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Chapter 14: Interviews and Fights
Diana and Walker were allowed three days of privacy with their children. The boys immediately resumed their roles within the family structure. Ike continued his role of eldest and leader although he backed off somewhat and deferred to their father for decisions, which he was quite happy about. His goofy sense of humor was returning. Taylor resumed his role of that of the peacekeeper between his brother and sisters and Zac returned to his normal outgoing, pesky self. The boys closeted themselves in the basement studio and practiced, and practiced and practiced. The only time they gave up their instruments was when Taylor needed a break because his arm was hurting or their parents insisted that they stop to rest or return upstairs to interact with the family, although most of the time their younger siblings were in the basement with them. They were used to ignoring their racket.
The television was turned off. After watching the erroneous news reports from the disastrous press conference, they just didn’t want to know. Some stations were portraying them as heroes, other more gossip oriented programs were portraying them as wild children savagely committing acts of butchery to survive.
Hanson as a group wasn’t particularly interested in what the press had to say about them. They were far more interested in getting back into their music.
On the fourth day of their return home Christopher arrived at their door with a armful of newspapers and magazines and briefcase full of contract offers. Hanson as the crash survivors were news. He wanted to capitalize on that for the publicity that they could use to promote Hanson the music group. He also wanted them go public with the truth before the trash television programs tried to destroy their reputations simply because they had dropped out of sight for a few days.
Their agent had publicly announced that Hanson was resting from their ordeal and taking care of residual medical problems. Which was true, since Ike had an appointment for the following day for surgery on his foot to rebreak and reset his toes. Zac had already been through his MRI testing and Taylor’s arm was mending well.
Steve arrived within the hour, indicating that the two men had planned their campaign on the family. Ike, Taylor and Zac had also planned their own assault. With the family gathered for a business discussion the boys put their plan on the table for Steven to take promote to the record company executives. The record company was definitely ready to capitalize on whatever positive publicity or sympathy they could use to sell records. They wanted the boys to go immediately into a studio to begin recording an album. A plan that Hanson was in agreement with except they wanted to record several singles first. New music. Music with different sounds and flavors that their fans were not accustomed to hearing. They wanted to record a hard rocking single, a romantic ballot single and a pop/rock single simultaneously. Hit the market hard and then promote a new more mature sound for their next album.
Steve listened to their proposal and thought it was sounded sound idea, although a little ambitious. He agreed that with the right promotion it would work. The same promotion that they could get by doing television interviews and guest spots on talk shows, and magazine articles. The boys also made it clear that they would not allow interference from the record company about the direction of their music.
Steve listened to the boys and looked to Walker for direction but he simply shrugged. He didn’t made the bands decisions, they did. The boys had already explained their new plan to their parents and they knew they had their backing in the proposal. This was a new Hanson that the record company was dealing with, a stronger, more self assured and determined group. Diana and Walker’s only concern was keeping the work schedules at tolerable levels and they knew Christopher would work out those details to their satisfaction as he had done in the past.
Together they sat at the table and tried to iron out the worst of the details. Ike, Taylor and Zac already had rough demo tapes ready for Steve to take back to record company. They had also sketched out detailed preliminary outlines of their ideas for the videos. It was a typical strategy planning session for the family.
When they set aside the recording business, Christopher was ready for the promotion part of the business. He put the offers on the table and they discussed what they wanted to do versus what they didn’t want to do.
"I say we do the B. Walters as a prime time interview, and Rosie and Leno, one day, one night program." Taylor suggested.
"I like Jay." Mackie exclaimed from his position on the floor where he was playing with action figures.
"Well, we have Mackie’s vote of approval," Christopher said and they all laughed. "What about Letterman and Regis and Cathy Lee shows?"
"I don’t mind, Regis," Ike said with reservations. "Cathy was a little strange when we were on before, I’m not sure we can trust her not to ask something really off-the-wall."
"Pick up Regis and Cathy Lee later," Zac suggested. "Maybe when Cathy Lee is on vacation or something."
"Okay what about Letterman?" Christopher ask. "If we go to Leno and turn down Letterman, there may be repercussions."
