The Innocent (Thai: ดิ อินโนเซ้นท์) was a Thai band active during the 1980s. Formed in 1980 and disbanded in 1989, the group was signed to Nititad Promotion. The band originated as a trio of students from Daruna Ratchaburi School in Ratchaburi Province. Initially performing pop-folk music, they later transitioned into a string combo style. Peerasanti Chuabsamai, a founding member and the band’s long-time leader, was the most musically experienced member and played a significant role in shaping the group’s musical direction.
The Beginning of The Innocent
The Innocent was first formed on December 23, 1979. It was Christmas Day, and the setting was a student folk song contest held at Daruna Ratchaburi School in Ratchaburi Province. the band originally consisted of three members: band leader Peerasant Chuab-samai, Saichon Radomkij, and Sittisak Kit-teng. The band went on to win the contest with the songs "Born To Love You" and "Samphan Thai"[citation needed]
In 1980, Ratchaburi province wanted to promote youth music. Therefore, they organized a youth Folk Song contest. The Innocent entered the contest and won the first prize again. The band was then contacted to make their first studio album, the album. "Love Never Ends" (รักไม่รู้ดับ), which was first released in 1980, was not a huge success. After that, in March 1981, during the school holidays, Surin, who was the band's manager, had them start working on their second studio album, called "Bang Pakong" (บางปะกง), which was released in June of the same year but was unsuccessful again.[citation needed]
Later, Surin bought the copyright for Patiparn Suksuthi's song "Failed Exam (สอบตก)", and the band decided that The Innocent's 3rd album should be written about students because Peerasanti who was the band leader was about to graduate. Additionally, Daruna Ratchaburi School did not want the band to play romantic songs because all the members were Christian. Thus, they bought the song "Kwan Jai Nak Rien (ขวัญใจนักเรียน)" by Kru Phayong Mukda, a famous composer, to put in the album along with two new songs that Peerasanti had composed for the album.[citation needed]
During this time, the band also welcomed a new member, Kriengsak Jongthiratham, who was a friend from the same school, this album also marked the change in genre to pop music and changed the band's style to a full string band with Peerasanti as the keyboardist, Saichon as the guitarist and Sittisak as bassist As a result, this album was a huge success, with the song "Failed Exam" becoming a hit.[1]
