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Wow, what a tease, Mr. Big announces a return with news of a new drummer following the death of their original drummer Pat Torpey in 2018. They are holding tight to their chest who will be replacing him; the excitement grows as Pat was a very celebrated drummer who complimented Billy Sheehan’s (Bass virtuoso) and Paul Gilbert (Guitar virtuoso) both as a player and singer. The word “virtuoso” isn’t a term used lightly, if you are at all familiar with either of their histories and their mastery of their instruments, you know that is a true statement. A replacement for Pat had to have been a daunting task.
Adding to the intrigue are comments recently release by singer Eric Martin and Billy Sheehan in separate interviews. In a December 22nd Guitar.com interview Eric states referring to the tour: “It’s gonna happen in the middle of 2023. And it’s gonna be multiple dates. We’re working on the US and a possible tour… Paul is involved — obviously, Paul Gilbert, the original guitar player. [Bassist] Billy Sheehan… The spirit of Pat Torpey,”. “And there will be a phenomenal drummer. It won’t be [former Mr. Big drummer] Matt Starr on this thing. Matt’s doing his own thing; I think he’s playing with Ace Frehley now.”
Eric remained tight lipped about the new addition but went on to say: “I will tell you that he sent an audition video. And I watched it,”. “It was Lucky This Time, which is a song that we hardly ever did — mainly me, because it was really hard to sing it. It’s on the Lean Into It album. And what he did was, he thought he’d one-up the audition, so he played drums on it and he sang the lead and the harmonies on everything. And it was phenomenal.”
“I don’t wanna mention the guy’s name until the press release comes out. But the guy really stepped up,” he continued. “And everybody knows him. And then one really, really cool thing is that he was a big fan of Pat Torpey.”
Last November Billy Sheehan in an interview with Conversaciones Necias said: “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.”
The announcement that longtime fill in drummer Matt Starr would not be part of this incarnation was interesting. This raises the intrigue even further because Matt is a great player who not only filled in for Pat starting in 2014 for their tour when Pat became too sick to play, but also performed much of Mr Big’s final album with Pat, that Pat did perform on as much as he could, 2017’s Defying Gravity. Defying Gravity was released on July 7th of 2017 and the sad announcement of Pat’s passing came on February 7th, 2018 a mere 7-months later. Mr. Big’s replacement above anything else has to be the right fit and be able to hit the right vocal range.
Pat Torpey was the original drummer for Mr. Big that at the time of its formation was a dream team of players that excited the music world with just its initial announcement. They formed in 1988 and released their first album titled simply “Mr. Big” which successfully launched their career further enhanced with a series of hit songs. Pat played on all 9 of their studio recordings and countless special release live recordings.
Prior to Mr Big Pat performed with Ben E. King, Mike + The Mechanics, Melissa Manchester, Bob Geldof, Belinda Carlisle, John Parr, and The Knack. It was while on tour with the Knack, Torpey was noticed by Billy Sheehan and Paul Gilbert, who were looking for a drummer for a new band. In an interview Pat says: “I loved playing with The Knack but when Billy approached me, I jumped at the chance.”
On July 25th of 2014 Pat Announced that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and would be unable to perform all of his normal drumming duties on the band’s 2014–15 world tour in support of the album …The Stories We Could Tell.
Pat said of his diagnosis, “I’ve been dealing with Parkinson’s symptoms for the past couple of years and only recently received a confirmed diagnosis as symptoms worsened,” Torpey said. “I intend to fight the disease with the same intensity and tenacity that I drum and live my life by and will continue recording and performing, as always, to the best of my ability.”
Mr. Big’s most recent album, Defying Gravity, Pat acted as a “drum producer” and also played some drums and percussion on a few, on tour he played percussion. His friend Matt Starr had mostly taken over lead drummer duties at that point.
Torpey died from complications of Parkinson’s disease at the age of 64 on February 7, 2018. He was 64.
Pat released two fantastic instruction videos that are still available:
Pat Torpey – Big Drums, you can still get this DVD but you need to search a little.
Rock Groove Drumming that is available through Hudson Music: HERE
This video was previously not available outside of Japan! Pat Torpey, known for his work with super band Mr Big, presents this video full of exercises, tips, interviews and performances Pat covers topics such as walking grooves, linear grooves, paradiddle grooves, songwriting ideas and kick drum technique in this video, all while keeping his friendly, inviting personality in the forefront.
So now were back to the question, who is going to take Pat’s place in the band. Who is well known, someone Pat would like, and can sing in a high range. You have to add a few things to the mix, they have to have the performing chops, they have to be an accomplished player. Two drummers that come to mind are Gregg Bissonette and Matt Sorum. Both were friends of Pat, both are top level players, and would be a natural fit for the band. Due to the number of projects the members of Mr. Big are in, the new drummer must be busy and a quick learner, someone who can prepare and step in….
Gregg Bissonette certainly has the chops and the familiarity of Billy Sheehan. Out of a plethora of drummers that were auditioning for David Lee Roth’s first solo band out of Van Halen, Gregg stood out. Steve Vai (Frank Zappa) was on guitar and Billy Sheehan (Mr. Big) was on bass. To choose the best player they would throw out time signatures and tough phrasing that they expected a drummer to have to do. Gregg was, if not the only, one of the few who quickly wrote the notations on the snare drumhead and played flawlessly. He can also sing in a higher register.
Matt Sorum has played with the Cult, Guns and Roses, Velvet Revolver, and too auditioned for the David Lee Roth band, but didn’t make the cut…that time. Not only a friend of Pat’s, but his approach to playing is also much like Pats, simple yet complex, solid, great meter, and approaches playing the drums as to playing for the song. Although he has a lower register voice it doesn’t mean he could have a falsetto packed away somewhere. He certainly has the performance chops.
These are the first two drummers that comes to mind. Who could he be, he’s known, he’s a he, Pat would like him, and he surprised the band with his vocals. Wow, this will be a fun thing to ponder until we hear the announcement of who he is and when the tour will be.
Never forget the name, the drummer, Pat Torpey!