"Jay has always treated us decently. Letterman hasn’t." Taylor exclaimed. "He been plain old rude. He’s had some of his best ratings when we were on his show and still hasn’t ask us over to talk yet. I say forget Letterman."
"I’m with Tay," Ike said.
"Me to," Zac added.
"Okay we’re in agreement. B. Walters, Leno, Rosie," Christopher said. "Good timing because Jay is going to be in New York that week."
"We’d do Conan again." Zac suggested. "I like Conan."
"Yeah, he’s okay," Taylor agreed. "And that guy from the CBS morning program. Mark something. I don’t remember his name but he was a really cool guy."
"What about MTV?" Christopher ask.
"Let them come asking." Ike suggested. "They may have been instrumental in helping Hanson get started, but they’ve been a royal pain ever since. They’re nice to us when we’re there and as soon as we turn our backs they’re making fun of us again."
"MTV speak with forked tongue." Zac said with a grin and everyone laughed.
"Ike, how long will it take you to get back on your feet after tomorrow’s operation." Christopher ask.
"My foot will be in a cast, so everything should be okay." Ike said. "If we hit the talk show circuit, we’ll want to do our new songs, so we’re going to have to move fast."
"Okay, if we’re all in agreement, lets’ get started." Christopher suggested. "Steven call me as soon as you get the word."
The record company agreed with reservations, but with Hanson as the group promising a new album with a guaranteed 120 day turnaround they were more than willing to give their ideas a try.
Walker and Diana agreed to an abbreviated lesson program because the boys were already ahead of schedule on their home study program. The operation on Ike foot went as planned and a day later he was practicing steadily with his foot propped up on a stool and swallowing aspirin ever time his Mom turned her back.
Christoper confirmed scheduled dates for the interviews and they went ahead with plans on releasing the singles. With the exception of the B. Walters show, every appearance would be accompanied with a musical performance. B.’s show would deal strictly with their careers and the plane crash and how they survived. A lucrative book deal was offered but they turned it down. It didn’t fit into their musical plans. As far as Hanson was concerned, the crash was history. It was time to move on. They heard through the grapevine that a made for TV movie was being scripted, but since they hadn’t detailed their experiences to anyone but Harold and their family they thought it was funny. The promo spots on television began to run three weeks before the scheduled show.
The Hanson family traveled to Houston and closeted themselves into a studio to begin recording. Four days of work later, there were three master cuts completed. They would be released a few days after the B. Walters interview and on the day of the Jay Leno performance. The radio DJ’s would receive their copies a week in advance.
Then the Hanson family moved onto Los Angeles where with the help of good friend and well known director, they filmed two video’s in a production studio, with a very stepped up schedule. The video’s were totally unlike any of previous videos. They were scheduled to return after their B. Walters interview to do the third video.
They had two days of rest before the taping of the B. Walters show. Diana and Walker took the boys to the beach. They called a temporarily suspension on all activities involving work and settled back to enjoy a few days of rest. The family was walking along the board walk with the ever present Jason walking ahead of them and another body guard bring up the rear. They got a lot of stares and screams and giggles but this was as normal an outing as Hanson could manage. At least with the body guards present very few fans interrupted their day for autographs.
"Holy cow!" Zac yelled looking through a window of a souvenir shop. He ran inside the building and Ike and Taylor followed him to see what the excitement was about.
Taylor stopped in his tracks. There in front of him was a six foot poster of... Taylor. He knew immediately that the picture had been taken at the Crestwood Hotel. He was sitting on the railing, his pants were tight and unbuttoned, his shirt gaping open to display a good set of abdominal muscles and his hair was loose and blowing in the wind and he was smiling freely a dimple in his cheek. It was great picture, a sexy picture, but not one that he had posed for. Hanson never, ever posed separately for pictures or posters.
"Wow," Ike said and started laughing.
"It’s not funny," his brother exclaimed.
"Tay, is like Beefcake!" Zac announced laughing outloud.
"Oh my," Diana said standing in the doorway behind her son. "He most certainly is."
"Dad, do something!" Taylor exclaimed looking outraged.
Walker was laughing at his son’s discomfort. "Well, no one is going to say you look like a girl anymore." he said.
