2005

The year of the release of the album BYE BYE and the single Only for a Moment. Mist launches new website on 7 April.

 

2004

In January 2004, Mist releases DANGEROUS WORDS, a new EP on their Spanish label Astro, with three new songs and two remixes by Dutch djs Freiband and Noizlabs. In the meantime, the band records a cover song (AT SEVENTEEN by Janis Ian) for MORE THAN A WOMAN (My First Sonny Weismuller Recordings/Konkurrent), a compilation of songs originally recorded by female artists, with international bands such as Whip, Sin Ropas and Hermann D�ne. Mist also takes part in the production and recording of the debut album FABRICA De CEMENTO (SKIPPING RECORDS/SKIPCD752) by the Spanish singer-songwriter Una. Both collaborations are released in 2004. An extra band member, multi-instrumentalist Arthur ten Cate joins the band. Mist tours Spain with the help of Astro Bookings and main sponsor Heineken. Mist also plays in France supporting Dutch band and friends Nits (www.nits.nl). In May, the band heads for Chile and Argentina for the first time in its carreer in order to support the release of the album WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN STARS. Meanwhile, the album is released and promoted in Norway (www.ositorecords.com), Mexico (Astro Mexico), and Germany (Tumbleweed Records/Broken Silence). In Germany, the band also finds a booking agency (Hotel Lounge/www.onetake.de) and does its first gigs (a.o. Haldern Pop Festival, Popkomm). During the summer and autumn, Mist starts recording new songs of the forthcoming full-length album BYE BYE.

 

2003

WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN STARS (Astro Discos) is launched on the Dutch, Belgian and Spanish market and gets many really stunning reviews in magazines and newspapers such as OOR, Aloha, Rockdelux, El Pais and many many more. Besides, Mist plays live at VPRO Radio (Club Lek), Kink FM (2 Meter Sessions with Jan Douwe Kroeske) and Radio 3FM, all national radio stations. Read all the press quotes on http://www.mist-music.com. In the meantime, bass player Erik Verhoef is replaced by Jeroen Luttikhuis. By the end of April, Mist starts an extensive Spanish tour: 16 gigs, including two live-appearances on Spanish national television (Conciertos de Radio 3, B�sico: La Otra). Besides, the band reaches the final of the famous BILBOROCK/VILLA de BILBAO-band competition. In November, WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN STARS is released in Chile, South America, on the indie-label Quemasucabeza (www.quemasucabeza.cl). This edition contains one extra, previously unreleased Mist-track (ANDALUSIA). Rick  joins Nits-singer Henk Hofstede in two Dutch Hofstede-songs at a live national radio performance.

 

2002

The American organization behind the Miss Universe-pageant forces the group from Amsterdam to change the name on legal grounds. After intensive consultation of various lawyers, the Dutch quartet decides to continue its activities, and release the new cd WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN STARS as Mist. The recording takes place in the spring. The cd is mixed and produced at home by Mist. Mastered by Paul Telman (The Nits). Release in Spain, Portugal, Italy and Benelux. Record company: Astro Discos Spain. In November, Astro Discos opens a small subsidiary in Amsterdam, to be able to closer to the Dutch and Belgian market. In the meantime, Rick does his first successful Spanish solo tour with help of booking agency Deandandy from Barcelona.

 

2001

In January, Miss Universe releases the self-produced 4-track-EP WHERE IS MY MIND? on Skipping Records. The title track is a new interpretation of this legendary Pixies-song. Distribution in Benelux by Konkurrent. In the spring, Miss Universe plays many Dutch venues, the Bevrijdingspop-festival (150.000 visitors) in Haarlem and A2A (International Festival and Conference on Music). In Spain, the EP is distributed and marketed by Astro Discos. In October, Miss Universe records a cd-R with nine new songs. This cd serves as a demo.

 

2000

From February on, singer Rick also performs as solo-artist, sometimes together with the young and talented female singer Bloem de Ligny, who released her successful debut-album Zink (Columbia Records) in 1998.

In March, Miss Universe plays the prestigious South by South West-festival in Austin, Texas. Results: very good American press reviews and some important new opportunities in the U.S.A. and Great Britain.

Miss Universe publishes a self-made newspaper called Ditjes & Datjes to be sent to all fans, friends, family and music industry. 4 issues.

 

1999:

In , CLUB TABUis officially released in February, with a new cd-cover for the Spanish market, made by the independent label Astro Discos (a.o. Steve Wynn, Manta Ray). The cd receives a fair amount of airplay on Radio Nacional de Espa�a. In February, Miss Universe plays 5 gigs in .

As a result of the positive response to a compilation of the musicians� magazine Music Maker, PAR, the record label of the famous venue Paradiso in , signs Miss Universe to record a live single THE BELONG SONG / WELCOME TO THE SHOW PART 2, in collaboration with Mercury/Universal. The bass parts on this single are played by temporary band member Stefan de Prie, who used to play in Julia P. Hersheimer.

In September, former Silkscreen-drummer Jaimy Quite replaces Dyrke Schaefer. With Jaimy, Miss Universe seems to have found the perfect musical balance. In November, Miss Universe does the second Spanish tour in a year, with an appearance on the film festival of Gij�n and as a support act of the American band .

 

1998:

 After quite a few changes (new drummer, new instruments, new musical direction), Miss Universe releases the cd CLUB TABUon its own label Skipping Records. Press reviews are positive. A small tour follows.

In that same year, the band records a version of the Pixies-song WHERE IS MY MIND? for a compilation-cd of Dutch bands, released by VPRO National Radio.

 

BEGINNING:

Before becoming Miss Universe, the band�s called Girlfriend Misery (1992-1996). The quintet makes several demo-tapes and ON THE SOFA, a full length debut album which is released in 1995 on the Spanish label Chambi Records. During that period, the press often compares the young group to artists such as American Music Club, R.E.M., The Smiths and the Dutch band The Nits. Melancholy, melodic lushness and sensitivity are the key words.