Hanson talk 25 years since MMMbop, the Queen’s Jubilee and their bond as brothers

By | May 20, 2022

Woman and Home

the band hanson stood together

It’s hard to believe it’s been 25 years since MMMbop catapulted Hanson to global fame. 

A quarter of a century on and the number one hit is still beloved, most recently appearing in an episode of Derry Girls (the brothers tell us they’re big fans).

But what have Isaac, 41, Taylor, 39, and Zac, 36, been up to since they became pin-ups for millions of teenage girls, and boys, around the world? Well, they’ve become dads – to 15 kids between them, yes, really – sold 16 million albums, run a yearly ‘musical escape’ in Jamaica where fans take over a resort and rooms start at a cool $1799 (£1400) per person, they’ve even launched their own beer – MMMhops, naturally.

We caught up with the band who although heartbreakingly have ditched the long locks, still most certainly have the ability to make us swoon…

HANSON ON THEIR BIGGEST HIT

“We’re very proud of MMMbop, but we would be tired of it if it was the only song we sang!” laughs Taylor. “I think the part that is less gratifying is feeling like you’re not moving as far down the road as you’d like with people’s perceptions, but a lot of that is what happens when a song makes an impression that is so big – MMMbop has become a part of pop culture.”

“But one of the big saving graces of the way we started is that we were writing the songs. We definitely weren’t as hands-on in producing everything when I was 14 and Zac was 11 but it was our thing, it was our message.”

HANSON ON FAME

From Taylor Swift to Katy Perry, the brothers have a lot of famous fans and you don’t spend 25 years in the music industry without a couple of wild stories.

“One of the things you learn is not to answer that!” says Taylor. “But everybody’s had moments that are a little wilder than others.”

“I’m just glad those parties back in the day where you threw up on your shoes weren’t captured on film,” says Isaac.

HANSON ON THE ROYALS

Her Majesty could be getting a present she didn’t bargain on! To celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee 2022 Hanson has offered to write a song for the monarch.

“The Jubilee is a huge deal. If we were British we’d probably be writing a song for the Queen,” admits Isaac. “Maybe we should do it anyway, it might feel a little odd but we’ll consider it!”

“I have a great deal of respect for the extended royal family and how they represent their nation,” adds Taylor.

“As Americans, it’s very foreign to think of a royal family but we definitely admire it and 70 years is unbelievable, we’ll be taking in the celebrations while we’re in the UK.”

HANSON ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND THEIR KIDS

“I don’t envy being a 15-year-old with every thought you’ve had and place you’ve been being documented,” says Taylor.

Isaac agrees, “My kids do not have social media, and they won’t be getting it!”

“I’m not sure it’s healthy, this 15 minutes of fame for the whole population, it’s certainly not healthy for celebrities – have you seen what happens?!”

WHAT ARE HANSON UP TO NOW?

The latest album Red Green Blue, which features the new single Child At Heart is a different style for the brothers, with each of them taking five songs.

“We say it’s like three solo projects in one,” explains Isaac. “When you’ve been doing music as long as we have you tend to have a certain process and you do the rinse and repeat, which is fine, and hopefully you’re good at it but sometimes you need a fresh look at it. It’s hard sometimes for people to get another first look at a band so we felt like this was a really good creative challenge.”

So it’s not just that they’d all had enough of each other?

“Sometimes it’s a little bit of that!” laughs Isaac. “I jest a bit, but you do need to give each other room sometimes.”

“We’ve definitely had our fair share of tensions and challenges,” adds Taylor. “I think one of the things that’s happening is that everyone is figuring out what’s important to them, what they need to do, and what makes them inspired and excited.”

“We’d be making these songs if it was for 10 people or a million people – you make it because it’s something you need to do.”

Hanson’s new album Red Green Blue is out May 20 and they’re on tour from June 8, tickets on sale now

Kira Agass

HANSON RELEASE NEW ALBUM, RED GREEN BLUE

By | May 20, 2022

HANSON RELEASE NEW ALBUM,RED GREEN BLUE
PERFORMED “CHILD AT HEART” ON GOOD MORNING AMERICA YESTERDAY – WATCH

LIVE YOUTUBE LISTENING PARTY TODAY AT 11AM ET

SIRIUSXM “ARTIST CONFIDENTIAL” TO AIR ON 90s ON 9 ON MAY 27 AT 5PM ET/PT

RED GREEN BLUE WORLD TOUR BEGINS JUNE 8 IN HELSINKI, FINLAND FOLLOWED BY NORTH AMERICA, LATIN AMERICA, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED TODAY

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

HANSON have finally released their highly anticipated new album, RED GREEN BLUE. Out today, the album comprises three solo-led projects from Taylor, Isaac, and Zac Hanson, and marks the band’s milestone 30th anniversary by bringing together the band’s three unique creative voices like never before, with a third of the album written and produced by each brother: Taylor’s REDIsaac’GREEN, and Zac’s BLUE. RED GREEN BLUE is available now on vinyl, CD, and digital at all retailers.

