Tag: Mr. Big
9 Rob Rockitt’s Top 20 Best Hard Rock & Metal CD’s of 2011
Every year putting together a top 10 list becomes harder and harder. There were so many outstanding releases in 2011, there were far too many to do a top 10 list. Below are my top 20 Hard Rock & Metal Releases of 2011. Agree or disagree? Let us know what you think!
20. The Poodles – Performocracy
Can anyone take a band seriously with the name, The Poodles? Maybe, not, but the band’s latest album Performocracy
is cram packed with excellent hard & melodic rock tunes that you should take notice of.
19. Five Finger Death Punch – American Capitalist
Five Finger Death Punch may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but this heavy metal band has been putting out some of the best
new music from a newer metal band. Their third effort American Capitalist does not disappoint in the least.
18. Anvil – Juggernaut of Justice
Anvil’s Juggernaut of Justice came as somewhat of a surprise to me. I never expect to enjoy an Anvil CD so much, and JOJ is easily
one of Anvil’s best releases yet.
17. Chickenfoot – III
Sammy Hagar & company turned in another outstanding CD with their sophomore effort III. This CD is much better than the band’s debut.
16. Alex Beyrodt’s Voodoo Circle – Broken Heart Syndrome
Sinner/Primal Fear/Voodoo Circle guitarist Alex Beyrodt has released a killer CD with classic influences that include
Whitesnake & Rainbow. Every hard rock fan needs to give Broken Heart Syndrome a listen.
15. King Kobra – S/T
For King Kobra to come in at position 15 tells you just how good the music is in front of it. King Kobra’s reunion
effort, with Paul Shortino on vocals, is easily one of the best in King Kobra’s catalog.
14. Emphatic – Damage
I am not a huge modern rock fan, but every year there are some outstanding releases that deserve attention. Emphatic
simply outdid their Peers (Nickelback, Theory of a Deadman, Pop Evil) with their debut effort Damage.
13. Tora Tora – Revolution Day
It seems like every year a long-lost CD that was buried due to record company politics, finally gets a proper release.
Tora Tora’s third CD Revolution Day was released by FNA Records, and carries on the excellent bluesy hard rock
that Tora Tora is known for.
12. Coldspell – Out From the Cold
Coldspell has already released two outstanding CD’s with Infinite Stargaze & Out From The Cold. I can’t wait to hear
the next set of tunes from Coldspell. Out From The Cold should not be missed.
11. Havok – Time is Up
Havok is one of the new bands leading the Retro-Thrash Metal movement. Time is Up is their second effort and easily their
best. If you are a thrash metal fan, you need to seek out Time is Up now!
10. Michael Monroe – Sensory Overdrive
I have been a Michael Monroe fan forever but I never expected one of his solo CD’s to be THIS good. Sensory Overdrive is easily
the best Michael Monroe CD since 1989’s Not Fakin It.
09. Warrant – Rockaholic
Warrant’s Rockaholic is easily my favorite Warrant CD since the band’s 1992 effort, Dog Eat Dog. The late Jani Lane will always
be missed, but Robert Mason is an outstanding singer, and he may be the best vocalist Warrant has ever had. Rockaholic will
make people take notice of Warrant again.
08. Sixx A.M. – This is Gonna Hurt
With the recent news from the Motley Crue camp as of late, it sounds like a farewell tour may be coming from the band soon. If this
is truly the case, Nikki Sixx can carry on his band Sixx A.M. This is Gonna Hurt took a while to grow on me, but it has become a favorite of mine
over the last few months.
07. Black Country Communion – 2
Out of all of the supergroups, Black Country Communion outdid them all with their second effort 2. 60-year-old Glenn Hughes could (and probably
should) give a clinic to young rockers, on how to rock. He is still getting it done.
06. Anthrax – Worship Music
You would think that Joey Belladonna returning to Antrax would be create a major amount of excitement, and it has. Belladonna’s vocals are
not the high point of Worship Music. This is easily Anthrax’s best CD from a musical standpoint, and the best thrash metal CD of 2011.
05. Whitesnake – Forevermore
If Doug Aldrich & Reb Beach keep helping David Coverdale put out CD’s like Good To Be Band and Forevermore, folks may forget about the
band’s monster hits from the 80’s. Forevermore is another outstanding effort from the Whitesnake camp.
04. Mr. Big – What If…
Mr. Big’s reunion CD What If is the band’s best CD since 1993’s Bump Ahead. You SHOULD NOT miss What If…!
03. Alice Cooper – Welcome 2 My Nightmare
Alice Cooper’s reunion with producer Bob Ezrin was a very good one. Welcome 2 My Nightmare is an outstanding sequel that should not be missed.
02. Vain – Enough Rope
I can not say enough good things about Vain’s latest CD, Enough Rope.If you liked Vain’s debut, No Regrets, you need to seek out the band’s latest
effort Enough Rope. It is quality all the way through, and easily to my ears one of 2011’s best.
01. Electric Boys – And Them Boys Done Swang
I never would have thought The Electric Boys could have outdone their debut, but with And Them Boys Done Swang, they have done just that.
Sure, some of the lyrics are somewhat cheesy, but the band has every bit of the Funk that was found in their debut.
The Japanese edition has some excellent bonus tracks which pushes this one over the top.
Honorable Mentions:
Rival Sons – Pressure & Time
Black Stone Cherry – Between the Devil & The Deep Blue Sea
Megadeth – Th1rt3en
Badmouth – Heavy Metal Parking Lot
Motorhead – The World is Yours
Riot – Immortal Soul
House of Lords – Big Money
The Answer – Revival
Pop Evil – War of Angels
Beggars & Thieves – We Are The Broken Hearted
George Lynch – Kill All Control
Michael Schenker – Temple of Rock
Want more Top 10 lists? You can find them at the following websites:
All Metal Resource — http://allmetalresource.com/
Bring Back Glam — http://bringbackglam.squarespace.com/
The Crash Pad of Ray Van Horn, Jr. – http://www.rayvanhornjr2.blogspot.com/
Hair Metal Mansion — http://hairbangersradio.ning.com/
Hard Rock Nights — http://hardrocknights.com
Heavy Metal Addiction — http://heavymetaladdiction.com/
Heavy Metal Time Machine — http://metalmark.blogspot.com/
Imagine Echoes — http://www.imagineechoes.com/
Layla’s Classic Rock — http://laylasclassicrock.blogspot.com/
Metal Excess — http://metalexcess.com/
Metal Odyssey — http://metalodyssey.wordpress.com/
The Ripple Effect — http://www.ripplemusic.blogspot.com/
1 Stone’s Top Ten Hard Rock Albums of 2011
Top Ten Hard Rock Albums Of 2011 – I have listened to many Hard Rock albums released during 2011. There seems to be quite a few Hard Rock albums that are of standout quality, this past year for me. With that said, my “Top Ten Hard Rock Albums Of 2011” simply cannot represent the totality of Hard Rockin’ thrills I’ve experienced with my ears these past 12 months.
What my Top Ten list does represent are the Hard Rock albums I turned to most often to play… and play LOUD! I lean towards the “complete” album of songs, an album that goes further than just 4 or 5 great tracks. I gravitate towards the Hard Rock albums that psyched-me-out and made me feel very damn good inside. These are the Hard Rock albums that made a difference to me. A personal list it is and hopefully there are a few here you may agree with. Thank you for visiting Hard Rock Hideout in 2011 and supporting Rock ‘N Roll! Happy Holidays, Rock Steady and Happy New Year to all!
