That and the fact that they were all just in Bangkok, Powter specifically for the MTV Asia Awards 2006.

And they were all talking to us. Separately, of course.

Powter's song "Bad Day" is now the performance piece of choice for competitors on TV's "American Idol".

Hoobastank - Doug Robb, Dan Estrin and Chris Hesse - enjoyed a little escapade in Patpong.

First up, Daniel Powter.

Is it true you travel with 40 beanies?

No, but people have to write about something, right? Writing about music and what inspires musicians is boring.

It's not 40 hats ... could be  50, though! [Laughs. Powter started wearing a variety of hats to cover scars from a car accident, but they're now part of his image.]

Why did you opt for singer-pianist instead of the more common singer-guitarist?

The piano was the only instrument in my house. I'm quite dyslexic, so piano is easier. I can't get my hand around a guitar - every string represents another whole key pattern.

I can't read music. I can't conceptualise the notes on the page, but I recognise shapes and patterns in music. I don't consider it a hindrance but a creative force - it forces me outside of the conservatory form of music. I can write music, but I can't read it. I know it's crazy, because it appears like a bunch of black dots on the page.

Would you say the tone of your album is dark?

I think people use that word because they're scared of honesty. They replace the word "honesty" with "dark" because nobody wants to be honest anymore. Everybody wants to talk about what sells the record.

For me it's, like, I don't care if I sell any records. If success means that I get to play for you in Thailand and 35 people from your family came, that's success for me.

Being honest is scary because it opens you up, like if I'm not going to sing about women or my car, then who's going to buy my record? I don't care. I was looking for people who just love music, and if that meant I only sold a thousand records, it would have been all right.

The most important part of this album for me is that I try to apologise for things that I have done in my life, try to show that you're fallible. [Powter was a cocaine addict for eight years, kicking the habit with two years in rehab.]

How did you find your own style?

It's an accident. I couldn't sing like other people. When I first started to get into the whole band idea, we were so bad at covering other people's stuff. So we were forced to create our own stuff, and nobody sang in the band, so I just started singing.

I still hear my voice sometimes and I'm like -err! I couldn't watch myself on TV. I'm the most self-deprecating artist you'll ever meet.

What kind of kid were you in high school?

Lame. I was a nothing guy. Not even a nerd, just a faceless entity, like a malaise in the room. I just didn't have a lot of confidence. I still don't know if I do.

To me, high school was about survival. Where I come from it's all about being popular, being with the right girl, and I don't have that. To me, it was just like a living hell. I still remember counting down the days of the last three weeks of high school. I couldn't wait to leave.

What are your hobbies?

I read a lot. I run and jog - I do 10 or 12 kilometres every other day. And I love Thai  food and Singha beer!

Let's see who else likes Singha beer. Ah, yes, it's Hoobastank ...

This is your second time in Thailand. Have you been checking out the city?

Robb: We just arrived this morning and have been in the hotel ever since. Last time we saw a kick-boxing match, which was really cool. Besides that, we went to Patpong.

Did you see the "special shows" in Patpong?

Hesse: Yeah, yeah. The ping-pong show, right?

What did you think?

Hesse: It was kind of gross, but at least I could say that I'd seen it.

Robb: The rest of us haven't seen it - maybe later.

Estrin: Yeah, let's go tonight. Just curiosity, man.

Do you live like rock stars?

Robb: No way, but actually we could if we wanted to.

Estrin: Yeah, because there are people want to hang out with us, giving us drinks.

Robb: It's kind of cool to have attention like that and have people wanting to hang out with you, but most of the time you don't feel like hanging out with them, and that's the problem.

Kreangsak Suwanpantakul,

Manta Klangboonkrong

The Nation