Smash Hits - July 4-17

Planet MMMBop

Planet pop? Planet MMMBop more like! It's all long hair, top tunes and big smiles as Smash Hits spends an interstellar afternoon with rising stars Zac, Taylor, and Isaac, a.k.a. Hanson!

Being the biggest and best new pop band on the planet, topping the charts throughout the world, with fame, fortune, adulation and loadsa fans beckoning, Hanson should be the happiest people in the world. Except that Zac is sitting, his face all forlorn and sad. "I don't tend to get girls as fans," he sighs, bottom lip sticking out. "I just get all the young guys and weirdos."

Hanson are talking about girls, one of their favourite topics and it seems a certain glum-looking, sulking 11-year-old is being left out of the conversation.

But at this point of potential crisis, when it seems like the youngest, smallest third of pop's future is being seriously upset, Taylor hits him forcefully on the head with a copy of Smash Hits and announces: "Now that's not true, is it?"

"OK," says Zac, and a huge infectious grin spreads across his face at long last.

"I guess I get a few girl fans." And Zac, Isaac and Taylor all start to laugh.

Phew! Hanson are the happiest people in the world. Not only is their single MMMBop the cheeriest, brightest, shiniest pop song ever but even more than that, spending an afternoon in the lads' company is about as much fun as you can possibly handle fully clothed!

"Being serious is so boring," Taylor says. "Anyone can act like Oasis, what's the point? You can do that anytime in any job. We love music and it's what we love to do. So we like having fun."

"We goof off," Zac confesses. "We like to, say, climb up on a roof and drop water bombs on people. Stuff like that!"

During the Hits photo shoot 'goofing off' is an all too regular occurrence. Be it Zac's daft robotic dancing, their tendency to break into song or the high spirits with which they approach even the most boring tasks. They love 'goofing', but it's only one side of Hanson. "We also take our music seriously, we goof off, but we're certainly not goofballs," he nods firmly.

Hanson may be fun, young, good looking and poptastic but they are also real, talented musicians.

Hanson are as they describe themselves: "Brothers who write, sing and play anything."

Isaac wrote his first song when he was eight years old. Zac started playing gigs with his big brothers when he was only six. "We've been listening to and playing music since we were born," Isaac explains as if being in bands since nappies is the most normal thing on the earth. "But it all started properly about five years ago," he says. "We started performing and doing some gigs. Originally we were doing acapella music and clicking our fingers - but for the last couple of years we've all had instruments. There were some drums in the attic that dad got down for Zac and within a week we were playing live!"

Zac: "I guess I'm a natural drummer, although at the beginning I wasn't doing much. And on top of being the best pre-teen drummer in the world Zac also writes songs. He wrote Man From Milwaukee, the bonus track on their brill album Middle of Nowhere.

So are Hanson the new Jackson Five, the group that saw 'King of Pop' Michael Jackson shoot fame at a similar young age? Not according to Taylor. "There's not five of us. It was Michael and four brothers," he points out. "We're all the same. We all make the music."

'Cos the Hanson lads have private tutors instead of going to school, they get loadsa time to rehearse their top tunes. "We've been able to practice rather than being stuck up with school and all that," Taylor says. "It's really nice because you can focus on the subjects you really like and are interested in."

The brothers had a history lesson this morning before meeting the Hits. The lesson involved going around the London Dungeons and the Tower of London History Ride. "We're experiencing new people and new cultures," Isaac explains. "How many US history teachers would die to be able to send their class to London!"

But, if it's cool missing school, Zac adds that bed-time hasn't got any later just because they're pop stars. "It's worse 'cos we have to get up early to go and work, we were up at six this morning so we do get told to go to bed early."