Today, HANSON will be hosting an album listening party on YouTube at 11am ET. Then on May 27 at 5pm (EDT and PDT) SiriusXM’s “Artist Confidential” with HANSON will air on 90s on 9 and on the SXM App.  The special will be hosted by Lisa Loeb and feature the band performing music from RED GREEN BLUE, fan-favorites, and discussing their career as “Mmmbop” celebrates its 25-year anniversary. For rebroadcast times please visit: https://www.siriusxm.com/

RED GREEN BLUE, which was produced by the band along with GRAMMY® Award-winning Producer/Engineer/Mixer Jim Scott (Tom Petty, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Wilco) and GRAMMY® Award-winning Artist/Producer David Garza (Fiona Apple, Midland). amplifies the band’s unique trifecta of sound in a new way which was highlighted through the release of three singles, one featuring each brother. Starting with Taylor’s emotive “Child At Heart,” followed by Isaac’s country strummer “Write You A Song,” and finally Zac’s rock-infused “Don’t Let Me Down,” each song release was a clue to the unique musical influences which make up the project and was accompanied by dynamic official music videos available for streaming now via YouTube.

PURCHASE/STREAM RED GREEN BLUE:
VINYL/CDDIGITAL
WATCH “DON’T LET ME DOWN” STARRING FRANKIE MUNIZ & ZACH MYERS
WATCH “WRITE YOU A SONG”
WATCH “CHILD AT HEART”

“Going into our 30th year as a band we felt like it was imperative we continue to tell our story like only we can,” says Isaac Hanson, “and telling stories in ways that will continue to challenge us to grow and give people new reasons to listen. RED GREEN BLUE is about sharing what has made us a band that has been able to weather so many storms.”

“Our love and respect for Jim Scott has only grown since we first met 20 years ago,” says Taylor Hanson. “He has been behind some of our favorite albums, so it’s an absolute joy to have finally made a project together.”

“We have had a long friendship and deep connection with David Garza since our early days as a band,” says Zac Hanson. “We could not have had a better musical collaborator for this milestone project.”

HANSON
RED GREEN BLUE
(3CG Records)
Release Date: May 20, 2022

Tracklisting:

RED
1-Child At Heart
2-Rambling Heart
3-Truth
4-We Belong Together
5-Semi Hollow

GREEN
1-Greener Pastures
2-Write You A Song
3-No Matter The Reason
4-The Gift of Tears
5-Cold As Ice

BLUE
1-Bad
2-World Goes Around
3-Wake Up
4-Don’t Let Me Down
5-Where I Belong

# # #

HANSON will celebrate the new album on their upcoming RED GREEN BLUE World Tour, set to get underway June 8 in Helsinki, Finland’s House of Culture; North American dates – produced by Live Nation – begin July 12 at Houston, TX’s House of Blues and continue mid-September. Latin American tour dates follow in September, with shows in Australia/New Zealand in November announced today. HANSON’s first full-scale world tour in more than three years, the RED GREEN BLUE World Tour will feature the live premiere of 15 songs from RED GREEN BLUE along with the first-ever live performances of songs from 2020’s Against The World and career-spanning setlists of fan favorites. For complete details and remaining ticket availability, please visit hanson.net/calendar.

Officially founded in May 1992, HANSON marked their momentous 30-year anniversary with HANSON Day 2022, an unforgettable weekend of exclusive streams and events that took place May 12-14 in the band’s hometown of Tulsa, OK. Highlights included two special livestream concert events direct from Tulsa’s famed Cain’s Ballroom.

