Collective Soul, doing a threeIsland tour today through Sunday, has been called an alternative-rock, post-grunge band. But Will Turpin, 33, a founding member, says the group abhors labels.

"We're a pop band — and we play rock," he said from his Atlanta home. He was fighting allergies and sniffled through the telephone interview.

"We don't spend too much time thinking of labels," said Turpin, who was a music major in college and who formerly taught drum-line at various high schools.

But "Shine," Collective Soul's breakthrough single in 1994, changed his life. The group has become a staple on radio, TV and the music charts.

The Honolulu show is a benefit for Windows of Hope Family Relief Fund, for families in the food and beverage hospitality professions whose loved ones perished in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks; and for SOS — Share Our Strength, which is helping victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Meanwhile, Turpin answered Five Questions:

Collective Soul has been on the edge of breaking into the mainstream. Are you poised to live the life in the fishbowl, when you may have to sacrifice privacy for fame?

"I think so. We've been doing it so long (just over a decade), and we've been on the edge so long, I think we would be more poised than a lot more bands to handle the fame. But I still think I'd be able to enjoy a level of privacy; I don't think it will be a situation where they'll hunt me down for 24 hours."

Do you create and perform music with commerce in mind? In other words, do you do what you do mainly for the money and popularity?

"We always hope to get charted, but we can really only do one thing: Create something that feels good for us. The rest is not in our hands. Fortunately, a lot of stuff has been commercial. But why we do what we do ... is for the love of the music."

You've had a couple of changes in the band's lineup in recent years. What's the glue that keeps the 2005 group together?

"Each one of us has a role, but Ed Roland is definitely our main influence. We sit down and write a melody; in a moment, it's really striking. We get along — and that helps staying together. We also have employed a crew for a while — people who depend on us for a living — so that's made our life as a group much easier."

About labels — what's your take?

"We don't worry about what stamp somebody else puts on us."

For budding acts, what's best for exposure beyond concerts?

"I think MTV still is important to reach an audience; it's gotten away from playing all videos, however. VH-1 has become a vital part for Collective Soul. Videos are definitely part of the industry, what you need to do."

Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com.