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Mr. Big (American band)

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For the English band of the same name, see Mr Big (UK band).
Mr. Big
Mr. Big's Reunion line-up: Paul Gilbert, Pat Torpey, Billy Sheehan, Eric Martin.
Mr. Big's Reunion line-up: Paul Gilbert, Pat Torpey, Billy Sheehan, Eric Martin.
Background information
OriginLos Angeles, California
GenresRock
Hard rock
Glam metal
Years active1988–2002
2009–present
LabelsWarner, Atlantic, Frontiers
MembersEric Martin
Pat Torpey
Billy Sheehan
Paul Gilbert
Past membersRichie Kotzen
Websitewww.mrbigsite.com

Mr. Big is an American rock supergroup, formed in Los Angeles, California 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 Gilbert in 1999. The band is noted especially for their musicianship, and scored a number of hits.[1] Their songs were often marked by strong vocals and vocal harmonies. Their hits include "To Be with You" (a number one single in 15 countries in 1991) and "Green-Tinted Sixties Mind."

Mr. Big have remained active and popular for over two decades, despite internal conflicts and changing music trends. They broke up in 2002, but after requests from fans reunited in 2009; their first tour was in Japan, in June 2009.[2] The band released What If..., their first album in 10 years, in January 2011.

History

Formation (1988–1989)

After bass player Billy Sheehan left David Lee Roth in 1988,[3] he began piecing together a new band with the help of Mike Varney from Shrapnel Records, a label specialized in the shredding genre. He recruited Eric Martin, of the rock-oriented Eric Martin Band and also soul-leaning solo artist, and soon thereafter added guitarist Gilbert and drummer Torpey. Gilbert was already a well-respected guitarist who had released two albums with his Los Angeles-based band Racer X. Torpey came to California from Arizona, and toured with a number of high-profile artists, most notably Robert Plant.[4]

Breakthrough (1989–1997)

The newly formed band hired Herbie Herbert, the former manager of Journey, Europe, and Santana, to be their manager. By 1989, they signed with Atlantic Records and released their self-titled debut the same year. The record did not gain the band a mainstream rock audience stateside, but was a success in Japan.[citation needed] In June 1990, the group toured in America opening for Rush. In August 1990, two songs, "Strike Like Lightning" and "Shadows", performed by Mr. Big were exclusively released on the soundtrack album of the action film Navy SEALs.[5]

Mr. Big's second album, 1991's Lean Into It, was a major commercial breakthrough, especially two ballads, "To Be with You" (number one song in fifteen countries) and "Just Take My Heart", as well as the song "Green-Tinted Sixties Mind". They toured the UK in April and May 1991 and again in 1992, releasing a live album, Mr. Big Live, in 1992. For three nights, they opened for Aerosmith at London's Wembley Arena.

In 1993, another ballad, a cover of Cat Stevens' "Wild World", (from their third album, Bump Ahead) peaked at #27 on the Billboard Hot 100.[6] Although it is said that the band also contributed the soundtrack to the Sega Mega CD release of The Amazing Spider-Man vs. The Kingpin, the songs actually featured Eric Martin with musicians hired by Sega.

They released Hey Man in 1996. The song "Take Cover" was included on the soundtrack to the cartoon series Mega Man.

Although the band never replicated its earlier success in the US market, their popularity continued to soar in Japan; they also gained a stabler following in newer Southeast Asian markets such as Thailand and South Korea.[citation needed] In Japan and in the rest of Asia, on the other hand, they continued to sell out tours, resulting in a number of live releases for the Japanese market.

Live At Budokan was one of those live release intended for the Japanese market only. By the time that album appeared the group had been put on ice as the individual band members became more engrossed in other projects; the band temporarily broke up in 1997.

Gilbert's departure and new line-up (1997–2002)

Gilbert left the band in 1997, and eventually reformed Racer X. Richie Kotzen, another Shrapnel artist and former guitarist for Poison, was brought in as a guitar player. Two studio albums were released by this lineup: Get Over It in 2000, and Actual Size in 2001. Get Over It was released on September 1999, in Japan, and yielded "Superfantastic," a multi-platinum number one hit in Japan. Mr. Big performed a twenty-date tour of Japan followed by a New Year's Eve 1999 show with Aerosmith at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo. Get Over It was released in the US in March 2000, followed by a short club stint at "Roxy", California.

Several music videos for songs on Get Over It were recorded (for Electrified and Superfantastic), however the director claimed rights to the music videos and the videos were never released.

In 2001, Mr. Big released Actual Size in Asia. The CD sat on the charts in the number three spot and "Shine", the first single, was number one. The song was also used as the ending theme for the animation series Hellsing.

However, tension had developed between Billy Sheehan and the other members when Billy began touring with Steve Vai. Eric Martin, Richie Kotzen, and Pat decided to write songs without Billy, and Billy was only given credit for two songs on Actual Size. Eric Martin and the others were also upset for Billy Sheehan's attitude during the recording of the Shine music video. This was when Eric Martin and the others decided the only way to keep moving forward was to fire Billy Sheehan. After firing Sheehan, Mr. Big's tour manager was furious since Billy Sheehan's name would sell tickets. The tour manager reacted by pulling the plug on the tour, forcing Eric Martin and the others to ask Billy Sheehan if he would like to rejoin the band. Sheehan agreed to rejoin the band, however only for the farewell tour.

