Seventeen Article
August 1997
If you're one of the hundreds of thousands of people who've bought Hanson's CD, Middle
of Nowhere, or caught the homemade vibes of the video for "MMMbop," you've probably
added brothers Isaac(a.k.a. Ike, 16), Taylor(14) and Zac Hanson(11) to a list of cutie pies
that already includes Brad and Gavin. But whatever you do, don't call Hanson cute-at least
not to their faces. At seventeen's photo shoot in New York City's Central Park, the band
bristled at the idea of posing by a swing set. Their dad, Walker Hanson, says his sons also
refused another photographer's request to pose with stuffed animals. Hanson does not see
itself as a kiddie show. Listen to the music, it'll speak for itself," says Taylor. Zac has an
even better suggestion: "Think of us as old people with high voices." Hanson's Middle of
Nowhere, a disc whose brand of soulful pop is fun, relaxed and totally infectious, is
apparently providing the perfect antidote to '90s angst. The CD debuted in Billboard's Top
10, and the first single "MMMBop," zipped to No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 in a matter of
weeks. With stats like these, it's obvious that Hanson fever is not just a teen-girl thing. The
fecer has infected the entire country-this kind of hot family act hasn't been seen since the
Jackson 5. Before their CD was even released, a Hanson appearance at a mall in Paramus,
New Jersey, drew more than 6,000 screaming fans. Adults are getting on the band's
wagon, too. The blond, sweet-looking threesome has charmed big-time celebs like David
Letterman, Rosie O'Donnell, Regis and Kathie Lee, and Jenny McCarthy. When Letterman
said, "Someone should get these kids their own TV show," the brothers H weren't all that
psyched. "We don't want to be the next Partridge Family," says Isaac. "Right now we're
focusing on the music." The brothers got their start five years ago performing a cappella
versions of rock'n'roll classics, like "Johnny B. Goode" and Summertime Blues," that they
had learned from listening to a Time/Life series on '50s rock. With their parents' support,
Hanson's first gigs took place at fairs and elementary schools in their hometown of Tulsa,
Oklahoma. In no time, they had to set up a hot line for their fans. "Every time we picked
up the phone we heard screaming girls," Ike says. A few years later, the guys decided to
abandon their vocals-only sound in favor of something more electric. Ike picked up a
beat-up guitar at a local pawn shop, Taylor borrowed keyboards from a friend, and Zac
discovered a drum set in a friend's attic. Mom got gigs for the guys and Dad unloaded
their equipment at shows. A year later, the Hanson boys made a couple of discs on their
own in Tulsa, and their fan base kept growing. Although Hanson calls Tulsa home, their
dad's job as an international financier for an oil company meant many relocations; the
family, which includes two younger sisters (Jessica, 8, Avery, 6) and another brother
(Mackenzie, 3), has lived in Ecuador, Venezuela and Trinidad. Because the Hanson's have
always been on the move, they've been home-schooled by their mom and have never
attended regular school. "We love home-schooling," Ike says. "It lets you focus on things
you enjoy." Adds Taylor, "We'll read about Notre Dame and then go to Paris to see it."
Despite all the time they spend living and working together, the brothers get along really
well. "We're basically best friends," says the moody, introspective Taylor. Maybe that's
because they're so different. Ike is the goofy, sensitive brother who "is the kind of guy
who thought he was gonna get married in the third grade," says Taylor. As for the third
Hanson, little Zac is just as hyper in person as he is in the "MMMBop" video. But he's
also supercreative and quirky (he collects miniature shampoo bottles from around the
world). He's also a budding cartoonist, who's created characters called Superguys. You
can check out his work on Hanson's Web Site at www.hansonline.com, which is getting
over a million hits per month. "We've gone from getting five e-mails a week to more than
700," says Ike. Do they have a favorite song from Middle of Nowhere? They say it's
impossible to choose. "I cannot betray a song," says Zac, in a typical moment of underage
genius. "They are too valuable." Several producers had a hand in the success of Middle of
Nowhere, among them the Dust Brothers-a two guy team that produce Beck's
Grammy-award winner, Odelay. For "MMMBop," the DBs added hip-hop-style scratching
and a soul vibe. The track was produced at the Dust Brothers' laid-back studio, complete
with swimming pool. "Zac played the drums soaking wet on one song," says Taylor. This
summer, the guys are promoting the album in Europe and shooting the video for "Where's
the Love" in London. Best part is, they're psyched about the meteoric rise they've
experienced since we last caught up with them in May's issue of seventeen. Says Ike,"You
should interview us more often."We'd love to."