#10
IRON CLAW – A DIFFERENT GAME
(Ripple Music)
#9
REV THEORY – JUSTICE
(Interscope)
#8
KING KOBRA – S/T
(Frontiers Records)
#7
FAITHSEDGE – S/T
(Scarlet Records)
#6
BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION – 2
(J&R Adventures)
#5
WARRANT – ROCKAHOLIC
(Frontiers Records)
#4
9 CHAMBERS – S/T
(Samson Records / eOne Music)
#3
JOURNEY – ECLIPSE
(NOMOTA LLC)
#2 (TIE)
SEBASTIAN BACH – KICKING & SCREAMING
(Frontiers Records)
#2 (TIE)
SEETHER – HOLDING ONTO STRINGS BETTER LEFT TO FRAY
(Wind-Up)
#1
MR. BIG – WHAT IF…
(Frontiers Records)
Stone.
0 Ryo Vie’s Top 10 Best Hard Rock Albums Of 2011
This week at Hard Rock Hideout, we have our Best of 2011 picks by HRH Staff Writers Ryo Vie, Stone and Rob Rockitt. Check out Ryo Vie’s Top 10 Best Hard Rock Albums of 2011 below!
Another year has passed us by, which means we’ve gone through another year of some great music releases. While I still think that 2010 was a stronger year overall, 2011 did have its share of fantastic releases and magnificent surprises. From an unexpected release by Vain to a mind blowing album from Megadeth, 2011 delivered some real gems. Here now are my picks for the ten best of 2011.
10. Hurtsmile – Hurtsmile
Early in the year, Gary Cherone and his brother Mark released the debut album from their newly formed band, Hurtsmile. The result was spectacular. Taking the funked up, jazz infused hard rock sound of Extreme, and blending it with snippets of modern era music made for an incredible experience. Hurtsmile is unto a class themselves. The disc combined elements of Extreme, Gary’s days in Van Halen, and his more recent solo albums, and combined all the ingredients into an identity that was unique and fun. Hard rocking and filled with gems, Hurtsmile is an album that Gary Cherone fans are bound to love.
9. Foo Fighters – Wasting Light
I’m almost positive that it was the last song, “Walk,” that hooked me on the new Foo Fighters record. I’ve never been a huge fan of the band. I’ve enjoyed their music over the years, and the heavier singles, but I would never call myself a “fan.” However, when the movie THOR came out this past spring, it featured the song “Walk” from Wasting Light. As a huge fan of the movie Thor this song resonated with me the first time I heard it. It was the perfect song for the ending sequence. Sometimes songs can leave lasting images in the brain when associated with something that produced great feelings. That song compelled me to check out their latest record. I must admit that I am very glad I did. Wasting Light is chock full of enjoyable gems, hard rockers, and even a ballad or two. The Foo Fighters may be a band that I have to pay more attention to in 2012.
8. Vain – Enough Rope
Once, they were close to being the next darlings of hair metal. Unfortunately, bad timing cost them their chance at superstardom. Now, many years later, Vain has returned with a disc full of spectacular new songs that shows why they could have conquered the metal world more than 20 years ago. Enough Rope is a magnificent album that fans of hard rocking hair metal are going to love. Being able to hear such great guitar licks and the amazing vocals of Davy Vain after all the time that has passed is a real treat. It’s sad that Vain was a victim of bad timing. If you love 80s metal, or any metal, you should definitely pick up a copy of Vain’s Enough Rope. It is one of the greatest records released this year.
7. Bullet – Highway Pirates
Swedish metal act, Bullet, released their sophomore effort, Highway Pirates, this year to the delight of many hard rock fans. Highway Pirates is hard rocking, head banging, guitar shredding, heavy metal mayhem at its finest. The one thing I’ve always liked most about Bullet is lead singer’s Dag Hofer’s voice. He has power and range and can really unleash a metal scream as he does often on Highway Pirates. Packed with exceptional guitar solos and all the metal madness you can handle, Highway Pirates was a phenomenal album and certainly one of 2011’s best.
6. Mr. Big – What If…
One of the best hard rock treats of 2011 was a fully reunited Mr. Big releasing an album of brand new material. The last time the four original members of Mr. Big recorded a new record was in 1996. It was quite a wait for fans to hear new music from this astonishing quartet. Thankfully, 2011 finally saw the wait come to an end, and Mr. Big delivered a rock solid record in What If… From the funk/slap/sensational bass antics of Billy Sheehan to the incredible vocals of Eric Martin, this disc really had it all. Why the album would have sold on nostalgia alone, it was the band’s commitment to deliver something worthy of the Mr. Big moniker that pushed it over the top. You’d be hard pressed to find another record that is so much fun to listen to.
5. Sebastian Bach – Kicking And Screaming
With a brilliant young axe wizard in the mix, Sebastian Bach released a solo album worthy of your hard earned dollars. Before hearing this record, I had no expectations of what it would be. I thought that it might be a decent record, but I didn’t have high hopes. The past couple of years Bach has not shown much, so I figured his new album would be watered down rock. Boy was I wrong! Wrong in a HUGE way! Kicking and Screaming is one of the most superb albums of 2011. Not only does young guitar wizard, Nick Sterling, light up the songs with his astounding fret work, but Bach’s voice has never sounded stronger. Kicking and Screaming is a collection of greatness that blew me away. This is truly Sebastian Bach at his best.
4. Whitesnake – Forevermore
Even after rocking the world for over 30 years, David Coverdale can still put together music with meaning that fans will care about. This year’s Forevermore was a treat for the ears that was highly unexpected. Sure, I figured that Whitesnake was going to release a solid album in Forevermore, I just didn’t realize how amazing it was going to be. From the moment I played the record for the first time this past March, I knew this was going to be included on my top 10 albums of the year. The beauty of Forevermore is how the songs hit the listener immediately and with such definition. It’s like the band never went away.
3. Megadeth – Th1rte3n
Megadeth unleashed an absolutely astounding album earlier this year in the form of Th1rte3n. A whirlwind of fun, heavy metal, thunderous tunes, Dave Mustaine and company have put together a truly grand record that shines as bright as albums from the bands early days. Th1rte3n is one of Megadeth’s strongest albums to date and serves as a reminder to all metal fans what great hard rock sounds like. The glory of the album is the return of the guitar solo. While other bands are forgetting what guitar solos are and how they make a song grow into something much stronger, Megadeth is taking solos to the next level. The blazing speed and intensity of the guitars is featured mightily on this record and it’s all for the better. Simply stated, Th1rte3n is metal done right.
2. Anthrax – Worship Music
Prior to the release of Worship Music, Anthrax claimed that this was the best album the band had ever recorded. While that was a bold statement, after listening to the album just once, I realized that they may be right. After multiple listens, I am sure of it. Worship Music is not only an incredible Anthrax record it is an incredible rock record. It’s been 20 years since the band recorded with Joey Belladonna and after hearing Worship Music all I could think was “what the hell took them so long?” It’s not that Anthrax released bad albums with their other singers, it’s just that they never released an album this great. From the intense, heart pounding, hard rocking “The Devil You Know” to the Maiden-esque “In The End,” Anthrax has served up a serious record. There are very few metal records that could even come close to being this grand. Not just for 2011, but for all time. If Anthrax continues to create music in this capacity, they will spend the next 20 years of their career celebrating with a lot of gold and platinum.
