Ugly Phil Interview on May 4, 1998
Interviewed by Ugly Phil and Jackie 0

Ugly Phil: There is a call coming through our hotline. Fingers crossed. Hello?

Isaac: Hey Phil!

U: Yeah, hello.

I: Hey how are you?

U: Good. Who is it?

I: This is Isaac.

U: Hey Isaac, how are you doing man?

I: Ah....I'm just doing just fine.

U: Good, good. What are you up too?

I: Ah..we've just finished a press conference.

U: Oh really, so what are you announcing to the world then? That I'm going to be the fourth member of Hanson finally?

I: Ah..yes actually it was...

U: You know a lot of people have been asking me about that because I've been telling a lot of magazines that you know like..like last time in Paris, when we spoke and that how I could join Hanson.

I: Yup, yup, exactly. Well, do you know what we decided the instrument you can play?

U: What's that?

I: The kazoos.

U: Again?!

I: Yeah, it's really, really simple.

U: Yeah?

I: You just..you know, you just blow...(make a blowing sound) You know.

U: *laugh*

I: It's a really great sound and that. I tell you, when you put a mic to the kazoos with the distortion peddle, it sounds wicked.

U: You get into too much heavy metal. Hey, Jackie's here by he way.

Jackie: Hello, how are you doing?

I: Ah..I'm doing just fine.

J: That's good.

I: It's been really good

U: Good, so tell me what's been going on. You've got this tour coming up in America and I believe Europe as well, is that right?

I: Yeah, we're doing really...we're doing just a short tour over the summer you know. We've been really ...we've really been wanting to get out and tour for quite a while and things have...you know...things have been very, very busy and we're finally got the opportunity to do some shows so that's what we're doing over the summer. We're going
...we're doing a few shows in Europe and a couple in the states and then we're getting in the studios and do some recordings.

U: Sure. Now listen. You're just about to release 3 Car Garage nationally and international.

I: Yeah.

U: Now there's some original versions of...the original versions of "MMMBop" is on there and a bunch more. Tell us about this album.

I: Well you know, really the reason why we're releasing 3CG because of the response from our fans. The request from our fans really. Ah...they knew about our independent recordings they have heard through you know..interviews that we have done saying that we have done previous albums and things like that. So we had so many thousands of letter from all over the world saying could you please release it. We want to hear your music.

U: Yeah?

I: And so finally we decided that it was a good idea to just...to just let them hear it and so that's what 3CG is. It's really just songs from our second independent record.

U: Right. So how many tracks did you use? Did you use all the things that you had. Or did you have to go through like a process of trying to figure out which ones to use.

I: Really we just used the ones from our independent record, Uh...the 2nd independent record. Uh..the 2nd independent record...which the 2nd record was originally called "MMMBop."

U: Oh, right o.k

I: Yeah and so we're just re-releasing pretty much that album. Because really it's the album that got us signed to Mercury records and we just kind of want people to hear what they heard.

U: Sure.

I: As you could say.

U: And then your going back to the studios you were saying. When are you going back?

I: Um..we will probably go back to the studios as soon as the...as soon as the short summer tour is over. Which you know is probably I guess...you know around August or so.

J: Right, so will you becoming to Australia anytime in between or will that sort of be after the next album?

I: You know, we...we're dying to go to Australia.

J: *laugh*

I: We really honestly are. And we...we...there are talks of you know possibly going to Australia and if so you guys will be the first to know.

U: Cool. Cause we've got that boat for you again to get on from the Sydney Harbour.

I: Oh yeah.

U: That thing hasn't really sunk yet. So we're ready to get back on that. So, hey did you do any other in stores like the one you had in Melbourne where there was like 20,000 people. Had you had anymore like that?

I: Ah...we had not had anymore that even came close.

U: *laugh*

J: That was a lot of people..wasn't it?

I: You Australians...you Australians you just beat them all!

U: That's right, that's right!!

I: We've had some pretty wild in stores over here in the states. But nothing quite in comparison of to Australia.

U: Have you had the chance to check out any of your web sites or do any online chat?

I: Um..you know we have ah..have been checking out some web sites and things like that really recently and just, we're actually going ...to...our official site hansonline.com is going through some changes actually at the moment.

J: Yeah, we saw that.

I: We're trying to make sure...we're trying to make sure our fans have an easier time you know finding things that's more info on there, all that kind of stuff. Because we really feel that you know that ours should be the best site or place that everybody can go and find everything that they read to know.

