Doll was created by Robert Courtney and Pam Hogg following a limousine ride won at a Richard Branson Party on Oxford Street. Robert had been recording new tracks (so far just instrumentals) and asked Pam if she would like to sing on them and did she have any lyrics. Pulling some paper from her pocket she said yes and by the end of the night there was the beginnings of a set recorded in demo form that, after some hastily organised rehearsals with band members Sean McLusky (Subway Sect/Jo Boxers) on drums and Karl Leiker (Hyperhead) on bass, they would perform five days later supporting Debbie Harry on her UK tour. The name Doll comes from their shared love of the New York Dolls.
After the two final gigs at Crawley Leisure Centre on 8th December 1993 and Birmingham Symphony Hall on the 9th December 1993 they wound up the year headlining the Christmas Party Special at The Fridge, Brixton, compared by Johnny Vegas and with an all star audience.
A busy period of rehearsals and songwriting culminates in the bands official launch at the Notre-Dame Hall, Leicester Square.
The remainder of 1994 saw a variety of gigs and us entering Church Studios at the behest of Dave Stewart (of Eurythmics fame) to record our first single — which, oddly, was never released — and taking every gig we could.
One was in an underground car park in Holborn, where half the group were on different drugs, playing entirely different songs.
Fantasy Ashtray at The Leisure Lounge.
Then T in the Park in Glasgow with Daisy Chainsaw.
A Smashing club night at Madame JoJo’s, the legendary transvestite club, where I was held up at gunpoint by armed police outside while amused Japanese tourists took photos.
The Marquee on 4th September.
Submission in December 1994.
The Velvet Lounge on 17 December 1994.
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