Stubete Gäng Finds New Voice for ‘Richi’ Following Family Dispute

The Swiss musical group Stubete Gäng has officially found a replacement voice for their song “Richi,” bringing a resolution to a public dispute with the family of the original voice actor. Following a social media casting call, the band from Hagendorn announced on April 8, 2026, that they have selected a new “screamer” to deliver the song’s most famous line.

The controversy began in late March when Hermann Schönbächler, a Swiss emigrant living in Canada, expressed frustration over the use of his voice in the track. The song featured a clip from the SRF program “Auf und davon,” in which Schönbächler is heard shouting to his young son, “Jaa Richiii! I ha gseit, du söusch di guet häbe!” (Richi, I told you to hold on tight!).

Schönbächler argued that the use of the clip violated his son’s dignity. The band responded swiftly, issuing a statement to the Schönbächler family via the outlet Watson, accompanying their message with an image of a white flag to signal a peaceful resolution.

“Naturally, we respect your wish that Hermann’s voice should no longer be part of our song. We will replace the current version with one without Hermann as soon as possible,” the band stated. “Our intention was never to hurt anyone. Our music is meant to bring people together and create joy.”

The Search for the ‘Schreihals’

To replace the voice, the band launched a lighthearted casting process dubbed “SGSDSH: Stubete Gäng sucht den Schreihals” (Stubete Gäng seeks the screamer), a play on the format of famous televised talent shows. The goal was to find the “most talented screamer in Switzerland” capable of recreating the iconic line: “Richi, i ha gseit du söusch di häbe!”

The casting was conducted via social media, where lead singer Aurel Hassler and his brother Moritz Hassler evaluated various candidates. In a video posted to Instagram, the brothers are seen reviewing several men and women who attempted to deliver the line with the necessary intensity. After a series of unsuccessful attempts, the video concludes with Moritz Hassler declaring, “Woah. Mir hend en!” (Woah. We found one!).

Although the band has confirmed that a winner has been selected, they have kept the identity of the new “Richi” voice a secret for the time being.

Context and Background

The original audio clip had become a piece of cultural shorthand in Switzerland, originating from a scene in the SRF show “Auf und davon” where Hermann Schönbächler tells his son to hold on tightly while climbing down from a digger. The Stubete Gäng had integrated this viral moment into their music, which contributed to the song’s popularity but ultimately led to the friction with the family in Canada.

For those following the Swiss music and cultural scene, the resolution marks a shift from a potential legal or PR crisis to a marketing opportunity, turning a dispute over dignity into a community-driven casting event.

The band has not yet released the specific date for the launch of the revised version of “Richi.”

Key Timeline of Events

The next confirmed step is the release of the updated song version. Fans and listeners are awaiting the official reveal of the new voice and the updated track on streaming platforms.

Do you think the new voice can live up to the original viral clip? Share your thoughts in the comments below.