Mr. Big Drummer Diagnosed With Parkinson’s Disease

July 24, 2014

Mr. Big drummer Pat Torpey has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and will be unable to perform all of his normal drumming duties on the band’s upcoming World Tour in support of the group’s new album, ‘…The Stories We Could Tell’.

“I’ve been dealing with Parkinson’s symptoms for the past couple of years and only recently received a confirmed diagnosis as symptoms worsened,” said Torpey. “I intend to fight the disease with 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 intends to announce a replacement drummer in the near future whom will handle most of the drumming duties on the band’s Fall 2014 tour, and expect Torpey to jump on the drums during suitable live songs as well as participating in the group’s acoustic set.

‘…The Stories We Could Tell’ is slated to be released in September through Frontiers Records, who will introudce the first taste of new Mr. Big music later this summer.

Mr. Big returned in 2011 with ‘What If…’, their first studio album in 14 years by the original members. The album was produced by Kevin Shirley (Aerosmith, Rush, Iron Maiden) and was named one of the best albums of 2011 by Sleaze Roxx readers.

Formed in 1988, Mr. Big forged their 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 — produced numerous hit songs that ranged across a wide array of rock genres.

Their hits included “To Be With You”, “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”.

Courtesy of www.sleazeroxx.com