Bassist Billy Sheehan says that MR. BIG have found a new drummer and the band plan to return to the live stage in the summer of 2023
Billy touched on the status of MR. BIG, following the passing of drummer Pat Torpey due to complications of Parkinson’s disease, in a new talk with Conversaciones Necias. Billy said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “Yes. We wanna play again. [Former MR. BIG touring drummer] Matt Starr did an amazing drumming job. He’s fantastic. He was friends with Pat. When Pat couldn’t play his kit but still could tour, he toured together with Matt and they were very dear friends. But we need a guy that has Pat’s voice. And Matt’s got a great voice but it’s a different range. We need a guy [who can sing] way up here,” he explained while raising his right hand just above his head. “So we found somebody. We’ll let the world know about it soon. And we’re hoping to do some shows maybe in the summer 2023.”
Earlier this month, MR. BIG singer Eric Martin was asked in an interview with Radio Futuro if there were any plans in place for the band to reunite. Eric said: “If you asked Paul [Gilbert, MR. BIG guitarist], he’d go, ‘Oh, well. I don’t know. Never say never.’ And same thing, Billy would go, ‘Well, you know, it would be a good idea.’ But I’m here to tell you that there is a rumor. Did I start this rumor? I don’t know.
“I believe that there are big things coming,” Eric said cryptically. “I keep saying that, and I want people to believe me that we’re not down for the count. It’s not over. I think we’ve got some things to do.”
MR. BIG‘s latest release, “Defying Gravity“, arrived in 2017 via Wowow Entertainment, Inc. in Japan and Frontiers Music Srl in most of the rest of the world.
In February 2021, MR. BIG released a new live set, “Raw Like Sushi Mega Edition – Revive 2017: 2017 Japan Tour Official Bootleg Box“.