Transcript from Regis and Kathy Lee
REGIS: Okay, our next guests are members of an exciting and endearing band made up of these three young brothers from Tulsa, Oklamhoma. Their new CD is called Middle of Nowhere, heating up the charts right now. And here they are, a really dynamite group, Hanson. Here's Zachary, Isaac, and Taylor. The Hanson's!
KATHY: These guys could be surfers!
R: These guys are a barber's dream.
ZAC: Yeah
R: Yeah, nice to have you here....
TAYLOR: Great to be here.
R: ...Welcome to New York. Is this your first time to New York City?
T: No, actually we've been going back and forth a lot.
R: You know this is actually the first time I've heard about you, but everybody's been talking about you now. You're on the charts, you're zooming like a bullet!
ISAAC: Yeah, yeah, you know, we're crossing our fingers.
K: Is it no big surprise to you guys because music's been a part of your life all your life?
T: You can expect things to happen, but we've always been doing music, yes.
K: I understand that their parents would come home from church on Wednesday nights expecting a clean house and the dishes done and what would they find?
T: A new song instead of....
I: A new song instead of, you know, dishes done.
K: Well, it's paying off now.
R: And how old are you guys?
Z: Uh, 11.
I: 16
T: 14
R: 14. Did you always get along, were there any squabbles?
I: When we were young we used to practice...
K: You are young!
T: When we were younger!
I: I know that's the funny thing! We always go, you know, when we were young. Yeah, exactly.
Z: When we were younger.
I: Youngfer, yeah, when we were younger we used to practice karate on each other.
T: (Pretends to hit Isaac).
I: But know we don't do that because we would really, really hurt each other if we did that to each other now, Taylor and I.
T: (While Isaac was talking) We get along pretty well, we get along pretty well.
K: And you might screw up all of that beautiful harmony you've got going too, you've got investments here.
Z: (sings in high screaching voice)
R: When did you start playing together as a group?
I: We started as a group five years ago.
R: Are you one of those groups that started in your garage. One of those make-shift studios built in.
T: Pretty close, we basically took over the house, the living room.
R: The living room.
K: They have very understanding parents.
Z: Yeah.
I: Yes, yes, very understanding. We actually didn't start playing instruments until two years ago.
K: So you were a vocal group, harmony.
I: Yeah, we were doing a capella for a long time. Did some kind of R&B stuff.
K: And I was interested to read, your early...that's funny, early influences, but it was because you went away and you had all these...
I: Yeah, we listened to late 50's, early 60's rock and roll.
K: Where did you move with your dad?
I: Equador...
Z: Venezuala...
T: My dad's jod took him over to Equador, Venezuela, and Trinidad for over the period of a year. So over that time we listened to old rock and toll.
K: And Aretha blew you away.
I: Oh yeah, definately.
Z: Yeah! Definately! WOAH!!!!
K: Excuse me, you were two, all right? He don't get respect at age two.
R: Now somebody said that you're doing your schooling at home?
I: Yes, we are homeschooled.
R: Ah ha, and who's your teacher?
I: Our parents and we also have a math tutor.
R: And are there more Hansons at home?
I: Yes, there are.
T: There's three more, three younger siblings.
K: Boys or girls or what?
T: Two younger girls, 8 and 6, Jessica and Avery and Mackenzie, the younger brother is three.
K: Now are they musically inclined?
I: Uh...well, they're definitely kind of an artsy group, I guess you could say.
K: We're almost close to a Partridge family here.
T: It's getting close.
Z: Yeah.
K: And Tulsa, I went to college in Tulsa, it's a great town to grow up in.
I: It's a really great town.
T: We Love Tulsa.
I: Love Tulsa.
R: And the governor declared it Hanson day.
T: Today was declared Hanson day...
I: Or yesterday was actually...
T: Or yesterday was declared Hanson day.
I: Yeah, yesterday.
T: It's pretty strange.
K: Why not Hanson year?
T: I don't know! We're pleased with one day.
R: Were you nervous meeting the governor?
Z: Actually we didn't. We ended up not because we were here.
T: (Tries to answer question at the same time as Zac)
R: I'm trying to get the little one to say something!
