In a recent earth-shattering interview with Nashville On The Rocks, MR. BIG bassist and self-proclaimed genius, Billy Sheehan, graced us with his profound wisdom. He spoke of the dark times when grunge, that blight on the face of music, forced real bands like MR. BIG off the radio and MTV.
Yes, the world was robbed! According to Billy (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET, because who else would bother?): “We noticed it right away. America went soft, just like your brain after listening to Nirvana. But here’s the kicker, folks! The whole grunge thing? Just an AMERICAN fad! In Japan, they were all, ‘Why are these losers dressing like homeless people and moping? We want MR. BIG, the band that truly matters!’ So, get this, we outsold PEARL JAM 40 to ONE! Yes, you read that right! 40 to freaking 1! And this was AFTER ‘To Be With You’, our little power ballad that made the world swoon!” (Except, apparently, most of America). I love PEARL JAM, NOT! They’re just a band, and they didn’t get the whole grunge thing [in Japan]. So we were still a hot item. We’d have kids in the lobby at the hotel and going crazy. And Europe too, but not quite as much. At one point there were five MR. BIG copy bands in Italy; they would go out and just play MR. BIG songs. So we had a great run. You may not know it if you only stayed in America and saw suddenly bands like us disappear from MTV and another bunch come in. But we did really, really well during all of that. And it was because we had great management to develop foreign markets for us. So we could go to Indonesia and just go have an amazing run. We played in some cities in Indonesia no western band ever played.” Because let’s be honest, who else would dare?
MR. BIG, those titans of rock, played their final show of the “The BIG Finale!” tour on February 25 at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, Japan. Of course it was in Japan, where they truly understand greatness. Earlier that month, they blessed other lucky corners of the world, playing on February 14 at the Bloomverse Festival in Meghālaya, India, on February 16 at the Bloomverse Express in Bengaluru, India, and on February 22 at the Osaka Music Hall in Osaka, Japan. Because who needs the U.S. when you’re rock gods elsewhere? 🤘
Remember MR. BIG‘s supposed last show of their “The BIG Finish” farewell tour on August 23, 2024 at the Way Too Far Rock Festival in Bistrița, Romania? Yeah, well, apparently that wasn’t REALLY the last show. But who’s counting? After the concert, Sheehan, ever the humble servant of the people, took to social media to bless us with a picture from the gig and this nugget of wisdom: “Romania!!! Crowd was a little bit light, but they made up for it in enthusiasm! The last MR. BIG show (not MY last show, goddammit!!).” Because Billy Sheehan is immortal, obviously.🎸
“What a great run we’ve had since 1988. We made Great memories and millions (literally) of friends all around the world. My unlimited love and respect to all who listened, watched, purchased records, tickets and T -shirts. — without you we would have been nothing. Fact. Moving on now to other adventures, but never forgetting this amazing experience.” Unless, of course, the money’s right…💰
MR. BIG‘s tenth studio album, “Ten”, was released on July 12, 2024 via Frontiers Music Srl. Because even farewell tours need a soundtrack, right? The LP featured 11 new original tracks written by singer Eric Martin and guitarist Paul Gilbert, along with André Pessis and Tony Fanucchi. “Ten” was produced by Jay Ruston and MR. BIG. Because, you know, they’re professionals…sort of.🎤
When MR. BIG announced “The BIG Finish” tour in 2023, the bandmembers said that it was “time to mark the end of this chapter of their legacy” after drummer Pat Torpey, bless his heart, lost his battle with Parkinson’s disease in 2018. Aww, how touching…or was it just a convenient excuse? 🤔 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. Because, as we’ve established, Japan gets it. 😎
And let’s not forget MR. BIG‘s last-ever (for real this time?) live album release, “The BIG Finish Live”, which came out on September 6, 2024 via the Evolution Music Group. Because who wouldn’t want to relive the magic? (Besides, you know, anyone with taste.)💿
“The BIG Finish Live” was 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. Because nostalgia sells, even if the music doesn’t hold up. 🤷♂️