All the Hanson family are over in London. There's mum and dad, as well as sisters Jessica (8) and Avery (6) and yet another Hanson bro., Mackie (3). So are their younger family a Hanson Jnr, another pop band only years away? Taylor shrugs. "I don't know, Maxi has got the rhythm - he could play drums." And he's three years old? "Yeah!" Next time Hanson come over they'll be much bigger stars and they'll be on their own, without the full Hanson clan. "We can't afford to fly everyone everywhere 'cos there are too many of us," says Taylor, insisting that they wouldn't be lost without mum and dad: "It usually ends up with Zac looking after us!"

Zac adds: "I guess I need looking after sometimes. We look after each other, but I don't need baby-sitting. I don't think as those two as older than me, I think they're 11 as well. To Tay we're all 14 and to Ike we're all 16, I guess."

Isaac agrees: "We don't really argue and when we do it's not a big thing. Generally we are best friends for the most part. I don't think about how old we are."

"It's great to be good friends with your brothers," Taylor adds smiling. "Then you've got friends for life."

Zac looks at the smiling Taylor, puts his finger in his mouth and starts making barfing noises.

The conversation, inevitably, returns to girls - and the good news for lay-dees in Britain is that none of the band are attached. Tay wonders why we're surprised (perhaps 'cos he's already challenging Ronan for 'Best Looking Felle' al the SH annual Poll Winners bash). "I thought you weren't meant to be into girls until you were about 14, but it seems everyone is getting girlfriends younger." But he thinks that Zac may have a few years to wait. "What's the point of getting a girlfriend when you're 11?" he says. "What do you do? Ring up and go, 'lets get together and talk'." "Yeah, or go out rollerblading," adds Zac in full agreement.

Isaac leans over to Zac and says "It's not like you're going to make out." And all three start making barfing noises, "Bleurgh!" So, here we have the future of pop. Right now you can get their topper most debut single, MMMBop. Soon you'll be able to get posters, T-shirts and the album, but you may have to wait a while before Zac's ready to be your boyfriend!

TOTP - June, 1997

Bonkers Brothers

Crikey! Isaac's 16, Taylor's 14 and Zac's 11, yet the brothers HANSON are already on their way to pop super stardom. But packing in school and traveling around the world is hardly a normal carry-on, so we had to ask - are they going on the road to being bonkers?

So, how come you're not at school then? Isaac: Well, we're touring Europe promoting our single and album. Taylor: We started performing in local venues in our hometown, Oklahoma, USA. Since then we've written hundreds of songs and now we have a record contract. So that's why we're not at school. Zac: We never went to school in the first place anyway.

Sorry? Zac: We were home-schooled. Our parents teach us and we also have a tutor who teaches us when we're on the road. Isaac: Loads of families do that where we're from - home schooling gives you the opportunity to go after your own interests, you're allowed to go with your own flow!

Do you, erm, have many mates then? Taylor: Oh yeah, most families from around our way have at least five kids, we have home school co-ops where a group of us all get together to study. Isaac: The disadvantage of school is that there's this age thing where they separate you because of your ages. People always ask me what I'm doing hanging around with Zac, but the truth is I never think of him as being younger.

We often hear rumors of pop stars losing the plot a bit when they find stardom at an early age, does this worry you? Taylor: Ha, ha, ha! Our friends have already said to us, 'If you start going weird we're going to sort you out.' Zac: Yeah, we're not going to start having nose-jobs or anything. It's cool! I mean, how many 11-year-olds get to tour Europe?

But what if you make tons of money? Are you going to blow it all on fast stars and extravagance? Taylor: A Porsche may be cool but what happens when your career's over and all you have to live in is your car? Zac: Yeah, you'd be wishing you'd at least have bought a bus! Isaac: I think you have to try and be level-headed about it. If we did make loads of cash we'd probably build a studio to record in.

Do your friends treat you differently now? Taylor: Well, to be honest we've never been kinda normal so our friends are used to it, I mean, we're weird in a way, it's not every kid who sings with his brothers for a living. Isaac: My friends work in a pizza shop near our home, it has a TV in it and when our video was on MTV, they got in trouble for watching it instead of working. But they told their boss, 'They're the Hansons, they're our friends, man!' Our friends are cool about us. Zac: When we get home, our friends will just say, 'Wow, it's cool you were on TV. Are you coming out?'

