MR. BIG — Eric Martin (lead vocals),Paul Gilbert (guitar, vocals),Billy Sheehan (bass, vocals),Nick D’Virgilio (drums, vocals) — is closing out its 35-year career in a BIG way… with not one, but two album releases.
First up is the band’s tenth studio album, “Ten”, which was released July 12. MR. BIG‘s last-ever live album release will be “The BIG Finish Live”, which is due out September 6 via the Evolution Music Group.
“The BIG Finish Live” is a brand-new live album and concert film of MR. BIG‘s “The BIG Finish” farewell tour, where the band played their million-selling “Lean Into It” album in its entirety, plus additional MR. BIG classics. Filmed in 4K at the Budokan in Tokyo, Japan on August 26, 2023, this historic performance will be available in many different multiple high-quality formats: 180g black vinyl (3-LP),Hybrid Stereo Multi-Channel SACDs (2),MQA-CDs (2),MQA-CDs + Blu-ray (2),4K Ultra HD Blu-ray (featuring behind-the-scenes and interview footage),and cassette (2). All of these formats will come with a booklet/insert that includes previously unreleased photos from their Budokan performance, as well as a sticker or postcard gift for fans.
Last year, MR. BIG put on their signature top hats and old shoes for the launch of their last worldwide tour, aptly titled “The BIG Finish”. The first leg kicked off July 20, 2023 in Nagoya, Japan, which took them throughout Southeast Asia where the band performed for hundreds of thousands of loyal fans at 11 sold-out shows. MR. BIG then brought “The BIG Finish” to South America, an initial run of European shows, and two separate East Coast/West Coast tours of the U.S., with their last-ever stateside concert happening June 6 in Sheehan‘s former hometown of Buffalo, New York. MR. BIG‘s remaining shows started July 13 in Bulgaria and will roll through August 23 in Romania.
One particular aspect of this final run that MR. BIG have been most excited about is the decision to perform the entirety of their breakthrough platinum-selling 1991 album “Lean Into It” from start to finish as a featured highlight of the live setlist, along with other MR. BIG classics.
Joining MR. BIG on drums for this special final world tour has been longtime friend of the band Nick D’Virgilio (SPOCK’S BEARD, BIG BIG TRAIN),stepping in for founding drummer/vocalist Pat Torpey, who sadly passed away in 2018 following his heroic battle with Parkinson’s disease.
After 35 years of bringing the MR. BIG sound across the world and back, it’s time to come together for one final, extended curtain call with a live album to live on for the ages.
“The BIG Finish Live” track listing:
01. Addicted To That Rush
02. Take Cover
03. Undertow
04. Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy (The Electric Drill Song)
05. Alive And Kickin’
06. Green-Tinted Sixties Mind
07. CDFF – Lucky This Time
08. Voodoo Kiss
09. Never Say Never
10. Just Take My Heart
11. My Kinda Woman
12. A Little Too Loose
13. Road To Ruin
14. To Be With You
15. Big Love
16. The Chain
17. Promise Her The Moon
18. Where Do I Fit In
19. Wild World
20. Paul Gilbert Guitar Solo
21. Colorado Bulldog
22. Billy Sheehan Bass Solo
23. Shy Boy
24. 30 Days In The Hole
25. Good Lovin’
26. Baba O’Riley
D’Virgilio is missing most of the final European leg of the band’s “The BIG Finish” tour due to his commitments with his band BIG BIG TRAIN. He is being temporarily replaced on the trek by Edu Cominato, an experienced drummer from São Paulo, Brazil who has previously played with Sheehan and Martin, Jeff Scott Soto and Geoff Tate (QUEENSRŸCHE),among others.