1. Pop Evil – War of Angels
Between magnificent power ballads, hard rocking openers, and good old fashioned fun rock and roll, Pop Evil’s War of Angels is a record that should be added to any hard rock fans collection. I have waxed poetic about this band for a while now, and their latest release only proves that I should continue to sing the band’s high praises. Yes, perhaps I have a man-crush on lead singer Leigh Kakaty, but that’s all right. Beyond my envy, the man is a talented singer and a hell of a front man. Packed with memorable ballads such as “Purple” and “”Open Your Eyes,” in addition to hard core rockers like “Last Man Standing,” War of Angels contains nothing but songs you will be singing for years to come. Give them a few more years, and Pop Evil will be the darlings of hard rock radio. They are a cut above most of the new breed of rockers that are out there. Nickleback, Theory, even Hinder, can’t hold a candle to what Pop Evil is doing. War of Angels is the best rock record I’ve heard this year… the others don’t even come close.
And there they are…my choices for the best in rock, 2011.
Honorable Mentions
Nelson – Lightning Strikes Twice
Sinner – One Bullet Left
1 Mr. Big “Live From The Living Room” Coming in February; Audio Samples Available!
Frontiers Records is pleased to announce the release of MR BIG’s new acoustic Live Album « Live from the Living Room » on February 24th 2012 in Europe and February 28th in North America.
At the end of January 2011, during a week long promotion trip to promote for their latest reunion album “What If” and tour, MR BIG were invited to the WOWOW TV Studios in Tokyo to perform a special show in an intimate setting.
When the talk of a broadcast first came up, the band wanted to present something different than they’ve ever done before. Thus the idea of an acoustic show came about and a string quintet was brought in to enhance the project even more, with arrangements provided by Takashi Miyazaki. Although Paul Gilbert and Billy Sheehan hooked up electric on a few songs, the show was still very much acoustic in nature throughout. Pat Torpey played various acoustic percussion instruments during the gig.
In Eric Martin’s words “The idea for the show came out of a quick conversation the 4 of us had after a day of interviews promoting the new “What if” CD. We did an acoustic show at the Hard Rock café in Singapore in 1996 that (till this day) is one of my favorite live recordings. It had a stripped down, up close and personal feel to it. If we were going to do something like that again it would have to be extra special. We were talking about the old days when musicians used to live together in a band house and practice day & night. Our favorite rock band posters and tapestry’s adorning the walls, family hand me down furniture, amps that doubled as lamp stands, friends hanging out and the usual cluttered mess on the floor, lyric sheets, guitar cases and chords, music stands, beer cans, Pizza boxes, wine bottles etc. “Live from the living room” was born out of that. We wanted to recreate a harmonious atmosphere and treat our fans to an informal jam session of songs from the past and present while throwing in a few surprises from our wish lists (Strings, Japanese taiko drums).
# Mr. Big Fun fact – it was recorded live in front of a small but intimate audience at Tokyo studios where great movies like Seven Samurai, Godzilla and hundreds of other legendary Japanese films were made.”
The result from that magic night in Tokyo is now here: 10 Mr Big classics in a completely new and fresh dress and a portrait from the very first ever acoustic show from the band.
MR BIG’s latest album “What If” saw the band come back in the original line-up featuring singer Eric Martin, guitarist Paul Gilbert, Billy Sheehan on bass and Pat Torpey on drums. The album charted in several European countries in the week of release and went gold in Japan.
“Live from the Living Room”will be exclusively released in a glossy digipak and will include the following songs: Undertow; Still Ain’t Enough For Me; As Far As I Can See; Voodoo Kiss; Take Cover; Around The World; Stranger In My Life; All The Way Up; To Be With You; Nobody Left To Blame.
It is now possible to listen the first single “Undertow” on the Frontiers Records Webradio. Tune in at www.frontiers.it/webradio
Weblinks: www.mrbigsite.com / www.frontiers.it
2 BILLY SHEEHAN of MR. BIG – The Hard Rock Hideout Interview!
BILLY SHEEHAN – Since those loud, bright and colorful Arena Rock days of the late 1980’s, I equate Billy Sheehan to bass playing excellence. From his early 80’s days with Talas, to stalking the stage alongside Steve Vai for David Lee Roth’s momentous tours, in some of the world’s most prolific venues, Billy Sheehan has wowed his fans and peers. After decades of honing his signature bass sound, Billy has earned the respect and accolades that so very often are spilled upon him in the press and behind closed doors.
The standouts are stacked high within the legendary music career of Billy Sheehan and Mr. Big is a huge exclamation point in what Billy has achieved as a musician. Mr. Big defines what great Hard Rock can sound like, when Pop song structures are played heavy, resulting in a unique accessibility that stretches from mainstream to Metal. Billy Sheehan and his band are old school, yet Mr. Big and their comeback album “What If…” (released on Frontiers Records this past winter of 2011), have ignited a new-found fire within their original lineup, which also boasts: Eric Martin (vocals), Paul Gilbert (guitar) and Pat Torpey (drums).
Make no mistake, “What If…” may very likely be the best Mr. Big album ever and Billy Sheehan couldn’t be happier. Honestly, a feel-good story like this couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy like Billy Sheehan and exemplary Hard Rock band like Mr. Big. Ten years have passed since the last Mr. Big studio album and after one thorough listen to “What If…” I never could tell. Billy Sheehan took the time from his busy touring schedule recently, to talk to Hard Rock Hideout about Mr. Big’s reunion, their comeback album, their fans and of course, David Lee Roth. Here is what Billy Sheehan had to say:
HRH: How amazing the new album sounds! Eric, Paul, Pat and yourself sound like you’re all at the top of your game on “What If…”. How close were you guys during the off years?
BILLY: Pat, Paul and I live in L.A., so we saw each other a lot and we all rehearse at the same place. Eric is in San Francisco and we always send messages to each other. We never thought the band would be together again.
HRH: What moment sparked the band into creating a new studio album?
BILLY: We were always asked by everybody when is Mr. Big gonna play again? So really it’s the fans that are responsible for Mr. Big getting back together, making a new album and touring. We had done a reunion tour back in 2009. It was a great time and run for us. We had a conference call with our manager and he posed the question, do you want to do a record? We all agreed to do a new record, only like our early records where everybody contributes. While making this record, we were all hanging out and enjoying our time with each other. We got lucky! Honestly, this is the best reviewed record I’ve ever played on! You never know what is going to happen when you make a new record.
HRH: I’ll agree with being a best reviewed record! Hard Rock Hideout considers “What If…” to be one of the best Hard Rock albums of 2011.
BILLY: Well thank you! I appreciate that! We were pleasantly surprised!
HRH: Were you ever concerned about how the new album would be received by the media and the fans?
BILLY: It was not so much concern, we just didn’t know! With all the rehearsing, recording, mixing, mastering and other work that goes into making the album… we do the best we can. We are all Hard Rock fans ourselves, so we know what we expect from our favorite bands. We try to incorporate what we do as fans, we know what we like, we know what we think sounds cool and try to put it into our music. There is a disconnect between what the artist likes and what the fans accept and expect as well. That can’t be denied.
HRH: How big of an asset is Kevin Shirley in the studio?