HANSON are a multi-platinum, 3x GRAMMY® Award-nominated pop-rock trio, selling over 16 million albums, and performing concerts to over 3 million fans. Founded in Tulsa, OK in 1992, the band established a regional following before making a meteoric rise to international fame with their major-label debut, Middle of Nowhere, led by the worldwide pop smash “MmmBop,” which was a #1 single in 27 countries simultaneously. A string of top 40 singles, seven studio albums, two Christmas albums, and five live releases have followed. HANSON founded their independent 3CG record label in 2003, a crucial step in the band’s ability to maintain their coveted connection with their global fanbase, later chronicled in the acclaimed documentary, Strong Enough To Break. The band celebrated their 25th anniversary with 2017’s epic Middle of Everywhere 25th Anniversary World Tour as well as their first comprehensive anthology, Middle of Everywhere: The Greatest Hits, incorporating songs from their six major studio albums along with a new single, “I Was Born.” 2018’s String Theory saw HANSON joined by the Prague FILMharmonic Orchestra performing string arrangements by legendary composer David Campbell, with the accompanying tour featuring leading symphonies in some of the world’s most prestigious venues. In addition to their musical endeavors, HANSON launched their “Take The Walk” grassroots campaign in 2007 to provide poverty and HIV/AIDS relief in Africa. In 2013, they launched HANSON Brothers Beer, premiering their new venture with a signature Pale Ale, Mmmhops. The following year saw the first annual Hop Jam Beer and Music Festival in Tulsa, OK, now among the largest craft beer and music events in the country.

# # #

HANSON
RED GREEN BLUE WORLD TOUR 2022

EUROPE

JUNE
8 – Helsinki, FINLAND – House of Culture
10 – Stockholm, SWEDEN – Berns
12 – Oslo, NORWAY – Vulkan Arena
13 – Goteborg, SWEDEN – Pustervik
14 – Kolding, DENMARK – Godset
16 – Hamburg, GERMANY – Mojo
17 – Koln, GERMANY – Gloria
18 – Munich GERMANY – Strom
20 – Milan, ITALY – Magazzini Generali
21 – Rubigen, SWITZERLAND – Mühle Hunziken
22 – Paris, FRANCE – La Cigale
23 – Brussels, BELGIUM – Ancienne Belgique
24 – Amsterdam, NETHERLANDS – Melkweg
26 – Nottingham, UK – Rock City
28 – Glasgow, UK – SWG3 Galvanisers
29 – Manchester, UK – O2 Ritz
30 – London, UK – Roundhouse

JULY
2 – Bristol, UK – O2 Academy
3 – Leeds, UK – Stylus @ Leeds University Union

NORTH AMERICA

JULY
12 – Houston, TX – House of Blues
14 – New Orleans, LA – The Joy Theater
15 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
16 – Atlanta, GA – The Eastern
17 – St Petersburg, FL – Jannus Live
19 – Birmingham, AL – Alabama Theater
20 – Raleigh, NC – The Ritz
22 – Richmond, VA – The National
23 – Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore Silver Spring
24 – Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore Philadelphia
26 – Pittsburgh, PA – Palace Theatre (Sold Out)
28 – Albany NY – Empire Live
29 – Boston, MA – House of Blues
30 – Hampton Beach, NH – Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
31 – New York, NY – The Beacon Theatre

AUGUST
2 – Montreal, QC – Corona Theatre
3 – Toronto, ON – Danforth Music Hall
5 – Elizabeth, IN – Caesar’s Event Center #
6 – Cleveland, OH – Agora Theatre #
7 – Detroit, MI – Royal Oak Music Theatre #
9 – Grand Rapids, MI – 20 Monroe Live #
10 – Indianapolis, IN – Egyptian Room at Old National Centre #
12 – St Louis, MO – The Pageant #
13 – Chicago, IL – Aragon Ballroom #
14 – Madison, WI – The Sylvee #
16 – Springfield, MO – Gillioz Theatre #
18 – Council Bluffs, IA – Stir Cove at Harrah’s #
19 – Minneapolis, MN – The Fillmore Minneapolis #
20 – Fargo, ND – Fargo Brewing Company Outdoors (SOLD OUT) #
21 – Winnipeg, MB – Park Theater +
23 – Calgary, AB – The Palace Theatre +
24 – Edmonton AB – Midway +
26 – Vancouver, BC – The Vogue Theatre +
27 – Seattle, WA – The Moore +
28 – Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom +
30 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore +
31 – Anaheim, CA – House of Blues +

SEPTEMBER
2 – Los Angeles, CA – Ace Theatre +
3 – San Diego, CA – Humphrey’s Concerts By The Bay +
4 – Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren +
6 – Las Vegas, NV – Brooklyn Bowl +
7 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot +
9 – Denver, CO – Paramount Theatre +
10 – Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theatre +
11 – Wichita, KS – Cotillion Ballroom +
13 – Austin, TX – Emo’s +
14 – Dallas, TX – House of Blues +

