Mr. Big announces farewell tour, unveils new drummer

American rock band Mr.Big has officially announced a farewell tour that will take place this year called the Big Finish.

Since the band’s original drummer and co-founder, Pat Torpey, lost his battle with Parkinson’s disease in 2018, the three remaining members of Mr. Big – Eric Martin (vocals), Paul Gilbert (guitar/vocals) and Billy Sheehan (bass/vocals) – will end this chapter over the next two years.

The three musicians will be joined by drummer Nick D’Virgilio, a longtime friend of the group who has also played with Spock’s Beard and Big Big Train and has done session work for Phil Collins, Tears for Fears and others.

“I hope the people who come see our shows get to feel what it’s like when musicians get together and really play and sing the songs they wrote,” Sheehan said in a press statement. “We want the audience to be one with us and feel our evening together was a magical and beautiful event.”

Mr. Big’s The Big Finish tour will kick off in Japan this July before visiting South Korea, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, The Philippines and Indonesia. Following the Asian trek, Mr. Big will play dates in South America, Europe, the UK and the US in 2024.