What keeps your feet on the ground? Isaac: Our family. There are six kids in our family and with our mum and dad we travel everywhere together. Zac: It helps being from Oklahoma - it's not exactly LA or anything, people are quite down to earth. Taylor: It's important to stick with your family and friends. Look at the Bee Gees. They haven't gone out and done anything crazy, have they?

What about in-Hanson fighting, surely you must have the odd scrap? Taylor: Nothing serious, we just play tricks on each other. Like Isaac is a real romantic and I found this love letter he wrote to a girl once, it was horrid, I threw it in a fountain. When I was little I couldn't care less about girls, I just wanted to throw tomatoes and stuff at them. Isaac: I never knew you threw it in the fountain!

You all must receive plenty of letters from girls now. Zac: Girls! Girls are so cute, they write letters telling us they love us. Taylor: We know it has nothing to do with us though. If we weren't on stage singing I don't reckon we'd be getting too many! Isaac: The attention hasn't gone to our heads just yet!

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

Transcript

Leno: Alrighty. We’re back with Hanson. Three more geniuses. A lot of geniuses we’ve got. Zac, Taylor, Isaac, right?
All: Yes.

Leno: OK. Now how many... I love your little sister. How old is she, like, 4?
Taylor: Yeah, we’ve got three younger siblings.

Leno: So how many all together?
Taylor: We’ve got Jessica, who’s 8, Avery is 6, and Mackie our youngest brother is 3.

Leno: Whoa.
Taylor: Yeah, it’s a lot of them.

Leno: Yeah, I was sitting by my desk and kids were screaming by my desk up there. It’s a nice family. Now how old are you guys? You’re how old?
Zac: I’m 11.
Taylor: 14.
Isaac: 16.

Leno: OK. Now you guys are off to where next week...? (pulls out a globe)
Zac: (laughing) Don’t do this!
Isaac: Japan and Taiwan.

Leno: Japan and Taiwan? Well you guys are just going nuts! I mean, is this like overwhelming to you?
Taylor: It’s pretty wild.
Isaac: It’s pretty wild.
Taylor: It’s definitely wild.

Leno: Any girlfriends?
All: No, no...
Taylor: Not one.

Leno: Not one among... eight kids in the family? Three...
Isaac: Well, the others are a little bit too young, you know, our philosophy is...
Taylor: Could you see a three year old walking around with a boyfriend, I mean, or a girlfriend?

Leno: In LA? Yes, I’m sorry. That’s why you guys are normal - you’re from Oklahoma. Now what’s the dumbest question you get asked? You get asked a lot of stupid questions?
Zac: Ahh.. well...
Taylor: The dumbest question we’ve got asked was ... "How did you guys meet?". I mean...
(Leno laughs hysterically)
Isaac: We were like, well, you know, our mom brought Zac home you know and...
Taylor: Here’s your youngest brother! Oh...

Leno: From the bathroom, yeah... we bumped in in the hall... Now Isaac, you’re 16, right?
Isaac: Yes.

Leno: And are you driving yet?
Isaac: Yes I am.

Leno: Now, what’d you have, you get yourself a Viper, Corvette, Ferrari...?
Isaac: Well, we were gonna ask you for you know, a little car advice. I actually saw this really cool, white convertible Jaguar...

Leno: Oh, that’s mine.
Isaac: You mean the one that we ran into?

Leno: I’m thinking a little more Geo-Metro for you guys.
Isaac: Yeah well, it’s kind of a little bit... you know... easy to crush...

Leno: Really?
Isaac: Yeah, we kind of backed into it there.

Leno: Yeah? Ha ha... Just try it. Now where on Oklahoma are you guys from?
Isaac and Taylor: Tulsa.

