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Milk Inc.

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Milk Inc.
Regi Penxten (left) and Linda Mertens in 2008
Regi Penxten (left) and Linda Mertens in 2008
Background information
OriginBelgium
GenresEurodance, techno, electronic, vocal trance
Years active1996–present[a]
LabelsARS Entertainment
Antler Subway
Zooland Records
MembersRegi Penxten
Filip Vandueren
Linda Mertens
Merel Cappaert
Michael Schack
Peter Schreurs
Past membersIvo Donckers
Nikkie van Lierop
Sofie Winters
John Miles Jr.
Karine Boelaerts
Ann Vervoort
Websitewww.milkinc.be

Milk Inc. is a dance music group that formed in the commercial dance scene in Belgium in 1996.[1] The discography of the group includes a total of seven studio albums and 41 singles.[2][3]

History

[edit]

The group started out as "Milk Incorporated" ("La Vache" for French-language releases), later shortening their name to "Milk Inc." In its early days as Milk Inc., the band had also had a guitarist and harpist, John Miles Jr.

The band has had many line-up changes throughout its history. The band has found much success in Europe, with many of their singles charting in countries such as the Netherlands, United Kingdom, France and Spain. They are most successful in their native country Belgium, where they have 27 hit singles which have been in the Ultratop Chart, 22 of them being in the top ten and four of them being number ones.[4] Furthermore, all of their seven albums have charted there, with two of them reaching number one.[5] Milk Inc. is the current record holder for the number of TMF Awards in Belgium and the Netherlands, with a total of 17 awards received.

In 2006, to celebrate their 10th anniversary, Milk Inc. surprised fans with a two-hour live concert at the Sportpaleis Arena in Belgium.

In October 2014, Milk Inc. released the single Don't Say Goodbye. At the same time, the group announced that it would be taking an indefinite break. The reason for this was the birth of Linda's first daughter.[6]

In April 2017, Linda Mertens' daughter died of cancer when she was only 2 years old.[7] Regi stated that he wanted to give Linda all the time she needed to recover and that he did not want to pressure her to sing again.[8] Regi continued composing and doing collaborations with other artists as well as solo. Linda did not return to music for several years.

In 2022, Linda returned to the stage during an event in Blackpool, United Kingdom. On October 27, 2023, Linda returned by surprise with Regi in a symbolic way at the Sportpaleis in Antwerp during the “Regi - The Return” concert. It remains to be seen whether this is a definitive return for Milk Inc.[9] At the end of the show "The Return", they announced a new concert in 2024 "Regi vs Milk Inc." for Saturday Nov 9th 2024, but due to quick sales (the date was sold out in few hours), they announced extra dates and they will perform 7 times.

Members

[edit]

Current

[edit]

Regi Penxten

[edit]

Regi was born on 4 March 1976 at Hasselt in Belgium. At the age of 12, he got his first computer connected to a synthesizer. He studied at the music academy to learn to read music and he also played the guitar from an early age. Milk Inc's and Regi's hit success started with "La Vache" in 1996, which was a big hit successor. He has also worked with several singers and other producers.

Linda Mertens

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Linda was born on 20 July 1978 in Wilrijk, Belgium. She studied art and after high school spent two years studying hairdressing. In 2000, Linda went to a club with some friends where Regi was deejaying, whilst there she asked him if he needed a singer for any of his projects and was asked to audition.

Filip Vandueren

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Filip Vandueren was the last one that co-produced Milk Inc. along with Regi Penxten and played keyboards in the band's full live shows and concerts in the past.

Former

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Ivo Donckers

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Co-founder and member from the start of the project Milk Inc. until 2000. Studio technician at Antler Subway (EMI), he was responsible for many projects and remixes for 2Unlimited, Ace of Base, 2 Fabiola, and more.

Nikkie Van Lierop

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Born 7 March 1963 in Simmern, Germany, Anita Dominika Cornelia van Lierop, better known as Nikkie Van Lierop, and by her artist name "Jade 4U" and as a co-founder of Lords of Acid. In 1992, she had a UK Top 20 hit as the featured vocalist on Praga Khan's "Injected With a Poison".[10] Five years later, in the spring of 1997 Praga Khan produced a remix of the song "La Vache" for the band (then known as Milk Incorporated), with the becoming a Top 40 hit in the UK under the name of "Good Enough (La Vache)".[11] In the music video "La Vache" that was filmed in England, Jade 4U can be seen. Since then the singer Nikkie along with Praga Khan contributed parts in lyrics and melody. After the resounding success of the songs, she sang in the performances during the first tour of Milk Inc. In France, she left the band in order to concentrate on Praga Khan and Lords of Acid, which had gained a cult following in the United States.

