The band Rudolf Rock & die Schocker was founded in 1975 by ex-Leinemann bassist Uli Salm (Rudolf Rock). In the following years the members of the band changed several times; the overwhelming majority are musicians who were or are members of well-known music groups.

In 1981 they took part in the German Eurovision Song Contest - "Ein Lied für Dublin" - with the title Mein Transistorradio (music: Michael Cretu, lyrics: Michael Kunze) and reached 9th place.