Fan-filmed video of MR. BIG‘s July 13 performance at the Midalidare Rock In The Wine Valley festival in Bulgaria can be seen below.
MR. BIG drummer Nick 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 MR. BIG bassist Billy Sheehan and singer Eric Martin, Jeff Scott Soto and Geoff Tate (QUEENSRŸCHE),among others.
On June 14, MR. BIG released the following statement via social media: “As we prepare to hit the road for another EU/UK leg of our The BIG Finish! Tour, drummer Nick D’Virgilio, due to commitments with his band BIG BIG TRAIN, is unable to be with us the first part of the run. He will rejoin us for the final week — August 13th onward. In Nick‘s absence, we are excited to announce that Brazilian drummer, Edu Cominato, will fill in and rock with us July 13 – August 13!
“Edu started his professional career at the age of 15 and has never looked back. He has played and toured with some of the best musicians in the world, including Billy and Eric, Jeff Scott Soto, Geoff Tate and many others!
“Welcome to The BIG Finish! Tour, Edu!”
MR. BIG released its tenth studio album, “Ten”, on July 12 via Frontiers Music Srl. The LP features 11 new original tracks written by Martin and guitarist Paul Gilbert, along with André Pessis and Tony Fanucchi. “Ten” was produced by Jay Ruston and MR. BIG.
MR. BIG recently completed the European leg of “The BIG Finish”, which saw the veteran band performing MR. BIG‘s 1991 album, “Lean Into It”, in full, along with other cuts from the group’s history.
When MR. BIG announced “The BIG Finish” tour last year, the bandmembers said that it was “time to mark the end of this chapter of their legacy” after Torpey lost his battle with Parkinson’s disease in 2018. The first leg kicked off in Japan and Southeast Asia in July and August 2023, where the band performed for hundreds of thousands of loyal fans at 11 sold-out shows including Budokan in Tokyo, Japan.
As a session musician and touring artist, Nick has worked with many different kinds of artists and bands, from TEARS FOR FEARS, Sheryl Crow and Kevin Gilbert to Peter Gabriel and Eric Burdon and the ANIMALS. In 1996, Nick took Phil Collins‘s place in GENESIS and played on their “Calling All Stations” album. He has also carved out a major presence in the progressive rock world with his bands, SPOCK’S BEARD and BIG BIG TRAIN.
Before joining the Sweetwater team, Nick spent almost five years touring with Cirque Du Soleil‘s “Totem” as drummer, vocalist, and assistant bandleader.
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 July 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.