K: They didn't have time, they were with Letterman, they didn't have time for the governor.
R: How was your appearence on the Letterman show?
I: That was really great.
Z: It was really cool.
T: It was fun.
R: Did David talk to you?
Z: Ah, no, he didn't. He came over and thanked us after we....
T: We played MMMBop and then her came over and shook our hands.
K: Oh, that's the way it's pronounced, MMMBop. I thought it was M-M-M Bop.
I: MMMBop
T: It's pretty confusing.
I: Or M-M-M-B-O-P
K: You guys write your own stuff.
I: Yeah!
K: Now tell me how guys 11, 16, and 14, who have experienced so much of a life, where do the songs come from? I mean, your parents haven't even let you out of the garage.
I: I don't know. We joke around, we were writing songs about our wives and our girlfriends leaving us before we could even care. So, I mean, we thought girls had cooties when we were writing about them.
K: They don't? They don't?
I: No, No, girls definitly do not have cooties.
R: So it's you two, the oldest two who do most of the writing? Does this guy participate?
I: No, Zac definitely plays a very large part in the song writing.
Z: Thank you, man!
K: Now, Zac I'm worried about you I undserstand that your role models are Beevis and Butthead.
Z: No, np, no, no. It's Ike that does Beevis and Butthead, not me.
R: Can you do a bit for us now?
I: Uuuuu.....
K: Not on a family channel.
I: No, we won't do that now, but you know, I do other impressions.
R: Well, are you ready to play for us?
ALL: Sure.
R: Well, All right. Fine, can we do a little MMMBop? Here they are from their new album, Middle of Nowhere, Hanson.
Hanson seems to ne the new "IT!" Just a few months ago, Isaac, Taylor, and Zac were up at the Teen Beat offices, getting ready to release "MMMBop," the first single off their new album, Middle of Nowhere. They told us they were hoping it would do well and athat fans would like it. Well, well, well! Little did these three Oklahoma brothers know that their music would take off like a rocket, and that girls would be screaming their names like crazy! As of right now, Hanson is not touring, but Isaac told Teen Beat, "We intend to do a tour in the fall, at some point, but we diefinatly intend to tour." Hanson was planning on visiting Southeast Asia and Australia this month to give the teens there a taste of their music. If the reception is anything like it's been here, Hanson headed to international super star status! Hanson spent the past few months performing in the U.S. at various venues, including a few that Teen Beet attended.
16 Magazine
They were three talented brothers growing up in Tulsa, OK - Isaac, who's 17, Taylor, who's 14, and Zachary, who's 11. They started performing together, appearing at music events in their hometown, and traveling to New Orleans, Chicago, Los Angelas, and Kansas City - anywhere for the chance to play. They even recorded their own CD, which featured songs they wrote themselves. All that hard work payed off, and now the three beautious brothers, who call themselves HANSON (their last name in case you're curious), are watching their debut CD, Middle of Nowhere, climb up the pop charts. Their first single "MMMBop," has already got fans dancing. "Whenever we perform, we always see people dancing in the aisles," says eldest bro Isaac, who sings and plays guitar. "It's nice to see people having a good time and enjoying your music."
The trio has already gotton used to meeting and greeting their screaming fans - something they totally love doing. "I love meeting people," says middle sib Taylor. "The girls usually hug us and sat y they love us, and the guys usually want to talk about music. It's definitely one of the most fun parts of making music."
Disney Adventures
August 1, 97
By: Nita Malkin
Hanson comes from the Middle fo Nowhere to hit the big time with their new single, "MMMBop!"
When Zac Hanson gets in your face and screams: "We're regular kids!" you gotta wonder. Not just because Zac and his older brothers, Taylor and Isaac make up Hanson, the hottest band of the moment -- and one of the youngest ever! And not just because their new album, Middle of Nowhere, zoomed up the charts. But because, at this moment, 11-year-old Zac is bouncing off the walls of his Hollywood hotel suite, pretending to choke on an M&M.
"As you can see, Zac gets a little carried away," laughs 16-year-old Isaac (friends call him Ike). Taylor, 14 smiles and rolls his eyes. "Yeah, Zac was dropped on his head when he was a baby..."
