Origin USA
Genre(s) Hard rock, heavy metal, Power pop
Years active 1988–2002,2009 (reunion)
Label(s) Warner/Atlantic
Associated acts Racer X, Poison, Steve Vai, G3, David Lee Roth, Tak Matsumoto Group
Website www.mrbigsite.com
Members
Eric Martin
Pat Torpey
Billy Sheehan
Paul Gilbert
Former members
Richie Kotzen
Mr. Big is a hard rock super-group that formed in 1988. The band is a quartet composed of Eric Martin (vocals), Paul Gilbert (guitar), Billy Sheehan (bass), and Pat Torpey (drums); Mr. Big also included Richie Kotzen, a reputable blues-based guitarist who replaced Paul in 1999 when Paul decided to focus on a solo career. The band is noted especially for their "shred guitar" musicianship, intense live performances, and well-crafted songs.
Identified early on as a "musicians' band", Mr. Big was able to produce numerous hit songs that ranged across a wide array of rock genres, be it ballad, heavy metal, or blues rock. Prior to the formation of the group, each of the members already had a reputation of being virtuosos as well as established song-writers/ composers. Their songs were often marked with strong vocals and vocal harmonies, and a technical proficiency in all instruments. Their hits include "To Be With You" (Billboard Hot 100 number one single in 15 countries for weeks, in 1991), "Wild World", "Green-Tinted Sixties Mind", "Just Take My Heart", other ballads, and a host of heavy metal songs that were played mostly during their live performances, such as "Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy", "Addicted to that Rush", "Colorado Bulldog", and "Take Cover", among the rest.
Mr. Big's following and reputation remained strong for over two decades, despite the band being challenged by personal internal conflicts and the changing trends in mainstream music. Over the years, through the different heights of the band's career, the fan-base of the group has remained steadfast - even after the demise of the band in 2002. Fans have always asked for the band's reunion.
In February 2009, as a result of fan-demand and also after several coincidences over the past couple of years that have gradually brought the group back together again, Eric, Pat, Paul, and Billy finally announced their decision to reunite. This announcement was marked with celebration and excitement amongst fans all over the world, especially in Japan. The band members themselves are very happy to be together again as friends, and to perform once more for fans all over the world. Their first tour is in Japan in June 2009.
History
Formation
It was bass player Billy Sheehan who scouted and gathered the people who would, together with himself, become the enduring icons of Mr. Big. Billy Sheehan left David Lee Roth's solo band in 1988, due to differences in musical direction. Almost immediately after his exit, Sheehan began piecing together a new outfit, with the help of Mike Varney from Shrapnel Records, a label specialized in the shredding genre. However, what Sheehan did not know was that he was about to form one of the most revered "supergroups" to come out of America.
The Buffalo, New York-born bassist had already honed his skills during a decade spent touring with his band, Talas, but with the recruitment of Eric Martin in 1988, he knew the foundation for this ultimate musical venture was well in place. Martin (who was born in Long Island, New York, but grew up all over the world as one of the sons of an Army officer) had already ventured into the light, both with melodic rock-oriented Eric Martin Band, and as a more soul-leaning solo artist.
The group was made complete with talents of guitarist Gilbert and drummer Torpey. Hailing from Pittsburgh, Gilbert was already a well-respected guitarist who had released four highly-touted albums with his Los Angeles-based band, Racer X. Torpey came to California after playing his dues behind the kit in the Arizona rock community. He soon became a much sought-after road horse, touring with a number of high-profile artists, most notably Robert Plant.
Breakthrough
The newly formed band hired Herbie Herbert to be their manager (he was the former manager of Journey and Santana). By 1989, the newly formed quartet had already inked a recording contract with Atlantic Records, resulting in the release of a self-titled debut the same year. Despite causing a buzz amongst musicians, the album failed to cross over to a mainstream rock audience stateside; however, Mr. Big was an immediate smash success overseas in Japan. In June 1990, the group went on tour in America as the opening act for the Canadian band “Rush”.
