Complete List Of Mr. Big Band Members

Feature Photo: Adrián Pérez from Helsinki, Finland, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Mr. Big was formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1988. The band quickly established itself with a combination of musicianship and vocal harmonies, gaining fame both in the U.S. and internationally with hits like “To Be with You,” which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped charts in numerous countries. Mr. Big released ten studio albums, several live albums, and numerous compilations. Known for their energetic live performances and technical skills, the band’s music spans a variety of genres, from hard rock to ballads. Mr. Big underwent several lineup changes over the years, with reunions that included the original members. The band’s tenth and final studio album, Ten, was released in 2024, and its final announced concert took place at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo on February 25, 2025. Their impact on rock music includes influencing numerous aspiring musicians with their blend of virtuosic instrumentation and melodic pop rock.

Paul Gilbert

Paul Gilbert joined Mr. Big in 1988 as one of the founding members. Renowned for his stunning guitar playing, Gilbert played a crucial role in the band’s sound, contributing to their first several albums including their self-titled debut Mr. Big (1989), Lean Into It (1991), and Bump Ahead (1993). He left the band during the Hey Man era to pursue a solo career and other projects, including Racer X, before rejoining Mr. Big in 2009 for a reunion that resulted in several more albums, including What If… (2011), …The Stories We Could Tell (2014), Defying Gravity (2017), and Ten (2024). His guitar work is characterized by fast arpeggios and precision, making him a significant figure in the guitar community.

Billy Sheehan

Billy Sheehan, the band’s bassist, is another founding member of Mr. Big. Known for his technical skills and the use of harmonics in his bass playing, Sheehan appeared on all ten Mr. Big studio albums. Before Mr. Big, he was well known for his work with David Lee Roth and Talas, bringing a wealth of rock performance experience to the band. Sheehan’s playing style was a foundational element of Mr. Big’s sound, particularly evident in songs like “Addicted to That Rush” and “Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy.”

Eric Martin

Eric Martin was the lead vocalist for Mr. Big from the band’s inception in 1988 through its final announced performances. His powerful and versatile vocal abilities were pivotal in hits like “To Be with You” and “Just Take My Heart.” Martin appeared on all ten of the band’s studio albums and remained a central figure through Ten and the final 2025 shows. Outside of Mr. Big, he has enjoyed a successful solo career and has participated in various musical collaborations and projects around the globe.

Pat Torpey

Drummer Pat Torpey was also a founding member of Mr. Big, playing on the band’s albums throughout its original era and after the 2009 reunion. In 2014, Torpey announced that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. As his health limited his ability to perform full drum sets, he continued contributing to the band through selected drumming, percussion, backing vocals, and work credited as drum production. Torpey’s contributions remained vital until his death from complications of Parkinson’s disease on February 7, 2018.

Richie Kotzen

Richie Kotzen joined Mr. Big in 1999 following Paul Gilbert’s departure. He played on Get Over It, first released in Japan in 1999 and in the United States in 2000, and Actual Size (2001). Kotzen brought a different guitar style to the band, incorporating more blues and soul elements into their music. After his stint with Mr. Big, he continued his prolific solo career and later became a member of The Winery Dogs, another supergroup involving Billy Sheehan and drummer Mike Portnoy.

Matt Starr

Following Pat Torpey’s Parkinson’s disease diagnosis, Matt Starr was brought into Mr. Big as a touring drummer beginning in 2014, helping fulfill live performance duties while Torpey remained involved with the band. Starr also handled much of the drumming on the 2017 album Defying Gravity, with Torpey contributing selected drums and percussion and serving as drum producer. Starr’s work helped the band continue touring during Torpey’s illness and in the period surrounding his death.

Nick D’Virgilio

Nick D’Virgilio joined Mr. Big for the band’s farewell touring era in 2023. Known for his work with Spock’s Beard and numerous other artists, D’Virgilio handled drums and backing vocals in the final touring lineup alongside Eric Martin, Paul Gilbert, and Billy Sheehan. He also played drums on Mr. Big’s tenth and final studio album, Ten, released on July 12, 2024. D’Virgilio remained with the group through its final announced concert at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo on February 25, 2025.