Home · Artists · Mr. Big

Los Angeles, United States · 1988 — present

Mr. Big

The sound of Mr. Big was built on a foundation of hard rock with a particularity: the ability to intertwine the power of guitars and punchy bass with rich vocal melodies and harmonies that often slid into ballads. This duality was key to their proposal. The band, formed in 1988 in Los Angeles, brought together musicians with interesting backgrounds. On one hand, there was bassist Billy Sheehan, who had previously worked with David Lee Roth and was known for his technique on the Shrapnel Records label, specializing in virtuoso guitarists. He was joined by vocalist Eric Martin and guitarist Paul Gilbert, as well as drummer Pat Torpey. Their first record deal came in 1989 with Atlantic Records, and although their self-titled debut album didn't resonate much in the United States, it found a very strong reception in Japan.

The turning point in their career came with the album Lean into It, released in 1991. This work not only consolidated their sound but also catapulted the band to international fame thanks to ballads like "To Be with You", which became a global phenomenon, reaching the number one spot on the charts in fifteen countries in 1992. Another standout track from that album was "Just Take My Heart". The band also explored covers of other artists, such as their rendition of Cat Stevens' "Wild World", included in Bump Ahead (1993), which was well-received on the charts. Success in Japan remained constant, documented in several live albums such as Japandemonium: Raw Like Sushi 3 and Live at Budokan.

Hard rock Rock acoustic rock glam metal Pop rock 1980s
1 Albums
11 Songs
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Essential songs

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01

Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy (The Electric Drill Song)

Lean Into It · 1991

3:55 02

Alive and Kickin’

Lean Into It · 1991

5:29 03

Green-Tinted Sixties Mind

Lean Into It · 1991

3:30 04

CDFF-Lucky This Time

Lean Into It · 1991

4:14 05

Voodoo Kiss

Lean Into It · 1991

4:07 06

Never Say Never

Lean Into It · 1991

3:49 07

Just Take My Heart

Lean Into It · 1991

4:25 08

My Kinda Woman

Lean Into It · 1991

4:12 09

A Little Too Loose

Lean Into It · 1991

5:21 10

Road to Ruin

Lean Into It · 1991

3:59

1 album|s · 1991

Full discography

Lean Into It 1991 ★ Essential

Lean Into It

11 song|s · Hard rock

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More about Mr. Big

Biography

Throughout their career, the lineup experienced changes. Paul Gilbert left the band in 1997, being replaced by Richie Kotzen for the albums Get Over It (1999) and Actual Size (2001). After a hiatus in 2002, the band reunited with its original members in 2009, culminating in the release of What If... in 2010. Sadly, drummer Pat Torpey, a founding member, passed away in 2018. Their musical legacy continued with albums like Defying Gravity (2017) and their latest production, Ten, released in 2024, with Nick D'Virgilio on drums. The band took its name from a song by the British group Free, whom they later paid tribute to with a cover on Bump Ahead.

Details

Born
1 Jan 1988
Country
🇺🇸 United States
Genre
Hard rock

Members

backing vocals, founder · 2009–2024
Billy Sheehan
vocals · 2009–2024
Eric Martin
backing vocals, guitar · 2009–2024
Paul Gilbert
backing vocals, bass, founder · 1988–2002
Billy Sheehan
vocals · 1988–2002
Eric Martin
backing vocals, drums, percussion · 1988–2002
Pat Torpey
backing vocals, drums, percussion · 2009–2018
Pat Torpey
backing vocals, guitar · 1989–1997
Paul Gilbert
backing vocals, guitar · 1999–2002
Richie Kotzen
drums · 2023–2024
Nick D’Virgilio

Links

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The full catalog on DoReSol

All songs

11

To Be With You

Lean Into It · 1991

3:28