U: Terrific. Hey listen...

I: ...that's what we're trying to do

U: Isaac, can I have a quick chat to Taylor as well?

I: Oh yeah.

U: Is he around? Terrific. Listen make sure you give me a call when you get into town.

I: Oh we will.

U: Well, that's good news that Taylor's there. We'll be back in just a moment with Taylor and with Zac.

*BREAK*

U: We're phoning from NY city. The new album is about to be released, when is it released? Next week? Someone told me the 11th.

J: The...right, right.

U: Ah, here is a track from 3CG, this is the only copy we got in the country. This is called "Two Tears."

J: Oh, this is my favourite.

U: Do you like this one?

J: Yup.

U: And Jack, we got a guy on the phone called..

J: Oh I can't remember his name....

U: Taylor? Is it Taylor?

J: It could be.

T: Hey, how's it going?

U: Hey Buddy, how are you doing?

T: Good.

U: Jack..

T: How's Australia?

U: Good man. Jack's here too.

J: Hi, how are you doing?

U: Hey!

U: Tell us about this next album. Tell us some of the songs we can expect from that.

T: Um..well, actually it's not really the next album, it's...it's the stuff we did before MON.

U: Oh yeah, you know we've spoken about 3CG, but he said you may go back into the studios later around in August or...

T: Oh, oh, yeah!

U: ..and do some stuff then.

T: Well, that's..we're always writing songs and we've um..after the tour we're basically go right in the studios and start recording that. That...I can't give you any specifics cause that will give it all away.

U: Sure.

J: That's right 'cause your busy promoting this one first.

T: That would be completely...ruining the surprise.

U: There you go. So..um I was wondering if you had any thoughts at any stage changing your vocal tracks on that. Because your voice is different now from 3CG. Did you ever considered that?

T: Um,...no the whole idea...the whole idea that was um for people to hear what we did in the garage you know...by ourselves just um playing away. The thing is that a lot of people haven't really grasped that maybe we really are the..that we really played and write the songs. This is just kind of says, well, here it is.

U: Sure.

T: And this..this was the second album that we did so we had done an album before that and other recordings. So you know, it kinds of says. I, you thought we are young now, listen to this...it's all just...

U: *laugh*

T: And ...and it's totally us doing our thing.

U: What was it like working with Gus Van Sant

T: Very, very cool. Just a really, really cool guy. He is actually a very laid back..he's not...and his definitely not um...he definitely listens.

U: Yeah.

T: We can...he...he was just really, really cool to work with. We ran into him several times now and we've hung out a few times. He's cool.

U: Did you have any ideas on what you wanted or did he come up with all the ideas?

T: Um ...it really was really mostly our ideas.

U: Yeah?

T: Um and what we did was had some..several directors but we couldn't..we really didn't have one we really wanted to work with and then when he even insisted on another project
with working us. So we said...we just said let's just come up with a concept and then we
really kind of sifted it out and came up with a concrete, you know, video.

U: Sure..um did you watch...

T: ...he totally got it...he totally flushed it out and made it out into a video.

U: Did you watch anything like Private Idaho or Drug Store Cowboys to get any ideas where he was coming from?

T: *laugh* We definitely...we definitely knew he was a real cool director and we definitely knew of him so that was very influential on our decisions to work with him. I mean...

U: Sure.

T: Also of course Good Will Hunting craze, it's hard not to want somebody like that to direct your video.

U: Ah, that's right, that's right. So how's your voice going? Cause last time you were in Australia you had a few problems with your throat. Is it, is it feeling better now? Are you doing any vocal trainings or..or anything like that?

T: Ah..you know...your always, whenever your traveling and you're going around all over the places you. It's hard not to get a cold and all that kind of stuff. So that's kind of part of the game that you play. You try to avoid that stuff, but um..it's a
consent um..it's..it's just part of the..part of what we do.

U: How are you going with your live shows? Have you done many?

T: Actually the tour is going to is..um..we're preparing for it right now in NY we've gonna do yeah several shows. We'll be doing..um..in NY... and then we'll be out on the road. We're gonna do um a show..called Live From the Ten Spot on MTV here.

U: Oh, o.k

T: So that's kind of like almost a rehearsal for what the real show is gonna be like. It's gonna be very, very exciting. Really...we have some cool...but simple enough that it's not too much. But some really cool ideas at this stage.

