Top of the Pops Magazine
Issue 37 March 1998 © BBC Worldwide 1998Title
"The Troublesome Trio"The Hanson boys now surely they cant get into mischief? Hmm, thats what theyll have you believe, so it would appear that trouble just seems to follow them around .. Perhaps!
Three pairs of mischievous brown eyes look around their hotel room, their owners grinning. They appear to be plotting something destructive as they survey the swanky curtain drapes, china dinner sets and crystal chandeliers. After all, Isaac, Taylor and Zac are the hugest trio in pop. Why shouldnt they be chucking televisions out of windows and staining the carpets in true rock n roll fashion? Zac shakes his blond head and throws himself back in his seat. "Nah," he sighs, "It would be just too hard to trash a place like this!"
Worry not readers! Hanson havent come over all Oasis-like, throwing settees and stuff about just for a laugh. "Were not exactly into trashing apartments," reassures Taylor, looking spookily angelic as he pushes his hair from his eyes. "Well, not at the moment," adds Ike with a cheeky glint in his eye, "but I guess sometime on tour we may become angry and erm, do something wild!" Zac and Tay fall about laughing at the thought of hotel furniture throwing while Ike goes into an uncontrollable coughing fit, sparking off even more giggles from his younger brothers.
Tour Trouble
Talking of touring, the boys cant wait to set off on their global travels again. "Were going to start our first real proper tour this year " enthuses a recovered Ike, "Yeah, were touring across the States and hopefully, well be making plans to tour Europe after that", adds Tay, "and believe me, when you come to see Hanson on tour you can expect an extremely wild experience!" Crikey! Are they expecting stage invasions and mobbing scenes? "Well, when we did a tour of shopping malls it was absolutely wild!" says Zac, "It caused so much trouble for the security guys ", "Yeah, like when we turned up at a store in Melbourne," laughs Taylor, "and 25,000 people showed up!", "When we went outside we couldnt see the end of the crowd. They were squeezing over the barricades, even hanging off the edge of the multi-storey car park!" adds an excited Zac, his eyes lighting up at the thought of what might happen the next time Hanson hit the stage.
Transport Trouble
It seems the Hanson Life is full of troubles such as these, as the shockwaves of their super-fame spread out all around them. Theres the time they closed the Kansas Highway: "We did a surprise 30-minute show and 30,000 people turned up!" explains Tay, still gobsmacked. "Fans were standing right across the road, loads of em!". Dont forget the airport folly either, in Australia again, where they couldnt even leave the plane without top cops beside them! "We could hear a humming when we landed, " says Ike, "and it was the sound of a thousand fans waiting for us!"
Being Normal Trouble
But isnt it a tiny bit scaresome being chased all over the place, especially when youre back home trying to get on with being a normal teenager? "Well, when were performing we do try to make sure its safe," explains Zac, his eyes widening, "but you know what crowds that size can do when they crush forward. It is scary. They could crush a building!", "and things are different when we go home now, too," says Tay. "When we want to go out to the mall or to a theme park theres a lot of planning involved, and we always travel in groups its safer that way. We would put on pretend beards and moustaches, but I think wed attract even more attention!" Doesnt it ever bother the boys that they cant act like normal teenagers? "We rarely feel bothered by it," says Tay "I mean, it just comes with the job. It hasnt changed where we can go, theres no way were going to be restricted we just have to plan going out more.", "Yeah, its not like we go around singing MmmBop when were walking down the street," giggles Zac.
Girl Trouble
Another problem that comes with the job is the whoppingly untrue Hanson stories that appear in the tabloids. Zac might have a good laugh about the most famous fib, reported in their local Tulsa newspaper: "Suddenly we were all in a car crash, and I was dead," he remembers. "They could have come up with something more original!" he humfs, looking almost disappointed, "I mean they said that Tay had got some girl pregnant!" Uh-huh? "And, that is definitely, definitely not true!" Phew, thank goodness for that!
"Its usually our friends who tell us about these wild rumours," says Isaac. "Were hardly ever home, so well call our friends and theyll say: "Youll never guess what youre supposed to have done this week!" They really get a kick out of it."
"Its weird for our friends," adds Tay. "I mean, were just the same old Ike, Tay and Zac to them but they see us on the TV all the time and on the front page of magazines, its strange!" So dont the boys friends treat them a little differently now theyre megastars?
"Theyre really cool about it," says Ike. "Its just a shame we dont see them very often. There was one time we were meant to go home for Thanksgiving and we had to work. We were filming a concert for our video in New York and it meant we couldnt see out friends at home." Was he unhappy about that? "Oh no," interrupts Zac, as he practically jumps over the table to tell the tale first, "cos that was when we flew out our best friends to hang out with us before the show!"
Bike Trouble
Hmm, Zacs going all quiet and thoughtful. "Do you know what?" he ponders, "If youre disappointed over one thing, youll be able to do something else youve always wanted." Eh? "Like, if you wanted a motorbike and you didnt get one, youd get something else you really wanted to make up for it." Indeedy! But surely Hanson do get most things they want: No 1 records, MTV Awards, worldwide adoration, even bikes! "We were all desperate for motorbikes last Christmas," says Tay, "and we all got them theyre brilliant."
"Mines a 200cc dirt bike and it goes at 110km an hour! And there are loads of fields and hills near our house to ride around on." So have there been any accidents while wheelie-pulling and ramp-jumping? "Nah," laughs Zac, "but were looking forward to trying a few stunts", "trouble is, were never at home to ride them," adds Ike.
Travel Trouble
So is jetting off on another tour such a good idea for the boys when they havent even had time to play with their Christmas presents yet? "We love travelling!" announces Tay. "When were on tour we have a ball because everywhere is new to us. Weve been all over South East Asia, everywhere in Europe, its great Italy in particular, cos the food is out of this world!"
"Yeah, and the girls are real cute there too!" grins Zac. "And you see all the castles and churches and museums, historical artefacts, erm " Hmm. So are we likely to spot you brass rubbing some historical artefacts at St. Pauls Cathedral, then?
"Yknow," cuts in Ike, "I feel really bad cos we havent been able to go out and see as much of the UK as we would have liked, although we did go to Oxford for the day once." Hmm. Did they do any brass rubbing while they were there, then? "Noo. We didnt even have the chance to go punting on those cute little boats. We had the Snowed In album to make!" Bah Humbug!
Nappy Trouble
One last thing we need to know! When the boys do come home to Tulsa, whats the first thing they do? Catch up with their old friends, play on their beloved motorbikes? "Erm, well, weve been kinda helping out at home," admits Isaac. "Its good to just do normal stuff like that," chips in Zac. "I dont have a problem with it at all." A problem with what? "Erm, changing nappies, actually," announces Ike.
Ah yes! Baby Zoe has now arrived, taking the total of Hanson children to seven. "We all lend a hand," says Taylor. "And as Im the eldest Ive had lots of brothers and sisters to practise on!" states Isaac authoritatively. "The smell can be pretty unpleasant, though," adds Tay, wrinkling his nose. Pops most famous trio burst into laughter once again.
They may have troubles with constant travelling, being chased by fans and false rumours but, when it comes to changing nappies, Hanson have no worries now thats definitely not to be sniffed at!
(Transcribed from BBC TVs Top of the Pops Magazine, UK)