Mr Big want one more record with guest drummers before calling it a day

Mr Big frontman Eric Martin says he’d like to record a final EP or album before calling time on the band.

The group’s future was thrown into doubt following the death of drummer Pat Torpey earlier this year from complications from Parkinson’s disease.

Pat was unable to play on all tracks on Mr Big’s 2017 album Defying Gravity, with the band’s touring drummer Matt Starr stepping in to complete the record.

Now Martin says another record could be on the cards – and he’s got plans on exactly what he’d like to do.

He tells NI Rocks: “I’m the one lately getting everybody together for conference calls and emails about what we want to do. I want to spend more than six days on it like we did with Defying Gravity

“I want to be a little bit more prepared. I want to do a new record, and I also want to have a couple of different drummers on it – ones that Pat really liked.

"Maybe Mike Portnoy or Gregg Bissonette or Ray Luzier from Korn. I really like his playing. Just get some great drummers to do an ode to Pat Torpey."

Martin adds: “We don’t know if we’re going to do an album or an EP – it depends on the songs. If we only have six songs, then there’s your EP but if we have more then we’ll cut an album.”

He says that Mr Big are also planning a tour next summer, and adds: “We’ll try to do as much as we can for about three or four months – but that’s the last hurrah.

"It feels a little uncomfortable to keep going without Pat Torpey.”

Mr Big released the album Live From Milan back in July, which featured Torpey. It was recorded in the Italian city in 2017.

Mr Big - Live From Milan

Mr Big - Live From Milan
Mr Big captured their performance in Milan in 2017 for this live package which was recorded during their tour in support of their studio album Defying Gravity.

Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent 35 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in the summer of 2014 before moving to the e-commerce team in 2020. Scott keeps Louder’s buyer’s guides up to date, writes about the best deals for music fans, keeps on top of the latest tech releases and reviews headphones, speakers, earplugs and more. Over the last 10 years, Scott has written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog. He's previously written for publications including IGN, the Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald newspapers, covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to tech reviews, video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.