"Oh thanks," Taylor sputtered and turned and left the shop.
Walker ask the proprietor where he had purchased the poster, wrote down the information and left the shop followed by his family. Taylor was standing over by a railing with Jason standing nearby.
"Better be careful, someone might take your picture," Zac gloated.
Taylor glared at his brother and ignored him. "Dad, can we stop that poster from being sold?"
‘Probably," Walker advised. "But it might take some time. The proprietor says it just came out yesterday and its already one of his best sellers."
"Dad," Taylor wailed. "Its my picture and I didn’t authorize it. How can someone do that? Don’t we own our own image?"
"Yes, but things like this happen. And we have to stop it legally." Walker advised and tried to console his son. "Its a very nice picture."
Taylor threw his hands up in the air and walked away disgruntled, listening to laughter as his family followed him..
* * * *
They reported for filming of the B. Walters show on Monday morning. It was a new experience. Interview shows were usually five to ten minute segments, live and the intention was to keep the banter light and funny. This interview was different. It was to be an hour long interview, serious talk about a serious subject. The promos of the show had promised a truthful, detailed description of their mountain survival. The shows atmosphere was more professional, with an enormous amount of crew and personnel involved with the taping. Ms. Walters met with them before the filming and tried to make them comfortable. She outlined what questions she would ask, and in what order and told them to be themselves, and promised them that as long as their answers were truthful they would be fine.
Ms. Walters began the interview with a review of their musical background. She detailed their meteoric rise to fame in the music world and talked about their record breaking number one song. Then she ask them some easy questions which they answered smoothly. Then she took them through their tour and to the fateful flight.
She ask insightful questions about their fears and how they dealt with them. The boys answered her honestly and truthfully. To the viewer Ike’s role of leadership became apparent. His bravery and spirit in holding his family together under the most extreme circumstances was an honorable act of love. He spoke with difficulty of initial decisions that he had to make. He spoke plainly about how it was his duty to shield the younger children from as much horror as possible. Taylor’s role as that of the hunter and provider and defender of this family showed his strength and sensitivity. He admitted that when he started hunting he was physically sick after each kill, and that since they had returned had not been able to eat any kind of meat. As the defender of the group he had no qualms or regrets and admitted to killing the wolf, with Ikes help, and the mountain lion in defense of their family. Both he and Ike spoke of the hours of practice that they had completed before feeling comfortable with the knives and bow. Zac was funny and spontaneous in answering her questions, but his brothers were quick to point out his contributions to their survival. His ability to catch fish and his inventiveness as well as his responsible behavior in caring for Antonio and Katie were praised highly.
They spoke of caring for the younger children and of how much they missed them. Their genuine love and respect for one another was displayed as they often praised each other . She ask of their injuries, noting Ike’s cast which he explained casually as if it were no problem at all. She pointed out that he had walked on those broken toes to find a safer shelter for them, and had never stopped providing for his family to rest from his injury. They discussed Zac’s concussion and Katie’s broken arm and how they had dealt with them. And they discussed the gash on Taylor’s arm and how he had gotten it, and he declined to show it.
They talked about the arguments and disagreements that were a normal part of sibling battle of wills and it was obvious that they didn’t take them seriously or hold grudges. They talked about their squeaky clean image, which caused Zac to go off into a fit of giggles which he wouldn’t explain. Taylor shot his brother a warning look and he straightened up quickly. They discussed what Ms. Walters called an "unorthodox" education. They objected to that description because they felt it was unfair to their parents who had invested so much time and effort into ensuring their education was equal to or better than any offered by private schools. They described the benefits of their world travel to their education, adding that they didn’t see the world from a hotel window, but actually visited and saw important historical sites with each visit to each country. They assured her that if they chose to go to college that they would be more than prepared and that it was very likely that they would continue their education. They discussed how much control they had over their own business decisions. And they discussed the future.
They discussed the direction of their music and how they hoped their fans would grow with them as they matured and changed and tried new paths of expression. At the end of the program they mentioned their new single releases and that they were about to return to the studio to record a new album. Ms. Walters thanked them sincerely for their willingness to be frank and their honesty in the interview. She read an excerpt from a letter of thanks from Antonio’s parents citing their bravery and heroism in saving their son’s life. Then Ms. Walters wished them well in their future endeavors and shook their hands and the show was over.