BILLY: Kevin was a big asset! He insisted on a certain way we would play it and sing it “live”. Kevin told us in a nice way but a stern way, he said c’mon, let’s see it! Bring it! This was pressure we didn’t expect! Our song “All Around The World, we played it like hundreds of times! We arrived at the studio super early in the morning. It wasn’t easy being under that kind of pressure. This was pressure we didn’t expect! We had to kick ass and hit it hard! Still, it is a good thing to be under pressure. There’s no room for a blunder doing it live! Kevin had us make a record like The Beatles did in the old days, a bunch of takes being played live. We do a bunch of takes and just get it right.
HRH: While “What If…” was being written, how democratic was the band?
BILLY: Very, very democratic. Very much like the original records were written. It just makes more sense to listen to what each other has to offer. We all threw ideas around. We’re selfless and use the other guys idea if yours isn’t working. We wrote one hundred and twenty-eight pieces of music, while writing this new album. There was a lot of versatility and cool changes from all the pieces that were written. We had a lot to choose from.
HRH: With all the pieces of music written for “What If…”, will there be a couple more albums from Mr. Big in the future?
BILLY: Back in the day it was tour, do a record, tour and do another record. There is no MTV now, so records take longer to sink in these days. Maybe we’ll tour for another year and next Summer we’ll do festivals. It’s hard to predict what we’ll do in the future. We’re just enjoying what is happening now.
HRH: How has the current tour of the States been?
BILLY: It’s been a blast! The tour has been easy and really cool. We started in Southern California, then went north, then went back west and down to San Diego. We have packed houses everywhere we play right now. We’re hitting it hard everywhere we go to play. It’s been great business for us, especially when bands are suffering on the road at the present time. After all these years, the Mr. Big records are still being played and people want to see us. There’s a lot of people who are happy to see us. After the shows, I hang out with the fans and sign photos, shake hands and we share our time.
HRH: After all these years, how important has Japan been to the success of Mr. Big?
BILLY: Very important. We sold more records in the U.S. and Europe than we did in Japan. Many people think that it’s easy to go there (Japan) because we are Americans. I feel people are fixated on the mythological aspect of Japan due to Spinal Tap! (laughs).
HRH: (laughs)
BILLY: Japan is a very different marketplace, as is Taiwan and Korea where we have many fans. I get more fan mail from Indonesia than anywhere else in the world! We hit it hard in Japan. A lot of bands toured there (Japan) and never got asked back again! We love Japan and are very grateful to the fans there for their support over the years. We hit it hard in Japan like everywhere else we go. We didn’t change our method of operation the way we approached Japan. We shook hands, signed photos and took the time to meet the fans.
HRH: Is Eric Martin an underrated vocalist of Hard Rock?
BILLY: I guess he may be underrated by some and other moments very celebrated by many. The first time I heard Eric sing, I said that is exactly what I want! That is the voice I’m looking for! Eric has that smokey tonality about him, he is from the Paul Rodgers mold.
HRH: What other instrument can you play that the typical fan wouldn’t know about?
BILLY: The sax. I do know where to put my fingers and I will play the sax, even if it sounds terrible! (laughs) So I do try the sax.
HRH: Will you ever consider reissuing any of the Talas titles?
BILLY: There was a couple that Metal Blade Records reissued in the past. I have a zillion demos and unreleased tracks, plus live bootlegs. I would love to sell them on the net or as a super cheap download. I have many early demos and tracks of Mr. Big. I have David Lee Roth “Eat ‘Em And Smile” and “Skyscraper” demos, minus the vocals. Of course there would be some legal issues to sort out with Dave on these. I have tons of live videos that no one has ever seen before too. I would love to release some of those some day. These videos are all professionally done.
HRH: Can you reveal the funniest or craziest moment you experienced while touring with David Lee Roth?
BILLY: The “Dave Tour” was a string of craziest and funniest moments! That was one big and amazing time of my life. That whole part of my life is a book in itself! Dave was and still is my hero. I will always be thankful for Dave giving me that opportunity. Steve (Vai), Gregg (Bissonette) and I like to reunite for Christmas. We once reminisced about it all. We called Dave once when we were together and couldn’t find him! (laughs).
HRH: As you tour with Mr. Big in 2011, does it feel like old times or is there a new-found fire burning?
BILLY: Definitely a new-found fire burning. I believe all of us (in the band) are people enjoying our lives now. When we were younger, there was more pressure on us to succeed. I spend more time now playing and working on my bass, than any other time in my life. It’s the same with Paul and Pat, they would tell you the same thing. We absolutely love what we’re doing right now, we feel very lucky and fortunate. We rolled the dice and it came up sevens!
8 Lynch Mob / Mr. Big – Columbus, Ohio – 8/13/11 – Review
Guitarmaggedon came to the Alrosa Villa Saturday Night. It isn’t very often when you get the chance to see two bands in the same night that have guitarists the caliber of George Lynch, Billy Sheehan and Paul Gilbert. I have been fortunate enough to see both bands earlier this year, but it is this Mr. Big show I will remember best.
A couple of local bands Karma 10, and Dirty Side Down opened this show, and I have to give Kudos to both of those bands. Karma 10 played some originals as well as covers. This was the first show for Karma 10’s new guitarist Richie Baier. Baier was pretty damn good, and showed a lot of chemistry with the band for being his first show.
Dirty Side Down was up next, and they did a stellar job at getting the crowd revved up for Lynch Mob and Mr. Big. Singer Dan Compton looked like a cross between Disburbed’s David Draiman and Rob Halford from Judas Priest. He had a pretty impressive vocal range, and sang quite a few songs that most bands would dare touch, including Queensryche’s “Queen of the Reich”, Iron Maiden’s “Where Eagles Dare” and RATT’s “The Morning After”. I am usually not big on cover bands, but I would go see Dirty Side Down again in a heartbeat. They were really good.
The same can not be said for Lynch Mob unfortunately. It was an off night for Mr. Lynch and company. The last time I saw Lynch Mob back in January, the band had Oni Logan, and “Wild” Mick Brown drumming. It has been well reported that Oni Logan bailed on the tour at the last minute, and former Lynch Mob singer Chaz West rejoined the band on short notice. Chaz West was not the problem this evening. Chaz sounded pretty good for the most part. It seemed that George, and Lynch Mob’s new drummer, Ray? Brown (Mick’s brother) could not get in sync. George had to cut his infamous tune “Mr. Scary” short. He looked pretty frustrated. Before long, the band packed it up and called it a day. They played for 35 – 40 minutes tops. It seems like to me, the band needed to rehearse a couple of times with the new drummer before playing live. This appearance came across as amateurish at best. I was pretty disappointed with their performance overall. This is the only show, that Lynch Mob was playing with Mr. Big, and lucky for them, Mr. Big made EVERYONE forget about Lynch Mob’s set.
Earlier this year, before this tour was announced, Mr. Big made their only U.S. appearance at the M3 Rock Festival. To me, they were one of the best bands at M3, but they were far better at the Alrosa Villa Saturday night. You see, when Mr. Big plays at a big music festival, their set is condensed, and you don’t get a real Mr. Big show. Saturday night, Mr. Big played for over two hours, and played every Mr. Big tune you would want to hear, and a few you wouldn’t expect. They also played a few songs off of their new album What If…. including “American Beauty” and “Undertow” which sounded great live, and was met with a pretty good reception to the sold out crowd. Both Paul Gilbert and Billy Sheehan had their chances to shine in this show with cool solos. Paul Gilbert’s guitar solo was easily the best I have seen in 2011. I think he is the first guitarist I have seen to play the guitar with his mouth. He is one incredible musician. Billy’s bass solo was pretty awesome as well. Eric Martin never gets enough credit being stuck between Sheehan and Gilbert, but he was awesome last night. He interacted with the crowd quite a bit, and got a kick out of his on stage antics. His vocals were perfect Saturday Night.
