Hanson. The trio have been around the world. They've had a No.1 record in 20 countries. And they had an eight-day break somewhere along the way. They just can't remember where it was. If It's Thursday, then this must be London. And at nine p.m., it's probably way past Zac's bedtime. Having just finished a performance for Top of the Pops at BBC's White City studios, Hanson is in a cab going somewhere. The destination is irrelevant; the members of Hanson surrendered themselves to the global treadmill months before "MMMBop" turned the band into a household name. They've never looked back, and they've only looked forward to the next stop dictated by their promotional itinerary. Middle of Nowhere was a more apt album title that then they ever could have imagined, not that they've had long to mull over it. Even on these short crosstown journeys, between grooving and snoozing, there's more business to take care of. If it's Thursday, then this must be a mobile phoner with Request.

In 1997 what was the most irritating question you were continually asked?

Isaac: Well, the stupidest question was, "How did we meet?"

The last time we met [April '97] you'd just bought Aerosmith's Nine Lives. What's the most recent album you've purchased?

Isaac: Queen's Greatest Hits and Jamiroquai's Travelling Without Moving.

What's your fave track on the latter?

Isaac: I would say "Virtual Insanity" and Cosmic Girl", those are pretty much tied.

Who's the most famous person you've met this year?

Isaac: Um, probably Bon Jovi. He was very nice-a cool guy.

What did he have to say?

Isaac: He just said, "Keep at it," I guess.

Who's the coolest person you met this year?

Isaac: I can't really recall. We've just kinda like been meeting a ton of people, y'know? We just got done doing a Christmas record called Snowed In , and when you're in the studio, you're not meeting all kinds of people.

What's your favorite Christmas song then?

Isaac: Ah wow, see that's a really hard question. Y'know, maybe I'll pass it on to Taylor.

Taylor: Obviously, "White Christmas" is defiantly a classic song. Really the songs on the album are, like, the ones we listen to. Like "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," "Little Saint Nick," and we have a medley of some of the classic hymns like "Silent Night," "O Come All Ye Faithful," and "O Holly Night."

Which day in 1997 would you like to relive?

Taylor: I don't know, Probably Christmas, because every time it ends you're like, whoa, that happened so fast.

Who got told off most by dad this year?

Taylor: I don't know. That's a pretty general question I wanted a specific answer. My bet is Zac.

Taylor: OK, yeah, im going to hand you over to Zac.

So Zac, do you get told off the most by your dad?

Zac: There is no answer. Who got? Hanson. yeah

Try speaking in sentences. Where were you chased most by girls?

Zac: The most aggressive girls were in Indonesia.

Did they rip your clothes off?

Zac: They tried, but we had security guards.

What was the biggest thing you learned about the world?

Zac: That it's round.

What was the weirdest custom you encountered?

Zac: A really cool custom was in Japan- they give you a lot of presents. I got some cool wooden sandals.

Did you get a chance to celebrate your first million sales?

Zac: No. The thing is, you say you're going to celebrate, then once it happens it's like whoa, it already happened. It's like your birthday.

Er, right. Have you had a chance to spend any money on yourself?

Zac: No, but I want a motorbike for my birthday. I'm going to pass the phone back to Ike.

OK. Isaac, have you had any funny fan mail?

Isaac: Someone sent a lava lamp in the mail. A lava lamp costs $75, and it cost $25 to mail it. That's pretty incredible.

Wow. What was the longest break you had this year?

Isaac: Um, well, about eight days.

Where was that?

Isaac: I actually do not remember.

You've been working too hard. Did you see any beautiful sunsets?

Isaac: Ah, yes.

Do you remember where?

Isaac: No, I don't recall. Actually um, I think actually we probably have to stop because we're getting really close to the....

And with that the members of Hanson bid their fond farewells, emerging from their cab into a windswept night to schmooze and snooze with the next people on their itinerary. The names of the people they meet are as irrelevant as Hanson's anecdotes. After the first "ton of people," your eyes start to glaze over.