It was Mr. Big's second album in 1991, “Lean Into It”, that provided major breakthrough for the band. The album featured two ballads that established them as a commercial success: "To Be with You” (number one song in 15 countries) and "Just Take My Heart", as well as rock songs that remained as staples of their live set for years to come, such as "Green-Tinted Sixties Mind".[23] The album propelled Mr. Big to huge international record sales in the multi-millions. The release of “Lean Into It” was followed by a British tour in April and May of the same year, supported by bands “The Throbs” and “Heartland”.
Another British tour ensured before the quartet opted to release the 'Mr. Big Live' album in 1992 and set to work on a third album to be released in 1993. Live headliners across the U.K. in December saw “Forgodsake” as support. However, the band had broken away from this run to put in support for Aerosmith’s three-night, sold out stand at London's Wembley Arena.
In 1993, another ballad from Mr. Big's new album “Bump Ahead” rose to the top 10 of the charts - a cover of Cat Steven’s “Wild World”. The band also contributed the soundtrack to the Sega Mega CD release of The Amazing Spider-Man vs. The Kingpin.
And in 1995, their next album,Hey Man, was released. The song "Take Cover" from the album "Hey Man", was included on the soundtrack to the cartoon series Mega Man, which is based on the best selling video game franchise of the same name by Capcom, and was played during the end credits of the episodes "Bad Day At Peril Park" and "Mega X".
Discography
Studio albums
* Mr. Big (1989) (The Billboard 200 #46, Japan Oricon Album Chart #22, JPN - Gold, UK #60[18])
* Lean Into It (1991) (The Billboard 200 #15, Japan Oricon Album Chart #6, US - Platinum, JPN - Platinum, UK #28[18])
* Bump Ahead (1993) (The Billboard 200 #82, Japan Oricon Album Chart #4, JPN - Platinum, UK #61[18])
* Hey Man (1996) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #1, JPN - 2x Platinum)
* Get Over It (2000) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #5, JPN - Gold)
* Actual Size (2001) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #5)
Live albums
* Raw Like Sushi (1990) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #32)
* Mr. Big Live (Live in San Francisco) (1992) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #45)
* Raw Like Sushi II (1992) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #8, JPN - Gold)
* Japandemonium: Raw Like Sushi 3 (1994) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #11, JPN - Platinum)
* Channel V at the Hard Rock Live (1996) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #32)
* Live at Budokan (1997) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #20)
* In Japan (2002) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #12)
Singles
* "Addicted to That Rush" (1989) (Mainstream Rock Tracks #39)
* "Wind Me Up" (1989)
* "Green-Tinted Sixties Mind" (1991) (Mainstream Rock Tracks #33, UK #72[18])
* "To Be With You" (1991) (The Billboard Hot 100 #1 (3 weeks), Mainstream Rock Tracks #19, Adult Contemporary #11, UK #3[18])
* "Just Take My Heart" (1992) (The Billboard Hot 100 #16, Mainstream Rock Tracks #18, Japan Oricon Single Chart #68, UK #26[18])
* "Wild World" (1993) (The Billboard Hot 100 #27, Mainstream Rock Tracks #33, Top 40 Mainstream #12, Japan Oricon Single Chart #40, UK #59[18])
* "Ain't Seen Love Like That" (1994) (The Billboard Hot 100 #83)
* "Take Cover" (1996) (Japan Oricon Single Chart #1)
* "Not One Night" (1997)
* "Superfantastic" (2000) (Japan Oricon Single Chart #97)
* "Static" (2000) (Japan Oricon Single Chart #66)
* "Where Are They Now" (2000) (Japan Oricon Single Chart #47)
* "Shine" (2001) (Japan Oricon Single Chart #1)
* "Arrow" (2001) (Japan Oricon Single Chart #42)
Compilations
* Big Bigger Biggest: Greatest Hits (1996) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #2, JPN - 4x Platinum)
* Deep Cuts (2000) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #12)
* Greatest Hits (2004) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #70)