LATIN AMERICA

SEPTEMBER
25 – Mexico City, MEXICO – BlackBerry
27 – Guadalajara, MEXICO – Teatro Diana
28 – Leon, MEXICO – Foro del Lago
29 – Queretaro, MEXICO – Teatro Metropolitan

OCTOBER
1 – Monterrey, MEXICO – Pabellon M
4 – Santiago, CHILE – Teatro Coliseo
6 – Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA – Teatro Gran Rivadavia
8 – Montevideo, URUGUAY – La Trastienda
11 – Porto Alegre, BRAZIL – Teatro Bourbon Country
12 – Curitiba, BRAZIL – Live Curitiba
14 – Ribeirão Preto, BRAZIL – Arena Eurobike
15 – Sao Paulo, BRAZIL – Espaco Das Americas
16 – Uberlandia, BRAZIL – Arena Sabiazinho
19 – Brasilia, BRAZIL – Centro de Convencoes Ulyess Guimaraes
21 – Rio de Janeiro, BRAZIL – Qualistage

AUSTRALIA

NOVEMBER
6 – Perth, AUSTRALIA – Astor Theatre
9 – Sydney, AUSTRALIA – Enmore Theatre
12 – Adelaide, AUSTRALIA – Hindley Street Music Hall
14 – Brisbane, AUSTRALIA – Fortitude Music Hall
16 – Melbourne, AUSTRALIA – Fourm Melbourne
19 – Auckland, NEW ZEALAND – Powerstation

# Allen Mack Myers Moore supporting
+ Zillaz supporting

Hanson: Australia & NZ

By | May 19, 2022

Chugg Entertainment and Frontier Touring are excited to announce American pop-rock trio HANSON will return to Australia and New Zealand this November with their RED GREEN BLUE 2022 TOUR.

This tour is an exciting chance to reunite with our fans all over the world and celebrate three decades of music. We can’t wait to come together with fans across Australia and New Zealand, and share music live on stage once again,” said Taylor Hanson.

Known for their 1997 international smash hit ‘MMMBop’ and in celebration of 30 years performing together as HANSON, brothers Isaac Hanson (guitar, vocals, bass, piano), Taylor Hanson (keyboards, vocals, percussion), and Zac Hanson (drums, vocals, piano), as well as supporting members Dimitrius Collins (guitar) and Andrew Perusi (bass) will play Auckland in support of their new album RED GREEN BLUE [3CG Records] out now.

RED GREEN BLUE is HANSON’s 11th studio album – a unique combination of three solo – led projects, bringing together IsaacTaylor and Zac’s creative voices like never before, with each brother producing a third of the album (Taylor’s Red, Isaac’s Green, and Zac’s Blue). The record is co-produced by Grammy Award-winning Producer, Engineer and Mixer Jim Scott (Tom PettyRed Hot Chili PeppersWilco), and Grammy Award-winning Artist and Producer David Garza (Fiona AppleMidland), and features the pre-released tracks ‘Child At Heart’, ‘Write You A Song’ and ‘Don’t Let Me Down’.

HANSON dominated the music scene in the late ‘90s following the release of their 5x ARIA Platinum and 4x RIAA Platinum debut studio album Middle of Nowhere (1997). The album reached #1 in Australia, the UK, Germany and Taiwan, #2 on the Billboard 200 and #4 in New Zealand, selling 10 million copies world-wide with hit singles ‘MMMBop’, ‘Where’s the Love’, ‘I Will Come to You’, ‘Weird’ and ‘Thinking of You’. This was followed by their sophomore album Snowed In – a Christmas record that became the best-selling holiday album for 1997 in the US and peaking at #3 on the ARIA Albums Chart and #12 on the official New Zealand Music Chart.

In 2017 HANSON celebrated their 25th anniversary when touring Australia and New Zealand with their Middle of Everywhere World Tour, celebrating two decades of music and the amazing community of fans – new and old – who have supported them throughout their career. They most recently toured Australia in 2019 with their String Theory Tour, which saw them take the stage alongside a symphony orchestra, through a special collaboration with Academy Award-winning arranger David Campbell.

As soon as HANSON hit the stage in this unique viewing space, the audience took to their feet… This was HANSON at their best.’ – The AU Review

The Forum is electric and raucous, fuelled with unbridled joy and shameless nostalgia’ – The Guardian

RED GREEN BLUE 2022 TOUR will not only premiere the 15 songs from the new project but also celebrate 30 years of music in one great show. Being HANSON’s first major tour since 2019’s String Theory album and tour, fans can expect a career spanning set list of fan favourites, along with the songs off the new album and 2020’s Against The World.