Leno: Oh yeah, I used to go with a girl from Oklahoma. I’ve been there a lot. Now do you all go to the same school?
Isaac: We actually home school.
Taylor: Yeah, it’s called Home.

Leno: So mom teaches? Mom does the whole thing?
Isaac: yeah, pretty much mom. And dad...everybody...

Leno: Now you guys have a web site?
All: Yes we do.
Isaac: Hansonline.com
Taylor: Check it out!
Zac: Yes!

Leno: Now how does that home school thing work out? ‘Cause you can’t really screw around because it’s mom. Is there a substitute for mom?
Taylor: Yeah, we have a substitute.
Isaac: The good thing is, we *can* screw around. Because it is mom.

Leno: I see... And so when you’re on the road, you just do everything on the road?
Taylor: Yeah. We just take the books wherever we go.

Leno: Yeah. So you’re off to Japan?
Taylor: Yes.

Leno: Now I know sushi’s not big in Tulsa.
Zac: Not exactly...
Isaac: Not too big in our family.
Taylor: Sushi is not too big in the Hanson family.

Leno: You gonna try it? Well you gotta try it.
Taylor: Who knows.
Zac: We do?

Leno: It could be an international incident. You could be... you know...
Isaac: We could get food poisoning.

Leno: Or you could get food poisoning. Have you ever tried sushi?
Zac: No. I’m not planning on it very soon.

Leno: Well we’ll bring out some raw fish for you. Would you like to try some raw fish?
Zac: No thank you.
Taylor: We’ll pass.

Leno: Just kidding. Well, guys, congratulations on all of your success, It’s a real nice family. Your mom, your dad, you’re all nice folks. Thanks for coming. It’s good seeing you guys. We’ll be right back. Hanson!

Super Teen Interview

Transcript

These three gorgeous dudes from Tulsa, OK released "MMMBop' last April, and suddenly the whole world started buzzin'! What’s more, the song hit MTV and Number One on the music charts faster than the blink of an eye! The guys have been taking their current mini-concert on the road-overseas too!-and here's what it sounded like when SUPERTEEN caught up with then in sunny Los Angeles! Listen in!!

ST- Where were you the first time you heard "MMMBop" on the radio?
Ike-we were in a van...
Tay-Coming out of an interview...We got back in the van, cranked it up...it was an awesome feeling!

ST-What was the first song you ever wrote?
Ike-The first song we wrote was called "Rain Falling Down."
Tay-Isaac wrote his first song in third grade.

ST-Third Grade? Were all the words spelled correctly?
Tay & Ike-(laughing):We didn't write 'em out, we just sang 'em. It's in your head!

ST-How do you write your songs?
Ike-All kinds of ways. "MMMBop was written over a year's time. The chores was intended to be a background part, and then became the chorus...Everyone contributes to every song.

ST-Is this what you expected from your first single?
Tay-No, you can't expect this-you hope for it!
Zac-No, you can't expect this-you hope for it!
Ike-You can't expect it, no way!
Tay-You just have to have fun with it!
Ike-This is great experience, a great experience.

ST-What's the best part of all of this for you?
Tay-Going around seeing the world, going all over the country...
Ike-Seeing all these kids down there just come to see you play...That's a pretty great feeling.

ST-what's your favorite of all the places you've visited so far?
Ike-We really enjoyed being everywhere...England, France, Germany...We also love New York and LA

ST-Zac, do you have a girlfriend?
Zac-Nope! I don't!

ST-Would you like to have one?
Zac-Maybe. I'm still looking.
Tay-Who Knows?

ST-Is there anything funny that has happened at one of your concerts?
Tay-When we first started out, Zac had some old Ludwig drums that wouldn't stay still - they would roll across the stage...

ST-Are you guys getting enough sleep?
ALL-NO!