Sofie Winters

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Sofie Winters was born 22 May 1976 in Leuven, Belgium. She replaced Van Lierop for a few months. During her time at Milk Inc, Winters was a singer in the song "Free Your Mind". Winters was also a model and actress.

Ann Vervoort

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Graphic designer Ann Vervoort (10 March 1977 – 22 April 2010) was a dancer for Pat Krimson before she joined Milk Inc. She was brought in by Regi Penxten in 1997 as a replacement for Sofie Winters as a singer for appearances. Karine Boelaerts, a Belgian studio singer, who was already working for other projects such as 2 Fabiola was hired to record all the songs.[12]

In the middle of September 2000, Vervoort left Milk Inc. and moved to Ibiza with her boyfriend Patrick Claesen (alias Pat Krimson) producer of 2Fabiola, Nunca and Leopold 3, where they founded the record label Beni Musa Records. Vervoort was replaced by Linda Mertens. On 22 April 2010, Vervoort was found dead at her house in Houthalen-Helchteren. According to the newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws, an amount of alcohol and drugs were involved.[13][14]

John Miles Jr.

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John Miles Jr. is the son of the renowned musician John Miles. Miles studied pop music at Newcastle College and worked as a guitarist already known as "Popmusikern", with artists including Debbie Harry, Bryan Ferry, Joe Cocker and Andrea Bocelli. Miles co-wrote songs with Regi Penxten and Filip Vandueren when he became a group member in 1997 and performed as their guitarist on stage. The first single he was involved in making, "In My Eyes", was a commercial success. This in combination with the voice of Karine Boelaerts brought the music to a new level. All the songs he co-wrote were published during his time at Milk Inc. At the same time Vervoort stopped as playback, Miles wanted to leave Milk Inc. as well. He accompanied the group until the beginning of 2001. In 2002, the group had two top ten hits in the UK with "In My Eyes" (UK #9) and "Walk on Water" (UK #10). In the years 2006–2008, he rejoined Milk Inc. as a guitarist on their Supersized and Forever shows at the Antwerp Sportpaleis. He has since gone on to join another Belgian dance act, Sylver, co-produced by Regi Penxten.

Timeline

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Note: Dates are approximate.

Discography

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Albums

[edit]
Year Title Chart positions Certifications
(Ultratop)[15]
BEL
(FL)
NLD
[16]
UK
[17]
1998 Apocalyps(e) Cow 5
2000 Land of the Living 26 58
2001 Double Cream 39
2002 Milk Inc. 47
2003 Closer 11
2004 Best of Milk Inc.
2005 Essential
2006 Supersized 3
  • Platinum
2007 Best Of 2
  • Gold
2008 Forever 1
  • 2× Platinum
2011 Nomansland 1
  • Gold
15: The Very Best Of 4
2013 Undercover 1

Singles

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Year Song Album Chart positions
BEL
(FL)

[4]
BEL
(WA)

[18]
BEL
(Dance)
AUS
[19]
FRA
[20]
GER NLD
[21]
SPA SWE
[22]
UK
[23]
1996 "Cream" Apocalypse Cow Vinyl only
"La Vache" 24 18 3 86 26 23
1997 "Free Your Mind" 19 54
1998 "Inside of Me" 6 62
1999 "In My Eyes" 2 2 29 9
"Promise" 3 3
"Oceans" 8 2 74 8
"Losing Love" Land of the Living 2 1 4
2000 "Walk on Water" 1 1 70 47 3 1 10
"Land of the Living" 2 2 16 7 18
2001 "Livin' a Lie" 3 3 56 44 4
"Don't Cry" Promotional single only
"Never Again" 17 2 69 1
"Wide Awake" Closer 2 9 50 1
2002 "Sleepwalker" 6 2 5
"Breathe Without You" 7 7 92 45 5
2003 "Time" 10 4
"The Sun Always Shines on T.V." 5 2 71 82 86
2004 "I Don't Care"
(featuring Silvy)
3 7 66
"Whisper" Supersized 1 14
2005 "Blind" 5 2
"Go to Hell" 4 7
2006 "Tainted Love" 7 2 37
"Run" 7 14 56
"No Angel" 10 12
2007 "Sunrise" Forever 3 13
"Tonight" 6 44
2008 "Forever" 7 91
"Race" 18 10
2009 "Blackout" Nomansland 1 67 84
"Guilty" Forever Canadian digital single only
2010 "Storm" Nomansland 1 7 3
"Chasing the Wind" 10 17
2011 "Fire" 5
"Shadow" 42
"I'll Be There (La Vache)" 15: The Very Best Of 6 86
2012 "Miracle" Undercover 16
2013 "Last Night a D.J. Saved My Life" 3 32 48
"Sweet Child o' Mine" 5
"Imagination" 3
2014 "Don't Say Goodbye" 7

