In 1989, in Nantes, France, singer Emmanuelle Monet "Manu" & drummer Thierry Lacroix founded the acoustic band Dolly Bird. The 2 hired a bassist & 2 guitarists & renamed the band Dolly & Co. The band performed rock songs in English in bars & festivals. In 1992, the EP "No One No Feeling" was released, followed by the album Amours Lynchées in 1994. In 1995, 2 musicians left the band, which became a trio with Emmanuelle, Thierry & guitarist Mickaël Chamberlin "Micka". The trio hired a new guitarist, Nicolas Bonnière, Mickaël Chamberlin became the bassist & Dolly was the band's new name. In 1996, noticed by producer Peter Murray during a concert, they recorded their first demos with Clive Martin.
In 1997, they released their first self-titled album, produced by Clive Martin. The album sold 170,000 copies & became N°34 in French charts, including the singles "Je N'Veux Pas Rester Sage" & "Partir Seule". After les Eurockéennes de Belfort, the band started working on their second album in August 1998. The EP "Sometimes" has been recorded with Kelly Jones, Stereophonics leader. Their second album, Un Jour De Rêve, produced by Al Clain, was released in 1999 & became N°33 in French charts. The album included 12 songs like "Parti Pour Une Heure" & "Angel". Music was made with keyboards, a sitar & strings.
The band's third album Plein Air, produced by Clive Martin & released in April 2002, became N°16 in French charts. With rock & pop ballads, it also included electronic sounds & songs like "Comment Taire", "Matins D'Encre" & "C'Est Pour Toi". In 2003, Emmanuelle Monet recorded a duet with Gabriel Evan, "Seuls". Their fourth album Tous Des Stars, produced by Clive Martin again, was released in 2004 & became N°16 in French charts. Electronic music got a more important place on it, including "Au Paradis" & the title-track. The band performed in "Europe 2 Campus Tour", with other French bands like Luke.
On May 25, 2005, bassist Mickaël Chamberlin died in a car accident at 36. Dolly decided to split after his death. Emmanuelle Monet & Nicolas Bonnière founded the duet Manu in 2006.
