Today we’d like to introduce you to Virgil Simpelo.
Hi Virgil, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
In 2006, I put out a Craigslist ad to anyone interested in forming a tribute band to the Smiths and Morrissey. There was only maybe 2-3 major tribute bands at the time and it was very rare to have any visit San Diego. So I wanted to start one for San Diego that would play regularly and bring the fan community together.
Throughout the band’s existence, there have been definitely ups and downs being in the entertainment industry. Our mission has always been to represent the music as faithful as possible and being professional with our clients and our fans.
In 2026 we celebrated 20 years of live shows, performing for thousands of people. We’d like to thank everyone who has supported Still ill to get to this milestone.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
In the beginning, it was a learning curve. Finding contacts and venues that would have us play. Tributes bands at that time were starting to pop up more, but sometimes the lineups were not of the same genre.
We were booked to play with heavy metal or hard rock tribute bands, so having a Smiths/Morrissey band on the bill felt strange. I presumed the bookers just needed a band to fill a slot or they did not understand what genres would go best together. After more tribute bands started to emerge in the college rock/80’s alternative style, it got easier to be paired up with more appropriate bands.
Still ill has been fortunate to perform for a variety of different venues and fans. The challenge to coming to a new demographic is winning over the audience. Once the audience starts singing along, we begin to connect to those who have a kinship with this music. In sharing the love with the fans, it helps us to jump over those hurdles because we are fans ourselves.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I have had a range of performance-oriented roles in public besides singing in a tribute band. I have done martial arts demonstrations at live events, performed in a ring as a professional wrestler, I was a published comic book artist with Sypher Art Studios, and I have been a stage manager for the Labyrinth of Jareth for many years.
I don’t feel anything sets me apart, but I do love to contribute to the creative and performance arts in any way. Whatever I can do to bring joy to people with entertainment, gives me fulfillment.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Many of my childhood memories revolve around growing up in the 80’s. Drawing Peanuts characters, watching cartoons, MTV and playing in the streets til the streetlights came on with my friends.
My older sister was the one who introduced me to most of the 80’s bands because she and her friends went to a lot of concerts back then, plus all of the cool Brat Pack John Hughes movies.
I will always be an 80’s kid at heart since I’m still collecting new toys from that era and introducing the music to my son. He’s developed his love of my music and it’s a special thing when I can pass that on to younger people.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://stillill.net/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stillill_smiths_moz_tribute/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StillillSmithsMorrisseyTributeBand/
