A Tribute to Chrissie Hynde and the Pretenders
Honoring an Icon
Pretending Chrissie: A Tribute to Chrissie Hynde and the Pretenders is an ensemble of professional musicians dedicated to classic representation of The Pretenders music catalogue written and performed by Chrissie Hynde over a span of five decades.
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The Band
Rose "Wild Rose" Gill
Vocals & Guitar
Rose Gill has been a performer, musician, rhythm guitarist, and singer all her adult life. Her vocal styles include Rock, Motown, Country, Blues, and Funk. She has performed on many stages as a lead vocalist, solo singer/guitar artist, as well as in various bands including show bands.
For the last nine years, Rose was the lead vocalist for the Greg Douglass Band, a classic rock group featuring the former guitarist for the Steve Miller Band, Greg Douglass. She also was a backup vocalist for The Pompetous of Love Band, a tribute to the Steve Miller Band. Her latest project, "Pretending Chrissie," A Tribute to Chrissie Hynde and The Pretenders, is a great fit for her uncanny natural look-alike stature and her "rocker" vocal styling reminiscent of Chrissie Hynde.
Bob Rupple
Lead Guitar & Harmonica
Bob Rupple grew up in Los Angeles, CA. He began playing piano at the age of six, moved on to trumpet in school, and then switched to guitar by age 15. Inspired by the music of the British Invasion, he became a self-taught guitarist and formed his first Rock & Roll band. Bob has played in numerous bands throughout Southern California, including on the Sunset Strip.
Bob moved to San Diego, CA, in 1983 to raise a family and quickly became part of the local music scene, playing in various bands at local venues. He lists his influences as Eric Clapton, Duane Allman, Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, and many other iconic guitarists.
Hector Toro
Drums & Backup Vocals
Hector Toro has been a musician for over 35 years, touring, recording, and performing. He started in the Bay Area with multiple bands, including CBS recording artist The Beat. Moving to San Diego, he began performing with Greg Douglass of The Steve Miller Band and with Mark Stuart in the Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash. He has also performed in many other bands and worked as a recording engineer and producer.
Johnny Rhinestone
Bass & Backup Vocals
Eric Koch AKA Johnny Rhinestone is a professional musician who has played and recorded a variety of music styles, from Zydeco to Zeppelin. During the 80s, he was the lead singer and bassist for the band ERTH. He plays the exact bass lines note for note, phrase by phrase, as heard on The Pretenders' studio recordings. His meter, groove, and feel for the Pretenders tribute is exceptional.
Geoff Shell
Keyboards & Backup Vocals
Geoff Shell is a composer, producer, performer, multi-instrumentalist, and educator who graduated from Berklee College of Music Magna Cum Laude in 2005 with a Bachelor's in Film Scoring. He has worked in Chicago as a composer/producer and played in various bands. In 2020, he moved to San Diego, where he now plays synth/keyboards in Pretending Chrissie.
Dan Renwick
Drums, Percussion
Dan grew up in Ohio and began playing drums at age ten. He played in high school rock bands and has been a familiar face in the San Diego music scene since the early 2000s, performing in numerous bands and appearing on two albums that received San Diego Music Award nominations.
Song List
The Hits
Back on the Chain Gang (1982)
Birds of Paradise (1981)
Boots of Chinese Plastic (2008)
Brass in Pocket (1979)
Cuban Slide (1979)
Didn't Want to Be This Lonely (2020)
Day After Day (1987)
Don't Get Me Wrong (1987)
Hymn to Her (1980)
I Go to Sleep (1981)
I'll Stand by You (1994)
Kid (1979)
Message of Love (1981)
Middle of The Road (1983)
Mystery Achievement (1979)
My City Was Gone (1984)
Never Do That (1990)
Night in My Veins (1994)
Precious (1979)
Stop Your Sobbing (1979)
Talk of the Town (1980)
Tattooed Love Boys (1979)
Thumbelina (1984)
The Wait (1981)
…and many more!
The Buzz
“PRETENDING CHRISSIE" is my new favorite thing!! This band is tight and well-rehearsed with an outstanding playlist! If I could give PRETENDING CHRISSIE TEN THUMBS UP, I would! This band sounds like the real thing and didn't miss a beat!”
–M Lynn
“This tribute band just blew me away—they performed two back-to-back 90-minute shows with such energy that they had some of the dinner guests up and dancing by their chairs! I didn't know I was a Pretenders fan until I saw you!”
–Jon Naugle Photography
“Former vocalist of The Greg Douglass Band, Rose Gill ventures out into her own band—a tribute to Chrissie Hynde and The Pretenders in "PRETENDING CHRISSIE." She looks the part and sounds great, giving the crowd that FEELING that they are watching the real thing—even if they are JUST PRETENDING!”
–Rock N R Olivia, Rag Magazine
“Fabulous night out listening to music with Wild Rose's new band, "Pretending Chrissie." This band was in the pocket, creating a groove that carried us away to remembering when we could listen to The Pretenders!”
–P Noeske