Filmography

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Music videos

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Year Title Director
1997 "La Vache" Caswell Coggins
"Free Your Mind"
1998 "Inside of Me"
1999 "Oceans" Steven Buyse
2000 "Land of the Living" Filip Vandueren
2001 "Walk on Water" Frank Schneider
"Livin' a Lie" Peter van Eyndt
"Never Again"
"Wide Awake"
2002 "Walk on Water" Stuart Fryer
"In My Eyes" Damian Bromley
"Land of the Living" Andreas Tibblin
"Sleepwalker" Peter van Eyndt
"Breathe Without You"
2003 "Time"
"The Sun Always Shines on T.V." Alex Diezinger
2004 "I Don't Care" Raf Verbeemen
"Whisper" Peter van Eyndt
2005 "Blind"
"Go to Hell"
2006 "Tainted Love" The Black Sheep
"Run" Peter van Eyndt
"No Angel"
2007 "Sunrise"
"Tonight"
2008 "Forever" Alex Diezinger
"Race"
2009 "Blackout" Peter van Eyndt
2010 "Storm" Peter van Eyndt
2010 "Chasing the Wind"
2011 "Fire"
2011 "Shadow"
2012 "Miracle"

DVDs

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Year Title Notes BEL DVD
Chart
2004 Milk Inc. - The DVD
2006 Milk Inc. - Supersized
  • Contains footage of a concert.
2008 Milk Inc. - Forever in Sportpaleis
  • Footage of a Concert in Sportpaleis.

Concerts in Sportpaleis

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Year Title Date
2006

Supersized

  • Saturday Sept. 30th 2006
2007

Supersized 2

  • Friday Sept 29th 2007
  • Saturday Sept. 30th 2007
2008

Forever

  • Friday Sept. 26th 2008
  • Saturday Sept. 27th 2008
  • Friday Oct. 3rd 2008
  • Friday Oct. 10th 2008
  • Friday Oct. 17th 2008
  • Saturday Oct. 18th 2008
2009

Blackout

  • Friday Sept. 25th 2009
  • Saturday Sept. 26th 2009
  • Thursday Oct. 1st 2009
  • Friday Oct. 2nd 2009
  • Saturday Oct. 3rd 2009
  • Friday Oct. 9th 2009
2010

Eclipse

  • Fri Sept. 24th 2010
  • Sat Sept. 25th 2010
  • Fri Oct. 1st 2010
  • Sat Oct. 2nd 2010
  • Fri Oct. 8th 2010
2011

15

  • Friday Sept. 23th 2011
  • Saturday Sept. 24th 2011
  • Saturday Oct. 1st 2011
2012

Miracle

  • Friday Oct. 12th 2012
  • Saturday Oct. 13th 2012
2013

Milkfest

  • Saturday Oct. 19th 2013
2024

Regi vs Milk Inc.

  • Friday Oct. 18th 2024
  • Saturday Oct. 19th 2024
  • Saturday Nov. 2nd 2024
  • Sunday Nov. 3rd 2024
  • Friday Nov. 8th 2024
  • Saturday Nov. 9th 2024
  • Sunday Nov. 10th 2024

