"Atlantic, Jive, Epic, Interscope all came to see us, and every single one said I had to split my band up if I wanted to sign," DeJesus, 23, explains. "They all said, ‘Your band is too green, but we'll sign you and put a band of professional players behind you.'"
DeJesus, who is represented by Killers attorney Robert Reynolds and former Britney Spears agent Larry Rudolph, is in the process of putting the finishing touches on a deal with Interscope. He's keeping the Adelitas Way name and is scheduled to begin writing and recording with Hinder producer Brian Howes over the next few weeks. Not surprisingly, DeJesus says his ex-bandmates, particularly cousins Donny Ivins and Jesse Joseph, are none too pleased with the developments, all of which will be showcased on Paradise City.
"It's a very tough story. They have a hate for me now," DeJesus says. "They keep saying, ‘What about us?' but you can't tell a record label, ‘No thanks, I'll be there in five years.' It would be dumb for me to turn my dream down to make two other people happy.''
DeJesus says he signed on with the new E! program in order "to show how hard it is to make it in this industry. On Laguna Beach they're getting handed record deals, and I wanted to show that it's not like that. You better be willing to sacrifice. I'm playing sold-out shows to people who want my autograph, but then I get in a 1989 Buick Century that barely runs."
Now, the singer knows he'll get second-guessed for what others might perceive as a cold move, though he firmly stands by what he's done. "People say, 'I would've done this,' or 'I wouldn't have done that,' but somebody can also tell you, 'Mike Tyson knocked my friend out, but if I'd been there I would've hit him,' when they'd really have just stood there. Everyone wants to say, 'If Atlantic or Interscope wanted me and they wouldn't take my band I would've been like, "F--k that, I'm sticking with my band."' And then they would've played local gigs for the rest of their life."