ST-If you weren't in a group, what would you be doing?
Tay-Music for someone else.
Ike-I think music is a part of us and it's what we've always done. We intend to be doing it for a long time, and if we weren't doing music, then we wouldn't be who we are, because music is our life. That's what we love.
Tay-The first music we really heard was 1934. The first music we really heard was 1950's and '60s rock 'n roll. That’s was the first music that inspired us...Everything. I mean "Johnny B. Goode," "Splish Splash," "Rockin’ Robin," "The Supremes," Aretha Franklin, The Four Tops, Otis Redding, all the original rock 'n roll.

ST-What's a secret no one knows?
Zac-No one knows, so it's not a secret!
Ike-"MMMBop" is about relationships. It's the first verse that says, "You have so many relationships in life only one or two will last, you go through all the pain and strife, then you turn your back and they're gone so fast." And so, yeah, it's much more intense than the chorus sounds. And "MMMBop" is actually a frame of time.

ST-What is it based on? A past relationship?
Ike & Tay-It's based on life.
Ike-Things happen...
Zac-We were writing songs about our lives and our girlfriends leaving us before we could even care, so who knows?

ST-Where is the Middle of Nowhere?
Zac-Nowhere!
Ike-In the middle of nowhere of wherever. Ya know, people use the phrase "The middle of nowhere" all the time. It was part of a song, it was part of the bonus track, "Man From Milwaukee." It says, "It started out at a bus stop in the middle of nowhere..." Well, we thought that was a cool title, and so here it is.

ST-Are you guys homesick?
Zac-Yeah! We've been going around for a [while],so...

ST-What’s the first thing you're going to do when you get home?
Zac-Sleep!
Tay-Sit down and do nothing probably. I don't know. See our friends...
Zac-Go to "Laser Quest."
Tay-Yeah, it's awesome.

ST-Do you guys take anything on the road to remind you of home?
Ike-Well, we bring a turtle with us all the time. We write in our journal...
Zac-Our friends gave us a big globe of Tulsa...
Ike-Ya Know, one of those balls you turn upside down...

ST-Do you have a favorite sport?
Ike-We love street hockey and rollerblading...
Zac-Soccer...
Tay-...Basketball...I don't think we have a favorite sport...
Ike-Yeah, we just love to play sports, period.

ST-what would your advice be for kids who want to do what you guys do.
Zac-It's a lot of work.
Tay-...You have to really be dedicated. When you want something, it's not that easy. You have to keep going for it.
Zac-Once you get a record deal, it doesn't stop there!

ST-What do you think about working with each other?
Ike-We have a great relationship with each other. We're best friends, basically. So we have no problem working with each other. We get in the occasional arguments I guess, but that's part of life.

ST-How does it feel to have the Number One single in the country?
Ike-It's incredible to think your song can actually be in the Top 10, Top 14, much less number One. There's nothing to say, but "Wow!"
Tay-We were personally happy with anything in the Top 40...you don't have much to say, you can just be in awe.
Zac-Yeah!

ST-How does it feel to have all these screaming girls around you?
Zac-It's really cool to think that people are screaming for you, but it's really not about you in away...
Tay-It's fun...it's not about you, you're kind of holding a position--hopefully, you'll get to hold that position for a while.
Ike-You have to remember that this kind of thing can go, just as fast as it can come--and it's come really fast, so it can go just as fast!

ST-Are you going to go down to Australia at all?
Ike-We're intending to go to Southeast Asia and Australia, so we're really looking forward to that. That's going to be a lot of fun!

ST-What's the best piece of advice someone has ever given you about coping with the business?
Ike-I think any musician will tell you, you have to love music in order to do it.
Tay-That's got to be the base of it, it can't be about the fame or the money--You have to really love it.

ST-What advise have your parents given you to deal with all this?
Tay-Our parents are completely behind us, and they've always been...they've [also] said "You can stop if you want to..."

ST-Do you get special treatments over your other siblings now?
ALL-No, not at all!
Tay-If that ever happens, someone needs to hit us really hard!

ST-Do any of you have girlfriends now?
Tay-we don't have girlfriends...
Zac & Ike-None of us!

