Musician Confirms Bandmate Dead in Bangkok Beer Hall Fire
Keyboardist Prawit Pudmuan, 35, died in a Bangkok beer hall fire on July 12; bandmate M. Thepbut confirmed his identity at the Police Hospital after searching through the night. The incident has renewed safety concerns about entertainment v
Singer M. Thepbut confirmed the body of Prawit Pudmuan, a 35-year-old keyboardist for the band Tosakan, at the Police Hospital's Institute of Forensic Medicine on July 13, 2025, at 12:50 p.m. Thepbut, 39, had searched throughout the night after learning of the fire at the Ladprao beer hall, initially hopeful when rumors of survivors circulated. He described his close friendship with Prawit, noting they had played in the same band before Prawit became keyboardist for Tosakan, which performed regularly at the entertainment venue. They remained in constant contact, and Thepbut had tried to call him on July 12 to discuss an upcoming collaboration but could not reach him before learning of the fire.
Thepbut recounted how around 3:00 a.m. he received word that Prawit had been found and taken to a hospital, prompting him to search multiple hospitals. It was only after learning that the deceased had been taken to the Police Hospital and identified that morning did Thepbut rush to confirm in person. Prawit was a highly skilled musician and instructor who also served in the military with a promising future. The two had previously discussed Prawit's plan to leave Tosakan by month's end to collaborate with Thepbut on composing and performing music, but scheduling conflicts kept him performing at the venue where the tragedy occurred.
As a musician himself, Thepbut highlighted serious safety concerns at entertainment venues. He noted that band stages are typically located deepest within venues, while musicians' exits are usually through specialized doors only. In emergencies, there is often insufficient time to evacuate safely. He emphasized the problem is especially acute on busy nights like Fridays and Saturdays when the venue is packed. Thepbut called for all entertainment venues to prioritize safety systems and fire evacuation routes to prevent future tragedies, saying many musicians are now fearful, having gone into the profession simply to support their families.