The encore featured two killer Mr. Big tunes “To Be With You”, and “Colorado Bulldog”. The band also did an extremely cool version of Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the Water” where the band changed instruments. Paul Gilbert was playing the drums, Eric Martin lead guitar, Pat Torpey was playing bass, and Billy Sheehan was signing. Mid song, they changed it up again. Eric Martin took over on bass, Pat took over on vocals, and Billy Sheehan was playing lead guitar. I haven’t ever seen an entire band change instruments like this during a show. It was fun and extremely impressive to see. The show closed out with a killer version of the Talas tune “Shyboy”.
If you get a chance to see Mr. Big Live on this tour, you really ought to do so. They put on a whale of a performance, and was easily one of the best shows I have seen in 2011. You can check their tour dates at this link. Check out our photo gallery below!
Mr. Big Set List:
Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy (The Electric Drill Song)
Green-Tinted Sixties Mind
Undertow
American Beauty
Alive and Kickin’
Take Cover
Just Take My Heart
Once Upon a Time
A Little Too Loose
Road to Ruin
Temperamental
Still Ain’t Enough
Price
Take A Walk
Around the World
As Far as I Can See
Addicted To That Rush
Encore:
To Be With You
Colorado Bulldog
Smoke on the Water
Shyboy
0 VIP Packages Now Available For Mr. Big
Get your VIP Experience packages for Mr. Big now!!
www.rightrockclothingco.com/store/category.php?id_category=25
Each package is $195 per person and includes a ticket to the show.
The package includes:
• A Concert Ticket (or ticket reimbursement if ticket was already purchased elsewhere)
• Meet & Greet w/ MR. BIG
• Photograph w/ MR. BIG
• Autograph Session w/ MR. BIG
• Limited Edition VIP Experience T Shirt
• Autographed 8 X 10
• Official VIP Experience Laminate
• Set of official guitar picks
• MR. BIG Sticker
Rightrock will ship out in advance the VIP Laminate, t-shirt, sticker, guitar picks and event outline to the VIP’s. The day of the show you meet up with the VIP Host (a member of Mr. Big’s crew) who will distribute the tickets and 8 X 10 photos. The VIP Host will then take you to the VIP area and take a photo of you with the band. You also have an autograph / meet time with the band to make it a bit more personal. The Meet and Greet will be before the show. So be the first on your block to be a rockstar and get our VIP with MR. BIG!
MR. BIG on tour:
JULY
30 San Diego, CA 4th & B
31 Agoura Hills, CA The Canyon Club
AUGUST
2 Tempe, AZ Marquee Theatre
4 Santa Ana, CA Galaxy Theatre
5 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore
6 Modesto, CA Xclamation Festival
8 Salt Lake City, UT The Complex
9 Denver, CO Summit Music Hall
12 Chicago, IL House Of Blues
13 Columbus, OH Al Rosa Villa
16 Pittsburgh, PA Trib Total Media Amphitheater
17 Cleveland, OH House Of Blues
19 Buffalo, NY Town Ballroom
20 Detroit, MI Harpo’s
23 New York, NY BB King’s
24 Foxborough, MA Showcase Live
26 N. Myrtle Beach, SC House Of Blues
27 Lake Buena Vista, FL House Of Blues
30 Houston, TX House Of Blues
31 Dallas, TX House Of Blues
For more information please visit: www.mrbigsite.com
0 MR. BIG Embarking on U.S.Tour
Their First U.S. Tour by the original band in 15 years!
New Release “What If… ” Out Now!
MR. BIG will once again unleash their brand of brutal fury on their first U.S. tour in 15 years starting July 30th, in SanDiego at the 4th & B. Returning fresh from a successful run of tour dates overseas, vocalist Eric Martin, guitarist Paul Gilbert, bassist Billy Sheehan, and drummer Pat Torpey, will be hitting the road in the United States this summer in support of the band’s new album, WHAT IF… “Man, it’s been a long time,” states guitarist Paul Gilbert. I can’t wait to play our first show in AMERICA in about 15 years. It’s gonna be huge!”
«What If… » is MR. BIG’s first all original album since the reunion of the four original members, Eric Martin, Paul Gilbert, Billy Sheehan and Pat Torpey back in early 2009. Sixteen years after the release of « Hey Man », the new recording is set to bring back MR. BIG on the height of the current Hard Rock scene.
Guitarist Paul Gilbert said: “This is the first MR. BIG album I have been a part of, since fourteen years and it was done in a snap. It was fun and we had really a good time in making this one”. Continues Billy Sheehan “It’s so great to be back with Paul, Eric and Pat too. We wrote this record like we did in the old days for the first 2 records. Jamming together in the same room to write songs”. Pat Torpey adds ““Some of the recording process is different now from what we were used to in the old times. But I think this record really managed to capture the performances of the band, not of the individual musicians”.
Their hits included “To Be With You” (Billboard Hot 100 number one single in 15 countries for weeks, in 1991, propelling the band the band to huge international success and record sales in the multi-millions), “Wild World”, Green-Tinted sixties Mind”, “Just Take My Heart”, and a host of heavy metal songs that were played mostly during their live performances: “Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy”, “Addicted to that Rush”, “Colorado Bulldog”, and “Take Cover”.
“What If…” is released in a special edition CD + DVD in digipak, regular CD, vinyl and digital download and in a limited edition luxury box including the CD, DVD, LP and exclusive memorabilia.
“What If…” track-listing includes: Undertow; American Beauty; Stranger In My Life; Nobody Takes the Blame; Still Ain’t Enough for Me; Once Upon a Time; As Far As I Can See; All The Way Up; I Won’t Get In My Way; Around The World; I Get The Feeling; Unforgiven (exclusive bonus track for Europe / North America – not on vinyl edition).
The DVD will include the video clips of “Undertow” and “All the Way Up” plus a documentary “Making of” the album including interviews and exclusive behind the scenes features of the four members.
In other Mr. Big news, the next single from the new album, “American Beauty,” will ship to radio in July in support of the tour.
MR. BIG on tour:
JULY
30 San Diego, CA 4th & B
31 Agoura Hills, CA The Canyon Club
AUGUST
2 Tempe, AZ Marquee Theatre
4 Santa Ana, CA Galaxy Theatre
5 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore
6 Modesto, CA Xclamation Festival
8 Salt Lake City, UT The Complex
9 Denver, CO Summit Music Hall
12 Chicago, IL House Of Blues
13 Columbus, OH Al Rosa Villa
16 Pittsburgh, PA Trib Total Media Amphitheatre
17 Cleveland, OH House Of Blues
19 Buffalo, NY Town Ballroom
20 Detroit, MI Harpo’s
23 New York, NY BB King’s
24 Foxborough, MA Showcase Live
26 N. Myrtle Beach, SC House Of Blues
27 Lake Buena Vista, FL House Of Blues
30 Houston, TX House Of Blues
31 Dallas, TX House Of Blues
For more information please visit: www.mrbigsite.com
1 Mr. Big U.S. Tour?
Mr. Big has several U.S. Dates listed on Pollstar and Ticketmaster”s website. While no official press release has been sent yet, the following U.S. dates have been scheduled.
