Hanson More Hands On
Sunday Herald Sun
Entertainment Liftout

In 1997, the three rosy-cheeked Hanson brothers burst on the music scene with a bubblegum-pop No. 1 hit MMMBop.

Not even the most die-hard metal fans could deny the addictive pop harmonies of the perky boys from Oklahoma, with Rolling Stone magazine describing their music as "so sweet it made the New Kids on the Block sound like Alicve Cooper".

Now guitarist Isaac, 23, keyboardist Taylor, 20, and drummer Zac, 18, are back. In preparation for their coming Melbourne gigs, Isaac illustrated how the days of Hanson's cherub-faced innocence are long gone, replaced with hard-edged determination.

They have spent their four-year hiatus from the charts dealing with issues stemming from the merger of Universal and Polygram. While recording their latest album, Underneath, Hanson felt out of place making pop-rock music in the Def Jam section of the company which is hip-hop focused.

"They knew we'd sold a million records and they needed to hold on to us, but they didn't really understand our music," Isaac said.

"Once we finished the record, we realised they didn't have the focus and passion to make the record successful."

So the brothers took the album and set up an independant label, 3CG Records.

"The record industry is not the record industry of yesterday," Isaac said. "Bono said it best when U2 were inducted into the Hall of Fame: 'I want to ask the record industry to ask itself some really hard questions, because if U2 were to show up today, with the record industry the way it is, then U2 would not exist.' A truer statement could not have been said."

Hanson plays the Palais on June 5 (sold out) and June 6. Tickets: 13 61 00