Still lots of rock 'n' roll

IT’S BEEN A rough couple of years for rock musician Seksan “Sek Loso “ Sukpimai, but after a long session in a rehab facility, he’s kicked the drugs and is looking forward to a cleaner, brighter future with a new album, a 10-day concert tour of Australia and a new TV channel.

“Drug addiction can be cured,” says the 39-year-old Nakhon Ratchasima native, who launched the album “I’m Back” along with Loso Channel on Monday at Town-in-Town Hotel.

Walking in the footsteps of the stereotypical rock star, Sek fell into the “sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll” lifestyle while still in his teens.

“I was poor but a fighter. Rock ’n’ roll is the life of a fighter,” he says. “While I was growing up, I listened to Guns N’ Roses, the Olarn Project and Carabao. Rock ’n’ roll has been in my blood for more than two decades. Guns N’ Roses was my favourite band and it was through their recordings that I started listening to Nirvana, Jimi Hendrix, the Rolling Stones, the Beatles and the Doors. I felt like rock was a real life, the life of a man. But life is also like a roller coaster; it has its ups and downs.” 

Sek can’t remember when he started associating rock ’n’ roll with drugs and sex, saying merely that he’d always assumed they went together.

“I started smoking marijuana with friends when I was a teenager. Smoking weed made me feel smarter. When I started playing music at night and writing my own songs, I took ecstasy, ice, marijuana and cocaine and of course, I was also drinking. My mind felt looser but I was also hearing voices and having hallucinations,” he says. “I guess I tried every drug except heroin.

“I’ve always got a kick out of just playing music but the drugs gave me more energy and enhanced my emotions.”

Sek’s world came tumbling down at the end of 2011 when his ex-wife, fed up with his behaviour, posted a photo of the rocker taking drugs on her Facebook wall. GMM Grammy summarily terminated his contract and the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) instructed him to join a drug rehabilitation programme or face six months in jail.

Sek sensibly opted for rehab, admitting himself to the Thanyarak Institute, also known as the Princess Mother National Institute for Drug Abuse Treatment. He stayed there for the best part of two years.

“It was so hard to give up my drug of choice. The need was so strong that there were times when I thought of suicide. Eventually though, I realised I could do it, for myself as well as for my family, friends and colleagues,” says Sek, who is now back with his wife, Kan Wipakorn and their three children and two dogs – a pug and Siberian Husky.

He freely admits to having sexual encounters with plenty of other women during his time at the top but refuses to give a number or comment further.

He has chosen not to return to GMM Grammy for “I’m Back”, releasing it instead on his own Loso Entertainment label, though GMM will still be handling distribution.

“These days, being with an established label isn’t as important as it was in the past because albums don’t sell as well, perhaps a maximum of 100,000 copies. This time around, I don’t care how many copies it will sell but am more concerned about how I can help the music industry in overcoming copyright infringements” says Sek, adding that he was nonetheless delighted to hear that 40,000 copies of “I’m Back” were snapped up on the first day of its release.

Before the press conference, Sek and his new band played a selection of the 10 tracks for a small audience. The performance, which included “Rock ’n’ Roll Star”, “Rang Kwa Ther Kor Jer Ma Laew”, “Hak”, “Khor Tai Nai Aom Kod Ther”, “Phor Chan Pen Tam Ruaj” and “Lon”, proved that he has lost none of his talent.

 “I spent two days writing the songs while in rehab. The album is all about my life. ‘Rock ’n’ Roll Star’ talks about the past, ‘Phor Chan Pen Tam Ruaj’ doesn’t flatter the police but reflects my feelings while ‘Lon’ is about the hallucinations I suffered while taking drugs.”

Sek’s other new interest, the Loso Channel, is now broadcasting as part of a trial run on Channel 44 of IPM TV and will soon find a permanent home on Channel 77.

“My channel features music, fashion, travel and food as well as CSR [corporate social responsiblity] activities.

“I was born poor and now that I’m successful, I want to help other people,” says the musician, who is also volunteering his time to the Policy and Planning Office of the Miracle of Life Foundation under royal patronage and the Strong Community Foundation. 

“I would also like to promote Thai culture to the world.”