Stéphane Perreault left, after 7 years with
MYSTERY, to concentrate on his graphic career. As the recording
sessions were already started, they had to find someone who
could take the job of not only a great drummer but also a great
friend. With the help of Gilles Peltier, who worked on the
mixing session of Theatre of the Mind, introduced Steve Gagné to
the band. Steve came to Gilles’ studio and recorded one song as
a try out and he fitted right away. Once again, providence was
on our side, and the recordings of DESTINY? could continue.
Destiny? Is released in May 1998, an album with a more
progressive edge to the music and the CD was also simultaneously
license to one of the biggest Progressive rock label in Europe,
MUSEA. The CD receives very good reviews from all around the
world and proves to be MYSTERY's best selling album so far. At
the same time a new edition of Theatre of the Mind was released
with a new cover art designed this time by MYSTERY's ex-drummer
Stéphane Perreault.
The name of Mystery is in every progressive rock magazines in
the world. While the critic were acclaiming the new album and
the band was at their best in live performances, it was clear
that not all the members were happy with the direction MYSTERY
was taking and by 1999, singer Gary Savoie and MYSTERY had to go
their separate ways.
The new album that was planned for 1999 had not been started yet
and MYSTERY had to find another singer to replace 7 years part
of the band Gary Savoie. This new singer would have a big shoe
to fill as reviews were often crediting Gary Savoie to be one of
the best progressive rock Singer in the world. Michel St-Pere
knew just who could do the job, Benoit David who Michel had met
2 years prior to Gary's departure after a YES tribute concert.
Benoit’s performance was amazing and Michel knew at that time
that if ever they would need a new singer, that they would ask
this guy first. Steve Gagné knew someone who knew Benoît and
after a few phone calls Benoît arrived at Illusion Studio to do
an audition for the next MYSTERY CD. The song was Beneath the
Veil of Winter’s Face, a song left over from the destiny?
sessions. Benoit did a great job and joined the band right away.
This audition tape will later be mixed and released on the
DisDURPance Vol 3 compilation CD in Germany.
Meanwhile all of this had created a delay and the new CD was
already a year late and no work was done. A Compilation CD with
songs from the first three CDs called AT THE DAWN OF A NEW
MILLENNIUM was released on UNICORN RECORDS. The label created by
Michel St-Pere was now talking to other artists for the release
of their music. This Compilation CDs was to mark the ending for
the first chapter in MYSTERY's career and announcing a new
beginning as well as a tribute to the voice of Gary Savoie and
the beautiful contributions of many musicians who helped to make
MYSTERY's music what it is today.
In 2000, Unicorn Records released the music of Spaced Out and
Hamadryad. The label would take more and more time in Michel’s
life for he would soon develop a real passion for his work at
the label. This would however have a direct effect on the
Mystery project and the recording session for the new album
would be delayed.
MYSTERY would fill that gap by contributing on the Pink Floyd
tribute album Signs of Life with a version of Hey you! released
on the German label Angular and later on a version of Visions of
Paradise was produced for the Moody Blues tribute CD Higher and
Higher released on the Italian label Mellow Records.
In 2007, Unicorn Records now Unicorn Digital Inc. finally
releases the long awaited new Mystery album entitled Beneath the
Veil of Winter’s Face. The album was recorded and mixed by
Michel St-Pere at Studio illusion III in Mirabel Quebec,
mastered by Richard Addison at trillium Sound Studios and
featuring the beautiful pictures of Julien Roumagnac and graphic
designs of Xinema’s drummer, Jonas Eckman. The Bands now consist
of Benoit David on vocals, Steve Gagné on drums, Patrick Bourque
( Now living in Nashville and a full time member of the Country
band Emerson Drive) on bass and Michel St-Pere on Guitars, Bass
and Keyboards. The CD also features Spaced Out’s Antoine Fafard
as well as Benoit Pepin on Bass.
Beneath the Veil of Winter’s Face was released on May the 15th
2007

DISCOGRAPHY

Mystery
1992
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Destiny ?
1996
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Destiny?
1998
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At The Dawn of A New Millennium
2000 |
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Beneath the Veil of Winter's Face
2007 |
MP3 -
As I Am
- 2007
MYSTERY official Website:
http://www.unicornrecords.com/mystery/
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