San Diego 7/30/11 (With Dirty Leslie)
Santa Ana, CA 8/4/11
San Francisco, CA 8/5/11
Modesto, CA 8/6/11 (Xclamation Festival)
Denver, CO 8/9/11
Chicago, Il 8/12/11
Columbus, Ohio 8/13/11 (with Lynch Mob)
Pittsburgh, PA 8/15/11
Cleveland, Oh 8/17/11
Detroit, MI 8/20/11
New York, NY 8/23/11 (With Sweet Cyanide)
Foxboro, MA 8/24/11
Myrtle Beach, SC 8/26/11
Orlando, FL 8/27/11
Houston, TX 8/30/11
Dallas, TX 8/31/11
Thanks to Christine Sixx for the tip!!
4 Video – Mr. Big – Green Tinted Sixties Mind
No, it isn’t a new clip, but I am very excited about seeing Mr. Big in less than two weeks. “Green Tinted Sixties Mind” is a pretty cool tune in my opinion. I am hopeful that this is one of the songs in the Mr. Big set list at the M3 Rock Festival.
0 MR. BIG Unleashed The Rock & Shred @ The Hollywood House of Blues
Iconic rock band Mr. Big played to a sold out show at the Hollywood House of Blues Saturday, April 2nd – The crowd went wild and sang to every song~ Read all about the show here:
www.noisecreep.com/2011/04/04/waiting-on-a-line-for-the-mr-big-reunion-live-review/
This is the first U.S. show as the original line up in over 15 years – This was also in support of thie current new release “What If… “. This is MR. BIG’s first all original album since the reunion of the four original members, Eric Martin, Paul Gilbert, Billy Sheehan and Pat Torpey back in early 2009. Sixteen years after the release of “Hey Man “, the new recording is set to bring back MR. BIG on the height of the current Hard Rock scene.
For more news and information go to www.mrbigsite.com
0 Video – Mr. Big – Colorado Bulldog (Live)
One of my all time favorite songs from Mr. Big, is “Colorado Bulldog” off of the 1993 album, Bump Ahead. I hope Mr. Big plays this one live when I see them for the first time this May at the M3 Rock Festival. Paul Gilbert’s playing is awesome on this tune! Check it out!
0 MR. BIG at the HOLLYWOOD HOUSE OF BLUES SATURDAY, APRIL 2ND
Their First US show by the original band in 15 years!
New Release What If… Out Now!
MR. BIG will once again unleash their brand of brutal fury to the masses in Hollywood, Saturday April 2nd at the House Of Blues with their very first US show in 15 years! “Man, it’s been a long time,” states guitarist Paul Gilbert. I can’t wait to play in L.A… actually, I can’t wait to play our first show in AMERICA in about 15 years. It’s gonna be huge!”
What If… is MR. BIG’s first all original album since the reunion of the four original members, Eric Martin, Paul Gilbert, Billy Sheehan and Pat Torpey back in early 2009. Sixteen years after the release of Hey Man , the new recording is set to bring back MR. BIG on the height of the current Hard Rock scene.
Guitarist Paul Gilbert said: “This is the first MR. BIG album I have been a part of, since fourteen years and it was done in a snap. It was fun and we had really a good time in making this one”. Continues Billy Sheehan “It’s so great to be back with Paul, Eric and Pat too. We wrote this record like we did in the old days for the first 2 records. Jamming together in the same room to write songs”. Pat Torpey adds ““Some of the recording process is different now from what we were used to in the old times. But I think this record really managed to capture the performances of the band, not of the individual musicians”.
Their hits included “To Be With You” (Billboard Hot 100 number one single in 15 countries for weeks, in 1991, propelling the band the band to huge international success and record sales in the multi-millions), “Wild World”, Green-Tinted sixties Mind”, “Just Take My Heart”, and a host of heavy metal songs that were played mostly during their live performances: “Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy”, “Addicted to that Rush”, “Colorado Bulldog”, and “Take Cover”.
What If… is released in a special edition CD + DVD in digipak, regular CD, vinyl and digital download and in a limited edition luxury box including the CD, DVD, LP and exclusive memorabilia.
What If… tracklisting includes: Undertow; American Beauty; Stranger In My Life; Nobody Takes the Blame; Still Ain’t Enough for Me; Once Upon a Time; As Far As I Can See; All The Way Up; I Won’t Get In My Way; Around The World; I Get The Feeling; Unforgiven (exclusive bonus track for Europe / North America – not on vinyl edition).
The DVD will include the videoclips of “Undertow” and “All the Way Up” plus a documentary “Making of” the album including interviews and exclusive behind the scenes features of the four members.
For more information go to www.mrbigsite.com.
0 Mr. Big’s “What If…” Now Available!
MR. BIG is back with their highly anticipated new studio album entitled “What If… ” out now on Frontiers Records.
“What If… ” is MR. BIG’s first all original album since the reunion of the four original members, Eric Martin, Paul Gilbert, Billy Sheehan and Pat Torpey back in early 2009. Sixteen years after the release of « Hey Man », the new recording is set to bring back MR. BIG on the height of the current Hard Rock scene.
Guitarist Paul Gilbert said: “This is the first MR. BIG album I have been a part of, since fourteen years and it was done in a snap. It was fun and we had really a good time in making this one”. Continues Billy Sheehan “It’s so great to be back with Paul, Eric and Pat too. We wrote this record like we did in the old days for the first 2 records. Jamming together in the same room to write songs”. Pat Torpey adds ““Some of the recording process is different now from what we were used to in the old times. But I think this record really managed to capture the performances of the band, not of the individual musicians”.
Eric Martin concludes: “I like to compare this to the first album, when we just got to know each other in a reharsal studio and cut it in 8 or 9 days. This is like chapter 2. We had so many years, so many records and so many things behind us. Now this feels like a beautiful brand new chapter starting for all of us”.
” What If… ” was produced by Kevin Shirley (Aerosmith, Rush, Iron Maiden) and the release will be followed by a World Tour which will kick off in South America in March and will hit Europe in early summer.
Formed in 1988, Mr. Big forged its place in hard rock history by combining trademark “shredding” musicianship with awesome vocal harmonies. The original line-up – vocalist Eric Martin, guitarist Paul Gilbert, bassist Billy Sheehan, and drummer Pat Torpey. Mr. Big produced numerous hit songs that ranged across a wide array of rock genres – be it ballads, heavy metal, or blues rock.
Their hits included “To Be With You” (Billboard Hot 100 number one single in 15 countries for weeks, in 1991, propelling the band the band to huge international success and record sales in the multi-millions), “Wild World”, Green-Tinted sixties Mind”, “Just Take My Heart”, and a host of heavy metal songs that were played mostly during their live performances: “Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy”, “Addicted to that Rush”, “Colorado Bulldog”, and “Take Cover”.
“What If…” will be released in a special edition CD + DVD in digipak, regular CD, vinyl and digital download and in a limited edition luxury box including the CD, DVD, LP and exclusive memorabilia.
“What If…” tracklisting includes: Undertow; American Beauty; Stranger In My Life; Nobody Takes the Blame; Still Ain’t Enough for Me; Once Upon a Time; As Far As I Can See; All The Way Up; I Won’t Get In My Way; Around The World; I Get The Feeling; Unforgiven (exclusive bonus track for Europe / North America – not on vinyl edition).
