Hanson Is Cool. . . Seriously, Part Two

Photo © Peter Vernon
from http://www.sexpistolsofficial.com/

Underneath came out on 3CG in the spring of 2004 and shot to #1 on the Billboard Top Independent Chart in its first week. The album charted at #25 on the Billboard Top 200 and #49 on the UK Top 75. The band has since revealed that the costs of legal struggles and recording the album over such a drawn out period of time prevented them from being able to profit from this record, but it was more than an impressive start to getting their music out there for their fans to hear—it stands as an encouraging model for ignored and independent artists everywhere.

As of this date, Underneath has sold over 139,000 copies. The big, important industry suits who told Hanson that the band and their sound were old news were completely wrong. Isaac, Taylor, and Zac took it upon themselves to let their fans decide, and the resulting sales numbers became their own “Fuck You” to the record execs. So you may sneer at the notion that Hanson and the Sex Pistols have anything in common, but if you look at the facts, the Hanson brothers really are modern day punks. Never mind the bollocks, Hanson is sticking it to the corporate music industry as we know it and taking control of their shit!

In fact, back when they were struggling with the early stages of Underneath back in 2000, they decided to capture every step of the process on camera. What began as a filmed account of the making of their next album became an unfettered, uncensored, detailed chronicle of their battles with and eventual departure from a major label.

The resulting documentary, Strong Enough To Break, was first released in installments on YouTube and later as a full-length DVD, with the gnarly behind-the-scenes drama of the internal strife (and ignorance) within the industry out there for all to see.

The band is unabashed in its honest portrayal of the goings-on, including conference calls with a stuttering Jeff Fenster (their IDJ A&R rep) that become so frustrating the guys are shown giving the middle finger to the phone. Label big wigs are shown continually expressing their dissatisfaction with the new songs Hanson have written and brought to them with confidence, but act confused and become embarrassingly inarticulate when asked to explain why the songs don’t cut it.

“We just had to do something, because the current system is broken,” Zac explains in Strong Enough To Break, admitting something that seems obvious now, but what was then only a growing suspicion among frustrated musicians who suddenly found themselves lacking label guidance and support. Due to Hanson’s foresight and some serendipity, they were able to capture the exact point in time when the flourishing music industry of the ’90s was beginning to self-destruct.

In between more touring in support of a live album they released on 3CG in 2005, Hanson toured the college circuit, showcasing the film and holding question and answer sessions on the music industry and their personal experiences in the business thus far. They went straight to the people and educated them on what’s wrong with the industry today, the importance of the independent artist and their role in the music industry, and how fans can keep the music alive with their support. (To hear their eloquence on the subject, watch one of the Q&As here.)

Hanson may be mistaken for manufactured, sticky-sweet musical puppets of the system, but they are real and open and honest about the bullshit of the industry that gave them fame and fortune in the first place and then took it away. And if you’re willing to take them seriously for a second, they might actually teach you a thing or two.

Stay tuned for the next installment!

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