The cameras were shut off, the lights dimmed and an applause broke out among the crew members. Ms. Walters hugged the boys individually and thanked them again for the interview and then turned and thanked Diana and Walker for raising ‘such fine young men’.
"Well we spilled our guts." Zac said bluntly. "How did it sound?"
"Like an Emmy winning special." the producer said seriously. "You did great."
* * * *
Hanson didn’t have time to worry about their interview. They returned to the production studio and filmed the video for their third single. The radio play had already begun. The hard rocking single was rising rapidly on the billboard play charts. The pop song was a few numbers behind it, and the ballot a few numbers behind the pop song. They had a lot of work to complete. They had to review the final cuts on the videos, pose for posters and magazine pictures and give interviews to reputable magazines. Christopher kept them hopping, scheduling their appointments back-to-back and sometimes almost overlapping. It was the only way to complete what they needed to get done, and fit it into rotating schedule of several days of work, several days off, that their parents demanded.
Friday was a scheduled day off. The interview would be broadcast Friday night. The boys slept late and spent the rest of day just doing nothing. Hanson’s idea of doing nothing was constant activity but it was nice to kick back for a change. They had an exhausting game of one-on-one by three. Ike and Taylor creamed the shorter Zac although he cheated by tripping them as often as possible. They played rough and they played with laughter. Then they ordered pizza for dinner and got ready to watch the B. Walters interview. Walker set up the video tape and they gathered around the television. Taylor didn’t make it past the introduction. He disappeared into a bedroom to be by himself, and wait out the show. He, unlike his brothers, hated to see himself in interviews.
Ike wandered in an hour later and teased his brother about not watching the program. "It was pretty good show." Ike said.
"Now the crap hits the fan," Taylor exclaimed knowing that the news services and magazines would pick the story and revive it again and again, each with its own twist.
"And, we run." Ike said. "We’re due to give some ‘batch’ interviews for the new releases, and then a press interview at Planet Hollywood in the morning and then we hit the road for New York."
"We could be there in six hours by plane, three by concord," Taylor complained.
Ike laughed. "Yeah, right. Like Mom is going to let us anywhere near a plane. That’s going to take a while, Tay."
* * * *
The next morning the schedule seemed to be working. The boys reported to a studio, and gave a series of interviews for short show inserts, quick in and out interviews a half a dozen questions apiece, cut and dry and on to the next person. Only music related questions were allowed and any deviations erased by a seven second delay switch. Then they reported to Planet Hollywood for a full press interview. This interview would be tougher. Although the reporters would be given guidelines, they often ignored them. Christopher was trying very hard to control the media but it was a difficult job.
The boys sat down at the table and faced the media rush and video cameras. Ike said a few prepared words, describing the three singles that would be released the following Tuesday and turned the session over to the reporters.
"Can you assure us that this is not a publicity stunt?" a man in the front row ask loudly.
"Isn’t what a publicity stunt?" Ike ask confused.
"This whole crash scenario." the man responded.
The boys looked at one another in surprise. "I think it would be safe to say that if the crash was part of a publicity stunt that we would be in jail." Ike said slowly. "There were eleven lives lost in that crash." Then he nodded towards a woman in the front.
"Taylor, your brothers have both cut their hair since returning. Why haven’t you cut yours?" she ask.
Taylor looked at Ike and rolled his eyes slightly. "A very good reason." he replied. "I didn’t want to."
The press chuckled at his response.
"You have admitted to killing animals that are on the endangered species list," the male reporter shouted. "How can you justify that?"
Taylor looked down at the man in disbelief. "We were on the Endangered Species List for a while." he explained with a touch of humor. "We don’t regret anything we did to survive. Now could we please return to the subject matter we are here to discuss."
"Did you resort to cannibalism?" the man shouted above the voices of the other reporters.
"Are you a total idiot or are you just trying to make a complete ass of yourself?" Taylor demanded angrily.
