In November 2006, when the self-appointed „most female male band“ got together for the first time, Rock ‘n’ Roll was their priority. The formation of the RAG DOLLS was accomplished by the usual pragmatic principles: Elias von Arx played the guitar, Samuel Hool the drums and Läli Spring had an old bass at home and was therefore aloud to participate as well. The band named themselves after the Krokus-song “Bad Boys Rag Dolls”, which the singer and guitarist thought very cool: “I often listened to that song by Krokus and just thought to myself, that Rag Dolls would be a really cool band name”. A few months later they had their debut as a band and recorded their first demo-tape titled “shit happened” in their basement.
With an average age of 15 at the time, the Rag Dolls had already proven that they not only were extraordinarily talented but also had an exquisite taste in music: with AC/DC, The Rolling Stones or Aerosmith as their role models, they managed to get through to the older generation of Rock ‘n’ Roll as well.
With a ton of enthusiasm and a little bit of self-mockery their first EP “Look like Idiots, Play Like Gods” was recorded – not in their basement anymore, but in a real Studio! What fallowed were numerous gigs in Switzerland and participations in various band-contests, of which they won quite a few.
In the meantime the band had evolved a great deal and the first and - up to now - final change would happen 2010: with Simon Moll the band had a new drummer who immediately grew to become the favourite member of the band. With Simon on the Drums, the Rag Dolls were looking into a bright future.
Slowly but surely the bands taste in music changed, and they adapted to a new style and modernized their sound. They were now moving more in the field of indie-rock and power-pop, managing to transform without losing their rock ‘n’ roll background. The change was worth it: they reached the finals of Emergenza – the world’s biggest band-contest – and shortly after had the opportunity to play prestigious Openair Gampel which simultaneously was their 100th concert.
From now on, the band was unstoppable. They played a great number of national and international concerts and built a solid fan-base. 2012 they participated in the – for the bands history – most important contest since their formation 2006: the MyCokeMusic Soundcheck. They won. Thanks to 20’000 Fr. - trophy-money, band-coaching through the MyCokeMusic-team and high media-presence the band evolved immensely. They had the unique opportunity to record their new EP “Bought and Sold” in the prestigious Decibel Studios in Stockholm, Sweden, with the infamous producer Lasse Marten (P!NK, Kelly Clarkson, Johnossi).
Today, a year later and enriched with a lot of experience, the Rag Dolls have an amazing new Single “Bought and Sold” and ready to conquer the world with their mind-blowing music: “Our goal is to have The Rolling Stones as our support act one day!” Elias says with a big smirk on his face. And who knows, in case The Stones should make it that long, that dream might just come true.
Rag Dolls. Somehow different, somehow sexy but above all: somehow extremely good!
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