The DVD will include the videoclips of “Undertow” and “All the Way Up” plus a documentary “Making of” the album including interviews and exclusive behind the scenes features of the four members.
For more information go to www.mrbigsite.com You can purchase “What If…” at this link!
0 MR. BIG HIT IT BIG (AGAIN) WITH STRONG CHART DEBUTS ABROAD FOR NEW ALBUM “WHAT IF…”
ALBUM FINDS ALLFOUR ORIGINAL BAND MEMBERS REUNITED
“WHAT IF…” NOW SET FOR FEBRUARY 15TH RELEASE IN NORTH AMERICA
Shredder rock-pop metallers Mr. Big are back with brand new album WHAT IF…The new studio release finds all four original band members reuniting for their first album in 14 years. Produced by Kevin Shirley (Aerosmith, Rush, Iron Maiden), WHAT IF…will now be released in North America on February 15th. The first single from the album, “Undertow,” will impact at radio this week. Released last month overseas, WHAT IF…has hit the European album charts with strong respective debuts including: #36 in Switzerland, #50 in Germany, #71 in Austria, #71 in Italy and #75 in Sweden.
WHAT IF…will be released in a special edition CD + DVD in digipak, regular CD, vinyl and digital download and in a limited edition luxury box including the CD, DVD, LP and exclusive memorabilia. The DVD includes videos of “Undertow” and “All the Way Up” plus a documentary “making of” the album including interviews and exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of the four band members. Please see below for the complete album track listing.
In other Mr. Big news, the band will play their first U.S. show in more than 14 years on April 2nd at the House Of Blues in West Hollywood, CA. More U.S. tour dates will be announced later this year.
Formed in 1988, Mr. Big forged its place in hard rock history by combining trademark virtuosic musicianship with stellar vocal harmonies. The original (and now reunited) line-up features vocalist Eric Martin, guitarist Paul Gilbert, bassist Billy Sheehan, and drummer Pat Torpey. The quartet produced numerous hit songs that ranged across a wide array of rock genres, including the ubiquitous “To Be With You,” which was a Billboard Hot 100 #1 single in 15 countries for weeks, propelling the band to huge international success and record sales in the multi-millions.
WHAT IF… track listing:
- Undertow
- American Beauty
- Stranger In My Life
- Nobody Left To Blame
- Still Ain’t Enough For Me
- Once Upon A Time
- As Far As I Can See
- All The Way Up
- I Won’t Get In My Way
- Around The World
- I Get The Feeling
- Unforgiven
4 Mr. Big – What If… (2011)
The album cover really says it all. It depicts a flying pig, which indicates when fans thought that a fully reunited Mr. Big would release a new record. Much to their surprise, the band did reunite with all of the original members, and returned with one rocking record. What If… is the first album with all of the original bandmates since 1996. That’s quite a lot of time gone by. Mr. Big makes up for it in a big, big way, with a solid release that is ear pleasing and juice squeezing!
One point of amazement is how solid and sharp Eric Martin’s voice still sounds. Even after rocking the scene for more than three decades, his vocal prowess would put most (younger) modern rock singers to shame. Martin’s ability with his pipes is clearly evident and decorates What If… with class, making it a noteworthy record, not some lame reunion rehash that tends to happen when 80s hair metal bands “reunite”.
Slapping the bass like it’s the late 80s all over again, Billy Sheehan still has a unique, undeniable style. His funk-o-matic, slap bass, party sound is still going strong and even more enjoyable than can be remembered. What If… gives Sheehan a chance to really show off his talent while not stealing the spotlight entirely. That is a big part of what makes Mr. Big’s latest album so enjoyable.
Paul Gilbert is definitely back at home with Mr. Big. His guitar work never sounded better and his tantalizing solos were all crafted with an elegance meant to compliment Billy Sheehan’s bass playing like no other guitarist can. It’s a true win for the fans to see these wizards back in action again. The finger picking exchange and solo trade off, follow the leader, of guitar and bass on “Around The World” make this album worth the money spent to own it. It’s an amazing moment of musical record and one that demands repeat listens. Without a doubt the best track on What If… and one of the best songs in Mr. Big’s career.
While What If… may not contain a monster hit like “To Be With You” or “Green Tinted Sixties Mind” what is apparent is the fact that Mr. Big has released a record of solid tracks that all have merit. What If… is an album that not only feels right mixed in with the other glam bands, it also fits in with mainstream radio and modern rock releases. The album was well thought out, well performed, and well recorded. Mr. Big has a big hit in What If… as long as they can get a little bit of promotion behind the record. Long time fans are going to love this record. For those of us that may have forgotten all about Mr. Big, it’s time to pay them another visit.
Key Tracks: Stranger In My Life, As Far As I Can See, Around The World
Rating: 
Out of 10
Track Listing:
- Undertow
- American Beauty
- Stranger In My Life
- Nobody Left To Blame
- Still Ain’t Enough For Me
- Once Upon A Time
- As Far As I Can See
- All The Way Up
- I Won’t Get In My Way
- Around The World
- I Get The Feeling
Mr Big Is:
Eric Martin – Vocals
Paul Gilbert – Guitars
Billy Sheehan – Bass
Pat Torpey – Drums
1 Two For Tuesday – Mr. Big – Undertow & Next Time Around
Mr. Big has release a brand new video, “Undertow” in support of their new album, What If coming in 2011. “Next Time Around” is from Mr. Big’s live CD, Back to Budokon. Check out both clips below!
Mr. Big – Undertow
Mr. Big – Next Time Around
1 MR. BIG Hit Back in Europe With the Release of “What If…”MR. BIG hit back in Europe with the Release of “What If…”
Frontiers Records is proud to announce the highly anticipated European release of MR. BIG’s new studio album entitled “What If… ” on January 21st, 2011. The North American release, also on Frontiers records, shall follow in February with more exciting details to be announced!
“What If… ” is MR. BIG’s first “all original” album since the reunion of the four original members, Eric Martin, Paul Gilbert, Billy Sheehan and Pat Torpey back in early 2009. Sixteen years after the release of “Hey Man“, the new recording is set to bring back MR. BIG on the height of the current Hard Rock scene.
Guitarist Paul Gilbert said: “This is the first MR. BIG album I have been a part of, since fourteen years and it was done in a snap. It was fun and we had really a good time in making this one”. Continues Billy Sheehan “It’s so great to be back with Paul, Eric and Pat too. We wrote this record like we did in the old days for the first 2 records. Jamming together in the same room to write songs”. Pat Torpey adds ““Some of the recording process is different now from what we were used to in the old times. But I think this record really managed to capture the performances of the band, not of the individual musicians”.
Eric Martin concludes: “I like to compare this to the first album, when we just got to know each other in a reharsal studio and cut it in 8 or 9 days. This is like chapter 2. We had so many years, so many records and so many things behind us. Now this feels like a beautiful brand new chapter starting for all of us”.
“What If…” was produced by Kevin Shirley (Aerosmith, Rush, Iron Maiden) and the release will be followed by a World Tour which will kick off in South America in March and will hit Europe in early summer.