"End of interview." Ike said into microphone. "Come on guys," he said getting a good grip on both of this brothers arms and leading them away from the table.
Hundreds of questions were being yelled at them as they left the room. Jason and their Dad flanked them on each side as they shouldered their way out of the club and jumped into the van. Jason drove the five blocks to the hotel and let them out at a side door. Walker stopped to get the messages and tell the manager to get their bill ready for checkout. Ike, Taylor and Zac took the elevator up to their suite.
The boys walked into the suite and Taylor escaped to the patio for some privacy while Ike and Zac discussed the disastrous interview with their mother.
When Walker entered the suite he immediately ask for his second son. When he walked out on the patio, he didn’t see him at first.
‘Tay, are you out here?"
"Over here," the boy responded.
Walker went around the corner to find Taylor sitting up on a concrete wall that surrounded the patio.
He motioned his son down. "I don’t like this habit you have of sitting on rails and walls hundreds of feet in the air. First and last warning about it. Got it?
Taylor jumped down and nodded his head. He sat down in a patio sofa and propped his elbows on his knees and dropped his head down in his hands. "I’m sorry I blew it. Are you mad?"
Walker sat down beside his son and pulled over against him. "No. He was a idiot. And a ass."
Taylor chuckled.
"But, I think your Mom is going to be chewing on you for swearing at him. God forbid anyone should think she’s raised a rude child."
"Dad," Taylor groaned and his father laughed.
"Tay, it isn’t that serious."
"He baited me, and I jumped on it." Taylor grumbled. "I know better than that, but I just flipped."
"Listen B.B," Walker began.
Taylor looked up at his father in surprise. "Dad you haven’t called me or any of us that in a long time."
Walker chuckled. "That’s because my Brown-eyed Baby, my Blue-eyed Baby, and my Baby Boy grew up way to fast. We wanted to keep you guys to ourselves, keep you our baby boys, but you had other plans. You guys wanted to be performers. Who would have thought all this would happen."
"We need to put this plane crash stuff behind us, and get back to the music. That’s what counts." Taylor exclaimed.
"You haven’t had time to put it behind you yet, son." Walker said gently. "Steve has found us a house that has a complete music studio attached to it in Los Angeles. When we get settled there your Mom and me want to set up some appointments with a counselor for you boys and the family if necessary."
"You want us to see a shrink?" the boy protested.
"We want to do whatever we think is necessary to help you and your brothers to come to terms with the crash and what happened." Walker suggested. "You guys were put in a situation that very few people have to face. There is no way that Ike or you were ready to take on that kind of responsibility. You guys had to make life and death decisions, on your own. And, that not an easy thing to do. You had to learn to hunt, and I know that that bothers you. Before this, the closest you’d ever been to meat was when you saw it in the refrigerator. Zac is still having nightmares. Tay, a person can’t live through that kind of experience and not have some kind of emotional trauma from it. It’s perfectly normal."
"You think we’ve flipped out!"
"I do not." Walker protested. "Tay, you’re the most even tempered kid I’ve got. I can’t lose that. You put up with Ike’s moods, and Zac tantrums and Jessica’s dramatics and Avery’s bossiness. And you never get mad at Mackie no matter what he throws at you, and who knows what Zoe’s going to be like. You have a right to lose your temper once in while, but I don’t want you lose that part of you that needs to be peaceful and calm."
"The press is going to kill us." Taylor mumbled.
"How much you want to bet, that reporter comes out of that skirmish looking like the jerk he was?" Walker ask. "Come on, we have to get the bus packed and get on the road. Remind me to stop at a ATM machine. I need cash."
"Ugh, Dad," Taylor ask suddenly remembering a promise. "Has Zac ask about our allowances yet?
"No, but you guys are due," Walker answered.
"No, I mean about our back allowances." Taylor explained. "We sort of promised Zac that you would pay him all his back allowances."
"Oh, you did. I suppose you guys want yours too?" his Dad ask looking a little skeptical at the idea.
"Well actually, we owe our allowances to Zac too," Taylor admitted with a grimace. "We had a lot of time to blow. Poker games. He’s good, real good."
Walker burst out laughing. "The little rodent cheats!" he exclaimed.