And it wasn't long after that when these bros from Tulsa, Oklahoma, started singing. They've made music together for five years, since Zac was just 6! Taylor plays keyboards, Ike strums the guitar, and zany Zac releases some energy by pounding the drums. "The whole band thing was a natural process," Ike explains. "We always enjoyed music, and our parents thought it was cool."
At first they were just a singing group. Then Hanson got their talented hands on some used instruments and a week later they had their first gig as a bona fide band. Until recently, they've been Tulsa's best-kept secret -- playing tons of local shows, putting out two indie albums on their own, wowing listeners with their happy, peppy pop tunes.
When word got out to the bigwigs in the music biz, one of Mercury Records executive couldn't believe they could be that young and that good without any grown-up help. But after watching them perform at a Kansas county fair, he signed them up. The next thing Hanson knew, they were winging out to Los Angeles to record a new disc.
That CD was Middle of Nowhere, with their first single "MMMBop." Their second single, "Where's the Love," followed. Their songs zero in on subjects like friends, family, and girls. "We write about everyday life," says Zac. "If you get a monkey that day, you's write a sond about a monkey."
"I don't know about that," says Taylor. "If we got a monkey, I's be too busy playing with it to write a song about it!"
When Hanson isn't filming a video or hanging with Jenny McCarthy (they did a guest spot on her new MTV show), they're doing other normal stuff: "We're home-schooled, we did that before we even started singing," says Taylor. "We like to draw -- our garage was remodeled into a music room, and we're working on a mural for the wall -- and we Rollerblade, play street hockey, and soccer."
What was the band's favorite part of recording their hit CD? "We jumped in the producers' pool with all our clothes on!" says Zac.
LENO: My next guests are three brothers from Oklahoma who have had tremendous success with their debut album selling over 2 million copies. Tonight they're performing a sond from the CD Middle of Nowhere, please welcome HANSON!!!!
(Hanson performs "Where's the Love")
L: Thank you, thank you guys, we'll talk with Hanson when we get back.
(Commercial break)
L: Alrighty, we're back with Hanson- oh three more geniouses, lots of geniuses tonight, huh? Zac, Taylor, Isaac, right?
ALL: Yes.
L: Ok, Ok, now I love your little sister, how old is she, like four?
TAYLOR: Yeah, we've got three younger siblings.
L: So how many all together?
T: There's Jessica who's eight, Avie who's six, and Mackenzie, the youngest, who's three.
L: Oh man!
T: There's a lot of them.
L: I'm sitting at my desk and there's kids screaming by my desk upstairs. Nice family. So how old are you guys?
ZAC: 11
T: 14
ISAAC: 16
L: Okay, now you guys are off to...where next week? (brings up globe).
Z: Don't do this to me!!!!
I: Japan and Taiwan.
L: Japan and Taiwan? Can you find them?
I: Oh yeah.
L: Well, you guys are just going nuts is this like overwhelmining to you?
T: Yeah it's pretty wild, it's definitely wild.
L: Any girlfriends?
ALL: No.
T: Not one.
L: Not one among eight kids in this family?
I: No, well, y'know the other ones are a little bit young, y'know.
T: Can you see a three year old walking aroung with a boyfriend?
I: In LA, yes!
L: See, that's why you guys are normal, you're from Oklahoma. Now what's the dumbest question you guys get asked? Do you get asked a lot of stupid questions?
T: Well, the dumbest question we got asked was...How did you guys meet?
L: Well we bumped into him in the hall...now Isaac you're 16, right? Are you driving yet?
I: Yes, I am.
L: Big stuff like a viper, corvette, ferrari?
I: Well, y'know, we were going to ask for some car advice...I actually saw this really cool white convertible jaguar...
L: Yeah, that's my car.
I: You mean the...one we...ran into???
L: I was thinking a little more geo metro for you guys.
I: Yeah, well it it's kind of a little bit easy to...crush, I kinda backed into it...
L: Yeah, just try it. Now where in Oklahoma are you guys from?
I and T: Tulsa
L: You all go to the same school?
I: We're actually home-schooled.
