The Hanson Brothers
From 1984 to 1989, the Wright brothers (John on drums and Rob on bass guitar) and original NoMeansNo guitarist Andy Kerr performed Ramones cover sets sporadically under the name THE HANSON BROTHERS. They later began to write «their own Ramones songs», original songs in the fast & melodic style of the Ramones. At this time John Wright played drums and the three members shared lead vocal duties. Examples of songs from this era are «Ya Little Creep» and «Bad», two Kerr∼era NoMeansNo songs with songwriting credited to THE HANSON BROTHERS ; the former appears on the 1991 compilation «Clam Chowder and Ice Vs. Big Macs and Bombers», and the latter on «The Sky Is Falling and I Want My Mommy», a collaborative LP with Jello Biafra…
• Then the Wrights began working with guitarist Tom Holliston in 1989. The earliest sessions from this time still featured John Wright on drums ; however, Ken Jensen of D.O.A. soon joined as the drummer and John devoted himself to the lead vocals. After releasing a debut 7∼inch “Brad” (which parodied «Dad» from NOMEANSNO), the band recorded their first album “Gross Misconduct” in 1992. The album featured art spoofing the cover of the Ramones’«Road to Ruin».
• Jensen died in a house fire in 1995. Ken Kempster (member of, among many other groups, the Showbusiness Giants) became the next drummer, referred to as «Kenny Jr.» Hanson. This lineup released the band’s second record “Sudden Death” through a subsidiary of Virgin Records. The cover spoofed D.O.A.’s «The Prisoner» single cover.
• In 2000, the songs «Rink Rat», «Third Man In», «Stick Boy» and «Danielle» were featured in the NHL Rock The Rink game for the Sony PlayStation. Also in 2000, John Wright, in his Johnny Hanson character, recorded an instructional video regarding homebrewing beer. He also compiled and released two compilations of hockey∼themed songs called «Puck Rock Volumes I and II».
• Ken Kempster left the group in 2001, and Ernie Hawkins joined for touring behind their third album “My Game”. The cover parodied Black Flag’«My War». In April 2006, the band went on a tour of Canada. Hawkins appears on 2008 live album “It’s a Living”, whose cover parodies the Ramones’ «It’s Alive». Mike Branum, from The Freak Accident, debuted as drummer for their 2008 tour. Byron Slack replaced Branum in 2014.
• Nomeansno broke up in 2016, also putting an end to The Hanson Brothers.
