John Zdrojeski (as Virgil Wilde) Releases New Rock Album ‘Misters’

Released on December 8th, John Zdrojeski’s debuts as his alter-ego Virgil Wilde in the new album Misters. In the vein of David Bowie as Ziggy Stardust, Virgil is a character from the album, which explores the stifling effects of toxic white masculinity. Inspired by Dante’s Inferno, Misters deals with Jack, a man struggling to “sing his song” in the midst of an aggressive, disjointed choir. With a squeal of guitar feedback, a ravaged, rock star channeler named Virgil Wilde appears to Jack.

Virgil morphs into each member of the choir, known as “The Misters,” hoping to dull their power over Jack’s song by doing so. But periodically, Jack is overtaken by the Devil You Know: a polished, mirror image of Virgil, who uses every tactic he can to get Jack to abandon his own unique song. Not shying away from a difficult topic, Zdrojeski hopes Misters contributes to the dialogue about the ill effects of the patriarchy not only on society, but on men themselves.

Sonically weaving through prog rock, country rock, alternative, glam rock, and classic heavy metal among other different sub-genres, Misters pays homage to rock ‘n’ roll, exploring Zdrojeski’s love of the music itself while tackling the controversial topics. The epic begins with “In The Weeds,” as our protagonist, Jack, is surrounded on all sides by the toxic voices of the Misters. Following that, Virgil introduces himself in the ’70s-inspired, riff-tastic thunderbolt invocation, “O Rock N’ Roll.” And finally, the third and final voice – our antagonist – reveals himself in the guise of moody, mysterious industrial rock in “Devil You Know I.” As the album continues, each “Mister” Virgil channels embodies a different trope: male hypocrisy, male apathy, and performative machismo, with more unconventional themes and archetypes popping up along the way. Overall, ‘Misters’ is a rock ‘n’ roll epic, promising to be a rollicking action movie-musical of the mind.

Story behind these songs? You try being locked away with the Misters for as long as you can remember and writing about anything else. But see, what I think you’re really asking is: why rock ‘n’ roll? And that’s cuz I had to find a way to tune them out, to cut through their noise, to sing my song despite them to trying to shout me down. I think that’s what we all want to do, right? Sing our songs? You might say it different than me but deep down, you know what I mean. I needed firepower, I needed lightning to come out of my hands, I needed volume that makes you catch your breath. I needed Oasis at Knebworth, Ziggy at the Odeon. I needed the feeling you get when Axl tells you to wake up cause you’re gonna die. And rock ‘n’ roll, despite those who would tear it down, or sully its name, or declare it dead, is nothing if not a divine middle finger to something. In my case, it was to the Misters. And how do you do that? Show ’em off to the world, and tell no lies. In fact, if they ever get me, if the Misters ever do shut me up, let my epitaph be these nine words:

“Sing your song. Tell no lies. Rock ‘N’ roll.” – Virgil Wilde

Cover Art for ‘Misters’ by Virgil Wilde