Page 61 - ELITE PLUS MAGAZINE VOL9

LEGENDS OF THE ’60sThe Youngsters are recapturing the former success of instrumental rock music in ThailandAs the name describes, the band representsthe young blood of music. The Youngsters often gathered to perform music for friends’ birthday events for no money, as the performances were meant as a leisure activityAs Cliff Richard and the Shadows, his backing band, pioneered instrumental music in Britain and around the world, the Youngsters formed and brought the genre of rock to Thailand. Elite+ sat down with band members to reminisce on their story and music, then and now.The Youngsters comprise Kwanchai Paphatphong on lead guitar, Pansuang Chumsai na Ayutthaya on bass, Jirapan Angsawanond on rhythm guitar and Kridkamon Kiratibutr on drums.The founder of the Youngsters, Mr Kwanchai, has since become president and CEO of Inter-Media Consultant Co, Ltd, organizing the Thailand International Motor Expo and publishing Formula, Car Stereo and 4 Wheels magazines. Fifty-five years ago he was an Assumption School student fascinated by the Shadows.“I was about 13 or 14 and the Youngsters was the first string band at our school. I started playing music with Mr Pansuang. While I lived in Soi Convent, he was in Soi Pipat, so we often visited each other. Mr Pansuang could play piano since his mother taught him. I was bored from practising guitar alone, so we joined together. We played Cliff Richard, Elvis Presley and instrumental songs from the Shadows.”Later they decided that the band would be livelier if they had a bass guitar and drums. “We opened an audition at school to recruit new members. We got a bass guitarist from Catholic friends. For the drummer, our current bass guitarist, Mr Jirapan, who knew nothing about music at the time, brought his friend to audition and we let him show his percussion skills. Our drums were improvised from a Chinese lion dancing drum and chopsticks. Cymbals were adapted from the lids of Thai earthen jars.” Mr Kwanchai laughed. “When he tried it, we were surprised to find that he was talented.”This was the beginning of the band. The name came from Prakin Chumsai na Ayutthaya, a Thai National Artist and Mr Pansuang’s mother. As the name describes, the band represents the young blood of music. The Youngsters often gathered to perform music for friends’ birthday events for no money, as the performances were meant as a leisure activity.Elite+ 59