THE REVOLUTION SMILE's LOPEZ: Why We Signed With FRED DURST's Label

THE REVOLUTION SMILE singer/guitarist Shaun Lopez, formerly of post-hardcore band FAR, recently spoke to MTV.com about the band's decision to sign with LIMP BIZKIT frontman Fred Durst's Flawless Records after turning down an invitation to audition for the vacant guitarist slot in LIMP BIZKIT.

"They must have wondered why I didn't jump at an opportunity like that, 'cause let's face it, that's an opportunity," Lopez said. "But I just really believed in this band more than the world. And they probably wanted to know why I was turning something down like that, so they wanted to hear the band. I sent them the music, and about a week later they watched us play and that was pretty much it."

Lopez and his cohorts — guitarist Tim McCord, bassist Octavio Gallardo and drummer Jeremy White — were initially reluctant to sign with Durst's company due to his reputation, but eventually gave in after they realized the LIMP BIZKIT singer was serious about wanting to make the band a commercial success.

"At first we were pretty hesitant," Lopez admitted. "When you know someone's persona in the media, you don't really know the person that they are. I guess I never pictured Fred Durst liking our band, but he does and that's all that matters."

"He's a good mixture of hands-off and hands-on," Lopez said of Durst's involvement with the band's upcoming CD. "He's there when we need him if something needs to get done or something needs to get approved, but he believes in this band and doesn't want to alter it in any way, and that's the way a record label should be run. Unfortunately, 80 percent of labels aren't run that way, and that's why music is in the state it's in right now."

THE REVOLUTION SMILE's Flawless debut, "Above the Noise", is due in the spring. It was produced by David Sardy (MARILYN MANSON, HELMET) and mixed by Andy Wallace (KORN, LIMP BIZKIT, LINKIN PARK, NIRVANA).