Formed in 1988, Mr. Big forged its place in hard rock history by combining trademark “shredding” musicianship with awesome vocal harmonies. The original line-up – vocalist Eric Martin, guitarist Paul Gilbert, bassist Billy Sheehan, and drummer Pat Torpey. Mr. Big produced numerous hit songs that ranged across a wide array of rock genres – be it ballads, heavy metal, or blues rock.
Their hits included “To Be With You” (Billboard Hot 100 number one single in 15 countries for weeks, in 1991, propelling the band the band to huge international success and record sales in the multi-millions), “Wild World”, Green-Tinted sixties Mind”, “Just Take My Heart”, and a host of heavy metal songs that were played mostly during their live performances: “Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy”, “Addicted to that Rush”, “Colorado Bulldog”, and “Take Cover”.
“What If…” will be released in a special edition CD + DVD in digipak, regular CD, vinyl and digital download and in a limited edition luxury box including the CD, DVD, LP and exclusive memorabilia.
“What If…” tracklisting includes: Undertow; American Beauty; Stranger In My Life; Nobody Takes the Blame; Still Ain’t Enough for Me; Once Upon a Time; As Far As I Can See; All The Way Up; I Won’t Get In My Way; Around The World; I Get The Feeling; Unforgiven (exclusive bonus track for Europe / North America – not on vinyl edition).
The DVD will include the videoclips of “Undertow” and “All the Way Up” plus a documentary “Making of” the album including interviews and exclusive behind the scenes features of the four members.
The first single “Undertow” will have an official promotional launch on November 27th.
0 New Video – Mr. Big – Next Time Around
Mr. Big released a video “Next Time Around” in support of their live CD, Back To Budokan. “Next Time Around” is one of the two new songs that can found on their new CD. Check out the video below.
0 New Paul Gilbert Interview At MetalSucks
Mr. Big fans, check out the new interview with Paul Gilbert over at Metal Sucks. The interview is available here.
1 Mr. Big To Release “Back To Budokan” in October!
Frontiers Records is honoured to announce the release of MR. BIG’s reunion Live CD and DVD entitled ”Back to Budokan” on October 16th in Europe and October 27th in the USA.
Mr. Big is a Rock super-group that formed in 1988. The band is a quartet composed of Eric Martin (vocals), Paul Gilbert (guitar), Billy Sheehan (bass), and Pat Torpey (drums). The band is noted especially for their “shred guitar” musicianship, intense live performances, and well-crafted songs.
Identified early on as a “musicians’ band”, Mr. Big produced numerous hit songs that ranged across a wide array of rock genres, be it ballad, heavy metal, or blues rock. Prior to the formation of the group, each of the members already had a reputation of being virtuosos as well as established song-writers/ composers. Their songs were often marked with Eric Martin’s strong lead vocals, four part band vocal harmonies, and a technical proficiency in all instruments. Their hits include “To Be With You” (Billboard Hot 100 number one single in 15 countries for weeks, in 1991), “Wild World“, “Green-Tinted Sixties Mind“, “Just Take My Heart“, other ballads, and a host of heavy metal songs that were played mostly during their live performances, such as “Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy“, “Addicted to that Rush“, “Colorado Bulldog” and “Take Cover“, among others.
Mr. Big’s large following and reputation remained strong for over more than two decades, despite the band being challenged by internal conflict and the changing trends in mainstream music. Over the years, through the different heights of the band’s career, the fan-base of the group has remained steadfast – even following the band’s break-up in 2002. Fans had continually asked for the band’s reunion.
In February 2009, as a result of that fan-demand and also following several coincidences over the past couple of years where various members jammed on-stage together, all of which gradually brought the group back together again and Eric, Pat, Paul and Billy finally announced their decision to reunite in late 2008. This announcement was marked with celebration and excitement amongst fans all over the world, especially in Japan. The band members themselves are very happy to be together again as bandmates, and more importantly, friends, and to perform once more for fans all over the world. Their first tour happened in Japan in June 2009 to completely sold out audiences and this double Live CD and DVD, filmed and recorded during their standing room only concert at the Budokan in Tokyo, June 20th 2009 celebrates the welcomed return of one of Rock’s giants!!
The band also recorded 2 new songs, the original “Next Time 
Around” and the Argent cover “Hold Your Head Up” which found their space on the album as a special bonus, along with an acoustic version of the timeless hit song “To Be With You”.
“Back to Budokan” in CD version will include
CD1: Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy (The Elecrtic Drill Song); Take Cover; Green-Tinted Sixties Mind; Alive and Kickin’; Next Time Around; Hold Your Head Up; Just Take My Heart; Temperamental; It’s For You – Mars; Pat Torpey Drum Solo; Price You Gotta Pay; Stay Together; Wild World; Goin’ Where The Wind Blows; Take a Walk.
CD2: Paul Gilbert Guitar Solo; Paul Gilbert and Billy Sheehan Duo; Double Human Capo; The Whole World’s Gonna Know; Promise Her The Moon; Rock & Roll Over; Billy Sheehan Bass Solo; Addicted To That Rush; To Be With You; Colorado Bulldog; Smoke On The Water; I Love You Japan; Baba O’Riley; Shyboy. Next Time Around (*); Hold Your Head Up (*);To Be With You (**)
(*) New studio tracks
(**) Exclusive bonus track – Acoustic Version
The 2DVD set will include
Disc 1 (121 mins.):
Live at Budokan, Tokyo June 20th 2009
Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy (The Elecrtic Drill Song); Take Cover; Green-Tinted Sixties Mind; Alive and Kickin’; Next Time Around; Hold Your Head Up; Just Take My Heart; Temperamental; It’s For You – Mars; Pat Torpey Drum Solo; Price You Gotta Pay; Stay Together; Wild World; Goin’ Where The Wind Blows; Take a Walk; Paul Gilbert Guitar Solo; Paul Gilbert and Billy Sheehan Duo; Double Human Capo; The Whole World’s Gonna Know; Promise Her The Moon; Rock & Roll Over; Billy Sheehan Bass Solo; Addicted To That Rush;
Disc 2 (51 mins.):
Encores: To Be With You; Colorado Bulldog; Smoke On The Water; I Love You Japan; Baba O’Riley; Shyboy.
Bonus footage: Next Time Around (videoclip)
Bonus live footage: Acoustic Live at Hard Rock Café Tokyo – February 2009
Don’t miss MR BIG touring Europe in September 2009!
September 4th Rock Café, Tallinn
September 6th Nosturi, Helsinki
September 7th Berns, Stockholm
September 9th Train, Aarhus
September 10th Essigfabrik, Koln
September 12th Shepherds Bush Empire, London
September 13th Hof Ter Lo, Antwerp
September 15th 013, Tilburg
September 16th Bataclan, Paris
September 18th La Riviera, Madrid
September 19th Rockstar Live, Bilbao
September 21st Bikini, Barcelona
September 22nd Alcatraz, Milan
September 24th Z-7, Prattein
September 25th Tonhalle, Munich
September 27th Diesel Club/Petofi Hall, Budapest
September 28th Planet Music/Gasometer, Vienna
September 30th Roxy, Prague
October 1st Universiada Hall, Sofia
0 Video – Mr. Big – Wind Me Up
Last night I was inspired by Hard Rock Nights interview with Billy Sheehan. I started looking for some old Mr. Big videos and stumbled on one that I don’t remember seeing.
Check out “Wind Me Up” below. This is the second track off of Mr. Big’s 1989 debut.
Vodpod videos no longer available.
Hard Rock Hideout 