Awards

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Year Award
2010
  • MIA Award – Beste Dance/Elektro
2009
  • MIA Award – Beste Dance/Elektro
  • Kids Awards 2009
  • TMF Awards Belgium – Best Dance Act National
  • TMF Awards Belgium – Best Live Act National
2008
  • MIA Award – Beste Dance/Elektro
  • TMF Awards Belgium – Best Dance Act National
  • TMF Awards Belgium – Best Live Act National
  • TMF Awards Belgium – Best Album National
2007
  • TMF Awards Belgium – Best Dance Act National
2006
  • TMF Awards Belgium – Best Dance Act National
2005
  • TMF Awards Belgium – Best Dance Act National
  • BelgaDance Awards Belgium – Best Producer Regi Penxten
2004
  • TMF Awards Belgium – Best Dance Act National
  • TMF Awards Belgium – Life Time Achievement
2003
  • TMF Awards Belgium – Best Dance Act National
2002
  • TMF Awards Belgium – Best Dance Act National
2001
  • Hitkrant The Netherlands – Best International Artists
  • Hitkrant The Netherlands – Best International Single "Walk on Water"
  • TMF Awards The Netherlands – Best Dance Act International
  • TMF Awards Belgium – Best Dance Act National
  • TMF Awards Belgium – Best Video "Never Again"
2000
  • Top Radio Awards Belgium – Best Vocalist Ann Vervoort
  • Radio Donna Awards Belgium – Best Holidaysong of the year "Oceans"
  • TMF Awards Belgium – Best Single National "Walk on Water"
1999
  • Radio Donna Awards Belgium – Peper Award "In My Eyes"
  • Move X Dance Awards Belgium – Best Dance Single "In My Eyes"
  • TMF Awards Belgium – Best Dance Act National

Notes

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  1. ^ Indefinite hiatus

References

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  1. ^ "Official Milk Inc. Website". Milkinc.be. 11 November 2008. Archived from the original on 24 December 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  2. ^ "Milk Inc.: Go To Hell (Live @ Sportpaleis, 2009)". YouTube. 19 April 2011. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  3. ^ "Official Milk Inc. Website". Milkinc.be. Archived from the original on 27 December 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  4. ^ a b "Ultratop Belgian Charts". ultratop.be. Archived from the original on 8 June 2024. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  5. ^ "Ultratop Belgian Charts". ultratop.be. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  6. ^ "Milk Inc. wuift fans uit met (voorlopig) laatste single" (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 8 June 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  7. ^ "Dochtertje (2,5) van zangeres Milk Inc. overleden" (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 16 January 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  8. ^ "Regi openhartig over vriendin Linda nadat ze dochtertje verloor: "Een hele zware slag"" (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 16 January 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  9. ^ "Milk Inc.-zangeres Linda Mertens verschijnt op podium tijdens "The return"-shows van Regi in het Sportpaleis" (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 16 January 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  10. ^ "PRAGA KHAN | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". OfficialCharts.com. Archived from the original on 8 June 2024. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  11. ^ "MILK INCORPORATED | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". OfficialCharts.com. Archived from the original on 22 November 2021. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  12. ^ "Milk Inc". Dancevibes.be. Archived from the original on 27 December 2008. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  13. ^ "Milk Inc. singer dies of drug overdose – Milk Inc. news at". Side-line.com. 22 February 1999. Archived from the original on 17 February 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  14. ^ "Voormalige zangeres van Milk Inc. (33) overleden" (in Dutch). HLN.be. 24 April 2010. Archived from the original on 27 April 2010. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  15. ^ "Ultratop Belgian Charts". ultratop.be. Archived from the original on 9 February 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  16. ^ Steffen Hung. "Dutch charts portal". dutchcharts.nl. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  17. ^ "Milk Inc. - Milk Inc". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 5 November 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  18. ^ "Ultratop Belgian Charts". ultratop.be. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  19. ^ Peaks in Australia:
    • "In My Eyes": "Australian charts portal". australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on 3 May 2022. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
    • "Oceans" and "Walk on Water": Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 188.
  20. ^ "Les charts français". lescharts.com. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  21. ^ "Dutch charts portal". dutchcharts.nl. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  22. ^ "Swedish Charts Portal". swedishcharts.com. Archived from the original on 26 October 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  23. ^ "Milk Inc". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 27 August 2022. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  24. ^ "Milk Inc. - The DVD [DVD]". ultratop.be. 16 October 2004. Archived from the original on 17 December 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  25. ^ "Milk Inc. - Supersized – Live At Sportpaleis [DVD]". ultratop.be. 23 December 2006. Archived from the original on 16 December 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  26. ^ "Milk Inc. - Forever – Live At Sportpaleis [DVD]". ultratop.be. 29 November 2008. Archived from the original on 17 December 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
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