Mr. Big

  • United States
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  • Metal
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  • 1988
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About Mr. Big


Mr. Big were one of the few "shredder" pop metal bands (translation: the bandmembers were highly proficient at their instruments) that prized songcraft as highly as virtuosity. The seeds for the group's formation were sown when bass player extraordinaire Billy Sheehan, often called "the Eddie Van Halen of bass," left David Lee Roth's solo band in 1988. Shortly thereafter, he began piecing together a new outfit comprised of former Racer X guitarist Paul Gilbert, drummer Pat Torpey, and singer Eric Martin, the latter of whom had issued a pair of obscure solo releases in the mid-'80s. By 1989, the newly formed quartet had already inked a recording contract with Atlantic, resulting in the release of a self-titled debut the same year. Despite finding a warm reception among musicians, the album failed to cross over to a mainstream rock audience in America; however, Mr. Big was an immediate success overseas in Japan.

The quartet broadened its horizons on its sophomore effort, 1991's Lean into It, which included the melodic psychedelic rocker "Green Tinted Sixties Mind" as well as a pair of ballads that would become sizable singles: the number one smash "To Be with You" and the Top 20 hit "Just Take My Heart." Despite issuing further releases like 1993's Bump Ahead and 1996's Hey Man, Mr. Big were unable to sustain such commercial success at home, although the group's popularity continued to soar in Japan (resulting in countless sold-out tours and such Japan-only live albums as Raw Like Sushi, Raw Like Sushi 2, Japandemonium, Mr. Big in Japan, etc.). Gilbert split from the group in the late '90s to pursue a solo career and was replaced by former Poison guitarist Richie Kotzen. The new lineup issued a pair of studio recordings, Get Over It and Actual Size, before launching a "farewell tour" in Japan, which culminated in their amicable breakup in 2002.

In early 2009, with the 20th anniversary of Mr. Big's debut on the horizon, the original lineup appeared on Japanese radio to announce that the group would be reuniting. A reunion tour was launched later that year, resulting in the release of 2009's double-disc concert album Back to Budokan, and the band headed home in September 2010 to record a new studio album in Los Angeles. The resulting What If was released three months later in Japan, followed by an American release in early 2011. ~ Greg Prato, Rovi

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Music

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  • Wind Me Up
    mr-big
    Video
    Wind Me Up
  • To Be With You
    mr-big
    Video
    To Be With You
  • Wild World
    mr-big
    Video
    Wild World
  • 5224
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    • To Be With You
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/0/6/5/1/9/178391560.mp3
    • Green-Tinted Sixties Mind
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/3/7/5/1/9/178391573.mp3
    • Just Take My Heart
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/9/4/5/1/9/178391549.mp3
    • To Be With You
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/4/1/5/5/6/172365514.mp3
    • Wild world
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/3/5/1/5/3/172435153.mp3
    • To Be With You
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g2/7/5/9/9/8/913389957.mp3

Photos

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  • Mr. Big

News

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  • Mr. Big
    'Arrow': 5 Villains We Want To See In Season 2
    Splash Page
    May 22, 2013
    by Brett White With " Arrow " executive producer Marc Guggenheim promising to double up the evil in the show's second season, fan speculation is...
    Read More
  • Mr. Big
    Whatever Happened To 'Fantastic Four's' Cousin Bones?
    MTV Geek
    May 21, 2013
    Let’s say you’re part of a team of superheroes. Sounds like a sweet gig, right? Well, it’s not always about saving the world, though, and there can be...
    Read More
  • Mr. Big
    Happy Birthday, Biggie: 3 Ways the Rapper Spread Love (It’s The Brooklyn Way)
    MTV Act
    May 21, 2013
    In high school, there was always that one person you were in love with who didn't love you back, that one teacher who made you believe the sky’s the l...
    Read More
  • Mr. Big
    Our 10 Favorite Things At The 2013 Billboard Music Awards!
    MTV Buzzworthy
    May 20, 2013
    Selena Gomez performs "Come & Get It" at the 2013 Billboard Music Awards. Award shows are kind of like high school -- watching from home is like be...
    Read More
  • Mr. Big
    Get Hyped With Team Bayside High's 'Festival Booster' Mix
    MTV Hive
    May 17, 2013
    Together Chicago natives Derek Berry and Rick Carrico are the DJ and production duo Team Bayside High. The pair originally began collaborating on Reh...
    Read More
  • Mr. Big
    How Far Will 'Star Trek Into Darkness' Boldly Go At Box Office?
    MTV News
    May 17, 2013
    'Star Trek' is expected to kick 'Iron Man 3' from its #1 spot, but just how big will it be?
    Read More

Discography

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  • What If... (2010)
    Mr. Big
    What If... (2010)
    Frontiers Records
  • Back to Budokan (2009)
    Mr. Big
    Back to Budokan (2009)
    Frontiers Records
  • Budokan: Reunion Tour 2009 (2009)
    Mr. Big
    Budokan: Reunion Tour 2009 (2009)
    Victor Records
  • In Japan (2002)
    Mr. Big
    In Japan (2002)
    EastWest
  • Actual Size (2001)
    Mr. Big
    Actual Size (2001)
    Atlantic
  • Get Over It (2000)
    Mr. Big
    Get Over It (2000)
    Atlantic
  • Static (1999)
    Mr. Big
    Static (1999)
    WEA
  • Live at the Hard Rock Cafe (1998)
    Mr. Big
    Live at the Hard Rock Cafe (1998)
    WEA
  • Hey Man (1996)
    Mr. Big
    Hey Man (1996)
    Atlantic
  • Japandemonium (1994)
    Mr. Big
    Japandemonium (1994)
    Wounded Bird
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