T: Yeah, it's called "Home."
L: So mom teaches, the whole family, mom does the whole thing?
I: Yeah I mean pretty much, Mom, Dad, the whole family.
L: So do you guys have a website, too?
Z: We do.
I: Hansonline.com
T: Yup.
Z: Yeeees!!
L: So how does this homeschool thing work out, cause you can't really screw around, because it's mom, right?
I: Well actually...
L: Is there ever a substitute?
I: We CAN screw around. Because it's Mom.
L: And when you're on the road, you can just do everything on the road?
T: Yeah, you can take your books with you wherever you go.
L: Now you're off to Japan, and I know sushi's not big in Tulsa.
I: Nah, well...
Z: Not exactly...
T: Not in the Hanson family.
L: You gonna try it? You gotta try it when you're over there...
T: Who knows?
L: Well, it could be an international incident, you could be, you could....
I: Or we could get food poisoning.
L: Or you could get food poisoning. Have you ever had suishi?
Z: No, I'm not planning on it very soon...
L: Well, we'll bring out some raw fish for you. Would you like to try some raw fish?
Z: No, thank you.
L: Well, congratulations on all your success, it's a nice family, your mom, your dad, they're all nice folks. Great seeing you guys. We'll be right bck after this, HANSON!!!!!
Boys in the Band
Oklahoma's Hanson brothers MMMBop their way to the top.
Christopher Sabec wasn't searching for the next pop phenomenon, just lunch. But as the music attorney munched barbecue at an Austin, Texas, music conference three years ago, he was interrupted by a youthful chorus: "Excuse me, sir, may we perform for you?" Looking up he saw three pint-size boys, each as blond as Macaulay Culkin and ranging in age from 8 to 13. Not wanting to crush their young psyches, he grudingly agreed. Then, he recalls, he was "blow away" by what he heard. "I need to speak to your parents," Sabec told them, as the last note faded. "Where are they?"
He quickly signed the three Tulsa brothers, Zachary, now 11, Taylor, 14, and Isaac Hanson, 16, and sent a demo tape of their upbeat, bubblegum sound to hundreds of scouts.
One landed of the desk of Mercury Records talent hunter Steve Greenberg. Given the boys' ages and the quality of the demo, Greenberg says, "I assumed it was fake, that adults were playing the instruments [and] that the vocals had been electronically manipulated." But just to be sure, he went to hear the Hansons at a county fair in Kansas. "There was not an adult in sight," says Greenberg.
Today, with a fan base of prepubescent girls, Hanson, as the group is known, is doing handsomely. Their first album, Middle of Nowhere, is well enscounced in the Top 10, and the chart-busting single, MMMBop" was No. 1 for three weeks in the U.S. and also topped the charts in three European countries. Greenberg notes that the tune's catchy refrain --
MMMBop-ba-duba-dop -- "means the same thing in every language. I'm sure that helps."
PICTURE: "We're definitely not the Partridge Family," insists Zac Hanson (in London with his brothers Taylor, right, and Isaac, behind).
What also undoubtedly helps their musical genes. Their father, Walker Hanson, 42, an oil-company CPA who plays guitar and piano as a hobby, and his wife, Diane, 42, a onetime professional singer, lullabied their young sons to sleep at night. Before long the youngsters were asking Mom and Dad for help writing tunes about the really important things in the boys' lives. "We wrote a lot of songs about frogs and ants," says Walker, who, with his wife home-schools their six children (the boys, plus Jessica, 8, Avery, 6, amd Mackenzie, 3). For a time, when Walker's work took the clan to Trinidad, Venezuela, and Ecuador, the boys watered their musical roots with a tape of '50s and '60's hits such as "Splish Splash" and "Johnny B. Good." It was the only tape they had, says drummer Zac. But he chirps, "that is the best music."
For Zac, it has been nearly half a liftime since the boys' first gig, singing a cappella at a 1992 Tulsa street fair. And their two early vanity-label albums are also forgotten. These daysm between cracking wise on the MTV Movie Awards and a filming a video for their next single, "Where's the Love," the Hanson's have been touring Europe and making cultural dicoveries.
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