The Impossibles

Thai show band the Impossibles became major stars in their Southeast Asian homeland for their fusion of local pop styles with Western influences; they were also known for their full-bodied interpretations of American pop and R&B hits, and became one of the few Thai bands of the era to tour abroad and gain an international following. The Impossibles were formed in 1966 by guitarist and singer Setha Sirachaya; they specialized in String Music, as guitar-based pop was described in Thailand, and their originals reflected a lively blend of Thai pop as well as Western rock & roll, rhythm & blues, and country influences, which the group soaked up as American music was brought to Southeast Asia by American soldiers, who often visited Thailand en route to and from Vietnam. Sirachaya was joined in the Impossibles by Sitthiporn Amornphan on lead guitar; Vinai Phanturak on vocals, guitar, and sax; Pracheen Songpao on keyboards; Pichai Thongniem on bass; Anusorn Pathanakul on drums; and Rewat Buddhinan on percussion. Unlike most of their peers, the Impossibles sang most of their original material in their native tongue, but performed their covers in English; their multilingual skills and repertoire of American soul, funk, and rock tunes won them a gig in Hawaii in 1972, and their shows on the islands went well enough that they were soon booked for a tour of Europe that lasted seven months. While the Impossibles had already released a number of top-selling albums in Thailand, the success of their shows in Hawaii and Europe led to a record deal with the Dutch label Philips Records; Philips flew the Impossibles to Sweden to record their 1975 album Hot Pepper, which was dominated by funk and rock covers and was recorded entirely in English. In 1977, the Impossibles broke up, and Setha Sirachaya went on to a successful solo career, as well as dabbling in acting and television production; however, the group performs occasional reunion shows in Thailand, including sold-out stadium appearances in 2001 and 2008. Setha Sirichaya died on February 20, 2022 at the age of 77.
© Mark Deming /TiVo