Bodyslam was originally called La-On (Thai: ละอ่อน) which means kids or younger people in the Lanna language. In 1996, the band entered a band competition for high school students called "Hot Wave Music Awards" and won first prize, beating nearly a hundred other bands. La-on quickly signed a record deal with record company Music Bugs, and released a self-titled pop-rock album in 1997. "Dai Rue Plao" (ได้หรือเปล่า) became their most recognized song. The band members portrayed roles of themselves in the lakorn (Thai TV series) Thep Niyai Nai Sano (เทพนิยายนายเสนาะ) and later released the series' soundtrack that same year.