Due to all this, Mr. Big broke up in 2002 after a farewell tour.

Reunion and What If... (2009–present)

A near Mr. Big "one-off" reunion took place on May 13, 2008, in Los Angeles at the House Of Blues when Paul Gilbert was joined on stage by Pat Torpey, Richie Kotzen and Billy Sheehan for renditions of Humble Pie's '30 Days In The Hole' and original Mr. Big composition 'Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy'. Reportedly, the three had such an amazing time that they decided to contact Eric Martin a few days later, and a reunion of the four original members (Paul, Eric, Pat, and Billy) was put into motion.[7]

On February 1, 2009, a radio announcement for "Koh Sakai’s Burrn Presents: Heavy Metal Syndicate" contained a short message from Mr. Big, announcing the reunion of the original Mr. Big line-up to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of their début album. A press conference in Japan in February generated much excitement,[8] and a tour of the country starting in June was announced, with shows in ten locations (including the Budokan). They held their first reunion concert outside Japan at Rock Cafe in Tallinn, Estonia on September 2009 continuing their tour.[9]

Warner Music Japan released remastered copies of their four studio albums, as well as a greatest hits CD and DVD. There are two bonus studio songs on the album, new track "Next Time Around", and a cover of Argent's "Hold Your Head Up".

Mr. Big toured India in October 2009 as part of the Reunion Tour, playing to huge crowds at Bangalore and Shillong.

In September 2010, Mr. Big recorded a seventh album with producer Kevin Shirley at a Los Angeles-area studio.[10] The album was released in Japan on Dec. 15th, 2010, in Europe on Jan. 21st, 2011 and in the USA in Feb. 2011, What If... is their first album of new material in nearly 10 years.[11] The band will also be touring in support of the album.[12] The tour to support the album kicked off at The House of Blues, in Hollywood, CA on April 2, 2011. The band will also be appearing at Download festival in June 2011.

On May 10, 2011, after almost two decades, Mr. Big stepped on-stage at the Araneta Coliseum in Manila, Philippines. The band performed most of the songs from "Lean Into It", with the crowd singing along. The band also introduced a couple of new songs from "What If". A standing ovation after the performance was hailed by screaming Filipinos fans "We want more" resulting to two more encores.

Band members

Former member

Discography

Studio albums

Year Album details Peak chart positions
US
[13] 		JP
[14] 		UK
[15][16] 		Certifications
1989 Mr. Big 46 22 60 Gold (JP)
1991 Lean Into It 15 6 28 Platinum (US, JP)
1993 Bump Ahead 82 4 61 Platinum (JP)
1996 Hey Man - 1 - Gold (JP)
2000 Get Over It - 5 - Gold (JP)
2001 Actual Size - 5 - -
2010 What If... - 7 117 -
"—" denotes albums that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Live albums

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[15])
  • "To Be with You" (1991) (The Billboard Hot 100 #1 (3 weeks), Mainstream Rock Tracks #19, Adult Contemporary #11, UK #3[15])
  • "Just Take My Heart" (1992) (The Billboard Hot 100 #16, Mainstream Rock Tracks #18, Japan Oricon Single Chart #68, UK #26[15])
  • "Wild World" (1993) (The Billboard Hot 100 #27, Mainstream Rock Tracks #33, Top 40 Mainstream #12, Japan Oricon Single Chart #40, UK #59[15])
  • "Ain't Seen Love Like That" (1994) (The Billboard Hot 100 #83)
  • "Take Cover" (1996) (Japan Oricon Single Chart #1, was featured in the TV series Mega Man)
  • "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, ending for Hellsing anime OVA)
  • "Arrow" (2001) (Japan Oricon Single Chart #42)
  • "Undertow" (2010)
  • "All The Way Up" (2011)

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)
  • Next Time Around (2009) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #10)

References

  1. ^ Prato, Greg. "Mr. Big Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-08-21. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  2. ^ ""Paul Explains the Reunion" Musicradar Interview with Paul Gilbert, April 2009". Musicradar.com. 2009-04-02. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  3. ^ "Big Music Geek Interview with Billy Sheehan, April 2009". Bigmusicgeek.com. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  4. ^ "Sing356 Biography of Mr. Big". Sing365.com. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  5. ^ "the Soundtrack INFO project (movie soundtracks)". Soundtrackinfo.com. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  6. ^ "Mr. Big". AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  7. ^ Eric Martin at Myspace.com
  8. ^ "Dim Lights Thick Smoke Promotions Interview with Pat Torpey". Dltsp.com. 2009-05-01. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  9. ^ "Mr. Big back for good? – Channel NewsAsia". Channelnewsasia.com. 2009-10-09. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  10. ^ "MR. BIG Begins Recording New Album – Sep. 24, 2010". Roadrunnerrecords.com. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  11. ^ "MR. BIG: New Album Details Revealed – Nov. 17, 2010". Roadrunnerrecords.com. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  12. ^ "Home". Eric martin. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  13. ^ Billboard 200 Album Charts. Billboard Magazine. Accessed July 8, 2011.
  14. ^ Oricon Album Charts for Mr. Big. Oricon. Accessed July 8, 2011.
  15. ^ a b c d e Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 371. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  16. ^ "Chart Log UK: New Entries Update 5.02.2011 (wk4)". Retrieved 2011-08-09.
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