ST-Can you describe your idea of the perfect evening out?
Ike-Ahhh...
Zac-I don't know...

ST-Zac what’s your prefect evening out?
Zac-I don't know. There's a lot of [girls] out there!
Tay-There's a whole world!
Ike-I don't think we want to get into the whole dating thing. It's about music, it's not about that kind of thing...

ST-Are you closer to each other, now that you're working together?
Zac-no we've always been close.

ST-Do you find that you get into more arguments now?
Ike-No. I think we get into way less arguments. We get along really well, we're best friends, so you know we have no problems.
Zac-No. What is there to argue about?

ST-Do you intend to go touring in the states?
Ike-We intend to do a tour in the fall at some point...

Teen Dream Magazine

Interview Transcript

Teen Dream: How did you three first begin playing music?
Isaac: We began playing as a group about five years ago at a festival. At first, we were just singing a cappella (without instruments). But then about three years later, we picked up instruments. A friend of ours had some drums in his attic, which Zac took up. Then we got a guitar from a pawn shop, which I play. And Taylor took up the piano.
Taylor: I had taken piano lessons, so I already knew how to play.

Teen Dream: What were some of your earliest musical influences?
Zac: Our parents were always very musical. They were in a gospel group that they traveled around with.
Isaac: Our parents were really into music and the art scene when they were in high school. We learned a lot from them.

Teen Dream: Did you ever sing any gospel?
Isaac: Yes, gospel was the first music we ever sang, and we sang it a cappella.

Teen Dream: Did you listen to other kinds of music while growing up?
Isaac: Yes. our mom had us listen to Billy Joel- she's a big fan of his.
Taylor: Aside from gospel, one of the first songs we ever sang together was Billy Joel's For the Longest Time.
Isaac: We also loved early rock from the 50's and 60's. Those were the first records we actually listened to.

Teen Dream: You write all of your songs. Tell us about how the process works.
Zac: It varies. Sometimes, one of us will write a little bit, then the rest will add their input. Other times just one of us may write an entire song, or all three of us will write an entire song together. It's a spontaneous process.
Isaac: We get our ideas for the songs from what happens to us in our lives on a daily basis. If you're creative, anything may inspire you, from hanging out with friends to just staring out your window at the passing scene.

Teen Dream: You seem to get along so well. Is this an act, or do you really get on?
Taylor: We're best friends; we genuinely enjoy hanging out with each other.
Zac: We'd never consider making music separately because we've been together all our lives.
Isaac: We truly enjoy each other’s company. We do fight, which is only normal for brother's. But it's basically all in fun.

Teen Dream: Tel us about your recording and touring experiences. Is this stuff as fun as it seems?
Zac: It can get hectic, but it's fun.
Taylor: We love what we do. But we know there's a lot of serious work involved. You have to work very hard at success. It's not all glamour.

Teen Dream: Tell us about your name. Why did you change it from the Hanson Brothers to just Hanson?
Zac: It was embarrassing because people would mistakenly call us "Handsome!"
Taylor: We thought just Hanson was a lot cooler.

Teen Dream: In addition to R&B and gospel, what other kinds of music do you like?
Taylor: We listen to a wide variety of music, everything from Counting Crows to the Spin Doctors and Aerosmith. We occasionally listen to rap and country, which is hard to avoid when you live in Oklahoma. And we still like Billy Joel. So we listen to a lot of different stuff.

Teen Dream: Now about your personal life....Do you guys date?
Isaac: We're allowed to, but the time probably isn't right for that right now. I don't think too many girls could put up with our hectic schedule.
Zac: They wouldn't see very much of us, because we're always running off to Los Angeles or wherever to record albums, make videos and perform.

Teen Dream: How do your fans react to you?
Isaac: The guys are cool; they just want to hang out and talk about music. But the girls start screaming.
Zac: Why do you they do that!

Teen Dream: Ah, come on, admit it- deep down, you think that's really cool!
With that, Zac, Isaac and Taylor just grin mischievously.......