Australia Smash Hits - Sydney Harbour - Typed by Kristi

It was an auspicious occation. The three yummy Hanson lads were to play live for a handful of people. And to keep out and gatecrashers, an old green Sydney ferry picked up the invited guests and set sail on the famous harbour. The usual media mob was cut down to a trifling few to allow for around 50 screaming (and weeping) young females to take part in this one-off free concert. The Hanson ferry arrived at our pick-up destination festooned with coloured ballons and streamers. Little Mackie, the lad's youngest brother, was in the captain's cabin waving to those of us gathered onshore. He quickly picked out a familiar face - or head - of radio DJ Ugly Phil O'Neil, and took no time at all to strike up a conversation.

"Hello Ugly Phil," little Mackie shouted from the deck.
"Hello," Ugly Phil shouted back from the shore.
"Why are you called Ugly Phil?" enquired the three-year-old.
The radio DJ shrugged his shoulders. "I dunno."
"Hey, Ugly Phil, you've got no hair!" shouted the worried tyke.
"Shhh. Don't tell anyone," he replied, looking over his shoulder.

We were given instructions to board the double-decker ferry. The Hanson family were playing happily with balloons and singing on the upstairs deck - in the sunlight, the lucky things. We were shown to our places downstairs: a darkened room with a stage at one end and a metal barricade to divide the punters from the stars. Hundreds of helium balloons bounced around the ceiling.

The engine roared again and we sailed to our next destination. Heaven know where that was exactly, because we couldn't see out of the vessel. All the windows were covered with black plastic garbage bags and Hanson posters!

The Hanson family remained upstairs playing games. Zac got a little overexcited at one point and ran down the stairs practically into your Hits reporter's arms, but was ordered back up by one of the MIB (men in black), or Hanson sercurity guards. Mrs Hanson made her way doewn the stairs to discuss business with some record company types. At first glance she could be mistaken for a Hanson sister rather than a mother. She stands at about Taylor's height and has long, blonde locks that reach her knees!

As we were sailing closer to out next pick-up point, frantic females could be heard screaming and chanting "Hanson, Hanson. I love you Taylor!" Once the horde was safely on the boat, the screams turned into singing. No prizes for guessing what tune.

After the crowd quietened down, the Hanosn brothers stormed the stage. Isaac had an acoustic guitar strapped around his shoulders, Taylor was carrying a tambourine, and Zac had both hands full with a mini-megaphone and hitting thingy. The boys were all smiles as the girls' hysteria crescendoed.

"You guys are loud," chuckled Taylor.
These boys have principles though, and they weren't about to try to sing over the top of that noise.
"Listen, you can scream before the somg and after the song, but don't scream during the song," instructed big brother Isaac.
With the ensuing silence, the trio launched into the album track Madeline. Next, tehy played the bonus track from the CD, Man From Milwaukee.This is where Zac had most fun because he got to shout through the mini-megaphone. And Isaac was impressed by how many people knew the lyrics.

"You guys really have bought the album!" he said. The last song from the set was, of course, the No.1 hit single MMMbop. Broad smiles remained on the trio's faces throughout the mini-gig. Their eyes sparkled. And Taylor's cheeks turned a rosy hue. The concert came to an end and as much as the lads would have liked to have continued playing, rules were rules, and these lads don't go breaking them. Before making the quick dash upstairs again, Taylor did the only decent thing he could do (since they're weren't allowed to give out any autographs). But before doing so, he pleaded with the fans: "I don't want to lose any body parts," and leant into the crowd to shake hands. Suddenly, they were running down the side of the boat to the safety of their MIB-guarded upstairs deck.

Before we knew it, the boat had stopped, the happy Hanson family (six siblings plus Mum, Dad and the nanny) had disembarked, and we were left to eat chocolate crackles and toffee apples. Cavities ahoy!