🤩 HANSON return to AU & NZ!

By | May 19, 2022

Tour artwork

Pop-rock trio HANSON return to Australia & New Zealand with their RED GREEN BLUE 2022 TOUR this November

Want early access to tickets?
Become a Frontier Member here

Frontier Members Pre-sale

Runs 24 hours from
Tue 24 May
12pm (local time)
or ends earlier if pre-sale allocation exhausted

Pre-sale ticket limit
4 per purchaser, per show

NONE DARE CALL IT COINCIDENCE

By | May 19, 2022

Hits Daily Double

File it under life coming full circle: the inking of Steve Greenberg-managed AJR to Mercury comes 25 years to the week after another three-brother act, Hanson, reached #1 on the original Mercury label with the pop juggernaut “Mmmbop.” The A&R head who signed Hanson and executive-produced their smash? The aforementioned Greenberg.

When 2047 rolls around, will Steve land a third three-brother band on the planet Mercury? And will the atmosphere there make it possible to let the dogs out? Stay tuned.

REVIEW: Hanson breaks apart, comes together on ‘Red Green Blue’

By | May 19, 2022

RIFF Magazine 

Hanson, Red Green Blue, Hanson Red Green Blue

To celebrate its third decade as a band, pop-rock trio Hanson flipped the script entirely for its eight album. Red Green Blue is a cohesive release made up of three separate creative endeavors.

Each band member (and Hanson brother) took the reins to write and produce his own collection of songs; Taylor’s Red, Isaac’s Green and Zac’s Blue. The album comes two years after the group opened up the vault for a Perennial collection. The unique new format combines the members’ individual voices but still feels like a collective band effort. It’s actually quite an impressive feat just what a career the band that first broke on the scene with “mmmBop” has carved for itself 30 years later.

There’s even variety within each “sub-album,” each spanning five or so tracks. Not one of the brothers sticks to any certain style or genre. Instead, all three opt for a blend that represents his creative touch. Taylor Hanson’s Red (not to be confused with that other Taylor’s Red) tends to lean more toward a rootsy Americana and country lane.

“Child At Heart” opens things up with subdued classic rock heavy on harmony. “Rambling Heart” and “Truth” lean heavier into a focused acoustic singer-songwriter vibe. The Tom Petty connection may not be entirely unfounded, as Hanson is collaborating with Jim Scott, who worked with both Petty and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. David Garza co-produced the album, who’s also helmed albums by Fiona Apple and Sharon Van Etten.

“We Belong Together” builds from an energetic acoustic stomper and grows into a soaring singalong that feels uplifting and anthemic.  “Semi Hollow” wraps things up on a bluesy high note that fuses more of a Paul-Simon-meets-Grateful-Dead attitude.

For Isaac Hanson’s Green, the overall mood doesn’t change dramatically, but there’s more of an intimate and vintage sound. The Green tracks are more vocal-forward, letting the band’s harmonies carry the way over the instrumentation. “Greener Pastures” is a slick mid-tempo bop with plenty of green wordplay and some smooth bluesy guitar playing.

Acoustic ballads “Write You a Song” and “No Matter The Reason” slow things down but also focus in on the singing. “The Gift of Tears” strips things back even more for a Springsteen-esque ballad with a reverb-laden acoustic guitar and lightly fuzzy electric guitar strumming, sans percussion. The section comes to a close on a rousing note with “Cold As Ice,” a funky and percussive jam with an infusion of soul. The track is a fun romp and one of the high points of the record, bringing back the Paul Simon energy while adding a little bit of Stevie Wonder for good measure.

Zac Hanson’s Blue has a more contemporary sound, taking the same Americana backbone and mixing in pop, rock and alt-country. “Bad” is a slick toe-tapper that mixes some light keys to the organic sound.

The emphasis on the band’s signature harmonies is still very present. Acoustic ballads “World Goes Round” and “Wake Up” are slower but don’t sound as roots as the previous sections. The songs are intricate and well-crafted, showcasing the earnest songwriting. The fist-pumping “Don’t Let Me Down” is probably the most rock track on the entire album, and for good reason: It features Shinedown guitarist Zach Myers.

Blue concludes on soft and airy ballad “Where I Belong,” a piano-driven track that offers some of the most throwback sound on the record. Red Green Blue is experimental and fun for a band that’s been getting it done for a number of years. It showcases the band members’ individualities but feels like a singular work regardless of who’s at the helm.