For Arnuttaphon "Ar" Sirichumsaeng life has never tasted so sweet. But the winner of TV reality show "The Stars 3" is not only thrilled by having at last found a foothold on the road to stardom. What pleases him the most is his parent's acceptance of his career.

"I think it's an indication that my music style - rock - appeals to a wide audience. But above all, my parents acknowledge what I am today.

"Before they were really against my playing gigs at pubs," says the 23-year-old student from Mahasarakham University's tourism and hotel management faculty.

As with cable TV's reality show, "Academy Fantasia", the first assignment given to Arnuttaphon and the other contestants on "The Stars 3" was to record a joint album, the aptly titled "Wan Thi Fun Pen Jing" ("The Day That Dreams Come True").

On the album, he sings a cover of Billy Ogan's "Fang Wai Nai Phuen Din" arranged in his rock style as well as two new songs, "Tor Jak Wan Nee" ("From Now On") with Peerachaya "Mew" Pinmuangngam and Sukrit "Bee" Wisetkaew.

He's also featured on the group effort "Khue Khwam Rak" ("It's Love") and on the reality show's theme tune "Phuea Dao Dunag Nan" ("For the Star").

Soon he'll be heading to the studios to record his debut solo album.

"I would like to record modern rock and have both a band and a DJ on the album," says Arnuttaphon, who names Linkin' Park, Clash, Big Ass and Potato as his favourite artists.

"I've tried my hand at songwriting several times but I haven't been very successful so far."

Arnuttaphon was born in 1983 in the Northeastern province of Udon Thani. Both parents are teachers and he has three elder sisters. His interest in music started while he was at elementary school.

"I joined my father who played the keyboard and my mother singing Thai pop oldies like 'Tha Chalom'," recalls Arnuttaphon.

But while music usually has a calming effect on young minds, it did nothing to stop Arnuttaphon's exuberance.

The only son, he recalls being spoiled by his parents who tended to comply with his every wish.

At primary school, he bullied the other children, pushed his young friends down the stairs, attacked a beehive ("a lot of kids got stung"), stole mangoes from other peoples' gardens and ("my worst crime") stole Bt100 from his mother's purse to buy fireworks.

"I was so full of myself because my parents were teachers at my school. But I obeyed the other teachers," he says.

"I managed to get good grades though."

Eventually his parents had enough and sent him to a Christian boarding school in the provincial capital where he completed his secondary education.

He soon calmed down, his grades improved and his interest in music was revived.

At Mahasarakham University Arnuttaphon and some friends formed Zer and before long the rock band was auditioning for gigs at pubs including Glues in Khon Kaen.

"It was cool being a musician and it drew the girls," he says with a grin.

Zer played both Thai and Western covers by bands from Grammy and Bakery as well as Linkin' Park, and were soon popular enough to be gigging at three venues a night.

They also opened for major outfits Big Ass and Clash.

"The audience liked our shows, the way we performed on stage. All of us, except the drummer, used to run around a lot.

"It was a great feeling at concerts with the audience jumping up and down in front of the stage and shaking hands with us."

And the money, while not pouring in, was more than covering expenses. Each band member earned Bt350 for the pub gigs, Bt1,500 for opening for Big Ass and Bt700 for a Clash concert.

But Arnuttaphon shied away from the contests organised by the recording companies and radio stations.

"I remember someone at the pub handing me a brochure about Academy Fantasia a while back," he says.

"I didn't go in for it because I was afraid I wouldn't be able to compete. I guess I didn't really have the courage.

"For this third series of  'The Star' I felt I had more experience and it was time to go for something more," he says.

After the album, he wants to turn to acting or maybe be a product presenter.

"I'd love to do an action movie," says Arnuttaphon with a broad smile.

Kitchana Lersakvanitchakul

The Nation