Release Date: 24-02-2012
Genre: Hard Rock
On February 1st 2009, a radio announcement for "Koh Sakai’s Burrn Presents: Heavy Metal Syndicate" contained a short message from Mr. Big, announcing the reunion of the original lineup featuring Eric Martin, Paul Gilbert, Billy Sheehan and Pat Torpey, to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of their debut album. A press conference in Japan in February generated much excitement, and a tour of the country starting in June was announced, with shows in ten locations (including the BUDOKAN). That tour eventually brought to the release of a Live CD and DVD and the enthusiasm surrounding the reunion convinced the band to go back to the studio to write and record a new album entitled “What If...”.
The album went on to become gold in Japan and the band played 11 dates in support of the release. At the end of January 2011, during a week long promotion trip to promote the album and tour, they were invited to the WOWOW TV Studios in Tokyo to perform a special show in an acoustic setting.
When the talk of a broadcast first came up, the guys wanted to present something different than they’ve ever done before. Thus the idea of an acoustic show came about and a string quintet was brought in to enhance the project even more, with arrangements provided by Takashi Miyazaki. Although Paul Gilbert and Billy Sheehan hooked up electric on a few songs, the show was still very much acoustic in nature throughout. Pat Torpey played various acoustic percussion instruments during the gig.
The result from that magic night in Tokyo is now here: 10 Mr Big classics in a completely new and fresh dress and a portrait from the very first ever acoustic show from the band.
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Formed in 1988, MR. BIG forged its place in hard rock history by combining trademark "shredding" musicianship with awesome vocal harmonies. The original lineup produced numerous hit songs that ranged across a wide array of rock genres, be it ballads, heavy metal, or blues rock. Their hits included "To Be With You" (Billboard Hot 100 number one single in 15 countries for weeks, in 1991, propelling the band the band to huge international success and record sales in the multi-millions), "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". Mr. Big broke up in 2002 after a farewell tour and reunited with much acclaim 7 years later.
MR BIG
Eric Martin – lead vocals
Pat Torpey – drums, percussion, backing vocals
Billy Sheehan – bass guitar, backing vocals
Paul Gilbert – guitar, backing vocals