U: Yeah. Sure. listen, hang on for a second. We'll be back with you in a moment....

*BREAK*

U:...Taylor's on the line. We're asking before, when we were talking off air..let's go back on air right now. Tell me about the biggest crowd you ever had.

T: The largest crowd..um..there was one in ..um..Italy I think that was 100,000.

U: Was that right?

T: Yeah.

U: Was it like the Beatles? Was there so much screaming you could hardly hear yourself singing?

T: Um..well I recall Australia not being too quiet.

U/J: *laugh* That's right.

J: We heard that you guys...which concert was it that had the highest screams possible? Like beat The Who or something?

U: That's right. You set the world record or something.

T: Well, we don't know for sure if we set a world record. But actually the only time we ever tested it. The one time we did it was at 140 decibels.

U: Wow, was that right? So did...

T: That's louder than The Who.

U: That's right.

T: So..so, that was..

U: That's louder than my ...

T: We don't know for sure if that's record.

U: That's louder than my car stereo man. You know!

T: *laugh*

U: So...um can you hear yourself sing through above that or is it difficult?

T: It's..it's pretty loud. It's really it's kind of becomes..it's either you..

U: *laugh*

T:...or them!

U: *laugh* Yeah..It's turn into that has it? It's turn into Hanson warfare!

T: Yeah, exactly.

U: How easy is it for you to move around now without getting mobbed?

T: Um..it's o.k we're just taking it in stride. We travel separate and walk around alone. It kind of works if you travel at night.

U: Yeah..that's right so you.....

T: So you walk around the streets at night with a hat on.

U: That's right. and a false beard on. You've turned into Michael Jackson man!

T: Oh God...NO!!!

U: So what are things your fans also talk to you about?

T: Um.. I don't know. Do you mean in letters and that?

U: Yeah in letters and when they catch up to you in the streets. Once they get passed 'Oh my God!' you know. Do they actually get a chance to talk?

T: A lot of times...a lot of times it's things about what are you doing next..we're your going to be...and those kinds of things or you know can I have a picture? It's the thought...you know..what would you think if you met a band you like or something
like that. You'd probably ask them who knows what. Um..I don't know..but there is one thing, I don't now how many people know about it. It would probably be in Australia very soon, we really..really want to have it over there. It's the fan club magazine.

U: Oh right.

J: Yeah.

T: It's called MOE.

J: Yeah.

U: M.E.O (Ed. note: that's the way Phil spelled it)

J: Your first issue has just been put out hasn't it?

T: Yeah, it's just been put out and it has you know. It has different articles that we wrote..that we all...that are all specifically for written. Pictures that you can only get there and all kinds of different things.

J: Is that for um..around the world?

T: Uh?

J: Sorry, is that for just around...just around the world or America?

T: Well, it's begun in America just because we tried to get it out so fast. It turned out we didn't have enough time to press it all. ...it's all become a crunch.

J: Yeah.

T: So we're in he middle of..we're in he middle of working out the linguistics putting it all over everywhere. Especially in Australia. Cause you guys are psycho!

U/J: *laugh*

J: Thanks, we take that as a compliment.

U: That's right!

J: I want to talk about the competitions that you guys have been involved in. Just one was an auction with Amy Osbourne she paid $16,000 to have a date with you. Has she keen on that yet?

T: Um..actually I think she won a backstage pass.

J: Was it a backstage pass? Has that already happen has it?

T: Um..that's going to happen soon actually. So um personally that sounds, that sounds pretty crazy. I like bands, but I don't like them that much.

U/J: *laugh* I know that's a lot of money. And another one we heard..it was a slumber party involved in some sort of slumber party where you got to sleep at a listener's house? Do you know about that one?

T: Um..that must be a rumour actually.

J: Really?!

T: Whenever a radio station says..you know..like let's say the contest is come to see Hanson in concert, and all of a sudden it becomes..come hang out with Hanson in your
bedroom!

U: Yeah, *laugh*

T: Hey you know Zac is actually pointing to the phone right now. So um..I'm gonna put him on.

U: O.K. buddy you take care of yourself now I'll talk to you soon.

T: Thanks a lot.

U/J: Bye.

T: Bye.

U: Alright, I'll wait for Zac to come onto the phone. Look's like Valentine's has gotten himself in trouble again. Like doing more of them damn competitions that the bands don't know about. Back with Zac...Zac's back in just a moment to the countdown.

