When they do get some private time, they are hounded by the paparazzi. As a new craze in Thailand, stars are being pictured and receiving write-ups on suspected relationships or other unlikely behaviours to feed the public need for gossip. There's no way for Golf and Mike to escape the gossip magazine column inches. There are rumours that both brothers are dating famous stars.

Mike is a tad agitated about the subject.

"You know, if I go somewhere with a man, they'll say I was gay. If I walk around with a girl, they'll say 'girlfriend'. If I'm by myself, they'll say I have no friends. Even my company appointed escort gets mistaken as my sugar daddy. It's all very strange. But I don't blame anyone, really. I've made a decision to do this job, so I can only blame myself," said Mike.

But paparazzi stalking and rumour mills don't cause as much hurt as negative criticisms and personal attacks. In a way, it's almost impossible for singers of Golf and Mike's stature to dodge nasty words - it happens to the best. There has been much backlash on the brother's musicality ("should be trashed immediately"), dance moves ("idiotic") and fashion sense ("Japanese wannabes"). In some quarters, they are looked down upon as another manufactured product dreamed up by a major record company.

The naysayers make themselves heard, whether on the Internet or via the print media.

All musicians are, of course, open targets for verbal onslaughts, which is not to say it doesn't hurt. And when they're this young, not yet properly immune to the ways of the world, the wounds cut deeper.

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