MR. BIG - Wild World

Mr. Big is an American hard rock supergroup formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1988. The band was originally composed of Eric Martin (lead vocals), Paul Gilbert (guitar, backing vocals), Billy Sheehan (bass guitar, backing vocals), and Pat Torpey (drums, percussion, backing vocals). They are noted especially for their musicianship, and have scored a number of hits. Their songs are often marked by strong vocals and vocal harmonies. Their hits include "To Be with You" (a number-one single in 15 countries in 1992) and "Just Take My Heart". The band takes its name from the eponymous song by Free, which they eventually covered on their 1993 album, Bump Ahead. Mr. Big have remained active and popular for over a decade, despite internal conflicts and changing music trends, releasing four studio albums: Mr. Big (1989), Lean into It (1991), Bump Ahead (1993) and Hey Man (1996), before guitarist Paul Gilbert departed the band in 1999. Same year Richie Kotzen was brought as a guitarist and vocalist, with the band releasing two more albums with this line-up: Get Over It (1999) and Actual Size (2001), before breaking up in 2002. After requests from fans, they reunited with their original line-up in 2009; their first post-reunion tour was in Japan, in June 2009. They released their first album in a decade and their first in 15 years with the same line-up: What If... (2011). During the recording of the follow-up ...The Stories We Could Tell (2014), Pat Torpey was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and participated only marginally as a drum producer and touring support. Their last ninth album Defying Gravity (2017) was the last record with participation of Pat Torpey as he died the following year, February 2018, giving up to the disease. The band is in process of planning their tenth final studio album, with which once they are done including subsequent touring commitments, paying tribute to their deceased drummer, they will disband as they feel "uncomfortable to keep going without Pat Torpey."