*Break*

U: Hey Zac Hanson?

Zac: Hello?

U: Hey Zac!

Z: How are you doing?

U: Hey man what's happening?

Z: Gotten any handsomer?

U: Got what?!

Z: Got anymore handsomer? You know..Ugly Phil...

U: Yeah..yeah..I'm gonna buy myself a new megaphone you know what I'm saying?

Z: Ahh!!

U: I'm getting one that plays 500 tunes I saw one the the other day on tv.

Z: Awesome.

U: How's the drumming going?

Z: Uh.. It's going good. I just got a new drum set.

U: Oh have you? What have you got?

Z: Um..just a new green mist.

U: Right

Z: Got a few more drums.

U: Sure so tell me abut this 3CG man, are you happy with that album?

Z: Yeah..if we weren't happy with it, we probably wouldn't have put it out.

U: Yeah?

Z: Uh this is our second independent album re-released with another name.

U: Yeah?

Z: And the funny thing is that it was in a two car garage.

U: Right, o.k, but they had to say 3CG or otherwise somebody would feel being left out.

Z: Yeah, like the other two garages.

U: Yeah, there you go. *laugh* So tell me about this tour happening? Are you looking forward to it?

Z: Ah yeah, it's gonna be pretty cool. We're gonna start off in Europe and then go to the states and Canada.

U: Yeah. is there anywhere in particular you really want to go?

Z: Um..you know it's gonna be pretty cool going all over the place and actually really preform an do around doing a full show an 1/15 minutes.

U: Yeah, yeah so you'll do all the stuff from 3CG and everything yeah?

Z: Yeah, we're gonna do a little bit of stuff from 3CG some covers we like.

U: Right, what covers..what covers will you be doing buddy?

Z: Um.. "Gimmie Some Lovin'", "Shake Your Tail Feathers"..um.."Good Lovin'", "Summertime Blues," things like that.

U: Good, I'm glad there's a song which doesn't have the word loving in it for a change. *laugh* Alrighty, I was talking to Taylor and I was trying to get him to tell what's gonna happen when you go back in the studios. But he wouldn't tell me anything. He was
being really secretive. Hey.

Z: Ah..you know we have to be secretive cause if we told you it wouldn't be a new album. It would be the album we told you about on the Ugly Phil Show.

U: That's exactly right. But that way I could get credit for it. You know what I'm saying?

Z: Yeah!

U: Are you still telling everybody that we're still buddies?

Z: I never told anybody we're buddies!!

U: You said to me in Paris that we were going to join another band together. I thought you were serious about that.

Z: Well, I was at that point

U: Ah! oh!!!

J: What changed your mind?

Z: See, things have happened and you haven't contacted me about anything.

U: Well, you know it's funny..I was going to do you..me and Chuck D from Public Enemy. We were going to go on the road and become like a rap act.

Z: Ah! I could deal with that!

U: Yeah?

Z: But you know right now I have some complications I have to work out.

U: Listen do you want time to talk to Walker? Do you want me to speak to your dad and tell him?

Z: Um..no.

U: No, that wouldn't be a good idea. Do you think he'll get a little bit pissed if I said oh look, me and Zac are gonna join this rap band.

Z: No, because it's gonna be like a secret operation.

U: Yeah that's right. It's gonna have to be. So we won't use Zac..we'll have to use Mac!

Z: Bob!

U: Yeah, yeah or you could be Mc Daddy Mac!

J: But how are we gonna get in contact with you Zac?

Z: Um...?

U: Oh everybody's got Hanson's phone no.

Z: I'll get in contact with you.

J: Oh, o.k, you make sure you do. Cause I know Phil is really looking forwards to it.

U: You know I'm serious about it.

J: He is...

U: I've been practicing.

J: He's been talking about it for ages.

U: I've been telling everybody and everybody says you are not gonna be involved in another rap act with Zac. I said, he told me himself...

Z: Hey guys we're gonna have to go.

U: Hey, you see I knew it. I knew it! Thanks a lot Zac, I thought we were buddies!

Z: Hey, thank you.

U: *laugh*

Z: Bye!

U: You take care o.k?

Z: Bye.

U: Bye. I think I got him in trouble with his dad.

J: I know!

U: I think his dad might have heard!!

J: I'll have to find out. I'll give him a call later.

U: Yeah, his dad now will be going did you tell Phil that you'll leave and join a rap band?!!

J: Yeah, he was right there *laugh*