Introduction Throughout 1997, I played guitar for Hanson, which was truly an amazing experience. I made many new friends and fulfilled numerous dreams. Millions of musicians work all their lives to get a "lucky break." I am one of the few who managed to secure one.
The Hanson phenomenon formed right before my eyes. Isaac, Taylor, Zac, two other backup musicians, and I rose from the "middle of nowhere" to the top of the world. To many, Hanson is a teen sensation comprising three brothers. For me, it was a group of six friends making music. It didn't begin or end that way, but that's how I felt while I was on the road with the band.
I will never forget the day it began. It was a cold winter afternoon, and I had just returned home from the school where I taught guitar. The flashing light on my answering machine begged me to press PLAY. There was only one message, a brief one from an old friend. "I passed your name along to a production coordinator at Mercury Records," he said. "They need a young guitarist for a two-week road gig -- thought you might be interested." I decided to find out some more information. I called the contact instead of waiting for her to call me, and left a message on her machine. After two days and no phone call, I called again, and this time she picked up the line. She explained to me that Hanson, who were unknown at the time, had just recorded an album (using additional studio musicians) on Mercury Records and that the label was putting together a support band to help showcase the young trio at an industry convention. After two weeks, if I didn't like the band or they didn't like me, I wouldn't have to continue working with them, if that were even an option. What did I have to lose? The pay was decent, and I thought it would be fun to travel and try something different. I went for it.
The day after I accepted the job, a large envelope from Mercury Records arrived on my doorstep. Enclosed was a color copy of their first promotional photo, a press release and a demo tape. I could not believe how young they looked. Taylor, the middle brother, had a slight "bad boy" look. The older one, Isaac, had a relatively serious expression and the youngest, Zac, looked like a toddler! I couldn't help but fear that they were three obnoxious boys with egos beyond their years. But when I actually met them, I was pleasantly surprised to find that they were arguably the nicest and most sincere kids that I had ever met.
I immediately played the tape. The first cut was "Thinking of You," which I instantly liked, even though I had a hard time adapting to Taylor's youthful voice. "MMMBop" was the next song, and I thought that it was catchy. I began listening to the entire Middle of Nowhere album constantly. I kept a copy in my car, in my studio, and in my house. I found myself becoming a fan and was getting very excited about the project.
During my first conversation with Michael Pontecorvo, an executive from Mercury Records, I sensed that this would be an unusual experience. The first words he said to me were "Ravi, can you hold on? I have the bass player's mother on the other line." It had been a while since "moms" were part of my music scene.
My work with Hanson started as a two-week stint but turned into a year of incredible adventures. As the band evolved, I experienced the glamor and grind of one of the music industry's most visible and exploited acts. I indulged in the best of what fame had to offer, but as a sideman, I was able to walk away from the hardships that celebrities often have to endure.
Still, a band that reaches the level of success that Hanson has comes with many frustrations and headaches. Schedules were unpredictable and unreliable. We often received travel updates on an hourly basis, rarely knowing where we were going, how long we would be gone, or even if what we were discussing was actually going to happen. One of our sound engineers archived every printed schedule in a black binder, which he affectionately referred to as "the book of lies."
I was very frustrated one particular evening because I had rescheduled a recording date three times to accommodate Hanson. Since the Hanson organization did not retain the entourage and rarely paid for days off, most of us needed to maintain outside work. Our tour manager sympathized with me and summarized the situation well. "The Hansons will change their minds as they please," he said. "The rest of us, we're just dancin'."
I regularly interact with thousands of fans from around the world, often spending time with them outside the stage doors. In addition, hundreds of fans e-mail me daily, all wanting to know about my life on the road with Isaac, Taylor, and Zac. Because of the large number of questions, it is impossible for me to answer each one individually. However, I can share my Hanson stories and experiences on the following pages with everyone. With the help of my daily journal and personal camera, let me take you on the road -- on the road with Hanson.
Copyright © 1999 by Suburban Turban, Inc.