Just as the shrieks of preteen ecstasy began to die down on Friday, Hanson prolonged the frenzy for years to come with the announcement that they will record another album immediately following their current North American tour. |

Surrounded by gratuitous Planet Hollywood signage and nearly 300 giddy fans, Zac, Isaac and Taylor told a flower-bearing, squealing Chicago crowd that they will go to work on the follow-up to theirlast studio album, 1997's Snowed In, early this fall. Sucking the celebrity well dry, the blonde brothers -- aged 12 to 17 -- also said they will keep pubescent interest piqued in the meantime with both a live video and a live album, which they recently completed in Seattle.

Before taking the mic at Planet Hollywood, the multiplatinum trio greeted nearly a thousand fans outside the restaurant, some of whom camped out on the restaurant's sidewalk overnight. Flashing hand-painted signs and Teen Beat centerfolds, girls who had been in line since dawn caught a 30-second glimpse of the band before they disappeared inside. Despite the hysteria and shrieking, 15-year-old Taylor insisted the Hanson craze is no match for the Beatle mania that swept America 35 years ago.

"We don't have girls chasing after us like [the Beatles movie A Hard Day's Night]," he said as hundreds of ponytailed fans simultaneously sighed. "I guess we have good security."

Though Hanson has no immediate plans to go "Madonna" and launch a simultaneous acting career, big brother Isaac said, "If the right opportunity shows itself, we might try out acting." Watch out, Leonardo, someone's moving in on your territory.

Meanwhile, the Hanson boys will concentrate on the last few dates of their U.S. tour, which stopped at the New World Music Theater in Tinley Park, Ill. on Friday. The extended string of concert dates ends at Hershey Park Stadium in Hershey, Pa. on Aug. 15, when Hanson will catch their breath and then enter the studio for an "MMMBop" sequel.

Though the group has only begun sprouting ideas for their third studio release, guitarist Isaac delivered a description of the disc on Friday: "There will be differences in the record because there are different songs on it." Deep. (Anni Layne)