MR. BIG Announces 2023-24 'The BIG Finish' World Tour

It looks like MR. BIG is hanging the hat after this just-announced world tour. 'The BIG Finish' tour is set to start at Nagoya Shimin Kaikan in Nagoya, Japan on July 20, 2023 and will end at The 90's Festival in Kemayoran, Jakarta on August 12, 2023. The band is set to announce dates for Europe, U.S. and South America for 2024 soon. The band's original drummer and co-founder Pat Torpey lost his battle with Parkinson's Disease in 2018 leading the band to shut down all touring plans.
MR. BIG is set to play their landmark album, 'Lean Into It' in it's entirety.
Band posted: "BIG ANNOUNCEMENT We are announcing our world tour, “The Big Finish”
The Asian tour will kick off in Japan on July 20th 2023, with shows in South America, Europe, U.K, and the U.S starting next year!"
"We will be performing our 'Lean Into It' album in its entirety, including our No.1 smash hit, “To Be With You”. We are also releasing a special re-release of their iconic album “Mr.Big” for RSD 2023 in the UK, Japan & US on the 22nd April in limited edition 180g vinyl (Solid Blue – US & UK, Transparent Blue – Japan). The album will also be released on hybrid SACD and MQA-CD - pre-order links below"
Pre-order purchase links for Mr.Big- “Mr.Big” (Japan): https://bio.to/MrBigJapan Pre-order purchase links for Mr.Big- “Mr.Big” (International): https://bio.to/MrBigAlbum
Sheehan comments: "We wanted to do a proper farewell, and this seems like the right way to do it"
Gilbert adds: "We're in the process of making sure we come up with a suitably big entertainment extravaganza to go along with our music. And since our music has resonated so wonderfully in places all over the world, we're going to play in as many of those places as we can."
Martin states: "If we were in the movie business, we'd just put it all up in lights and say, 'Welcome to 'The BIG Finish'!' Seriously, I'm glad we're getting a chance to do it all onstage together as MR. BIG again and raise a flag to everything we've done as a band over the years."
Long time friend Nick D'Virgilio (SPOCK'S BEARD, BIG BIG TRAIN) is set to fill in on the drums. "We found a wonderful drummer in Nick, and he's got a great voice too," confirms Sheehan. "Nick has a vocal range similar to Pat's, and he'll be able to do the parts Pat did with a similar finesse. It's a big relief because MR. BIG has always been heavy on the harmonies. When the band began, we really relied on each other. We knew each guy would do exactly what he needed to do vocally and to do it righteously, on key, and in time. It's difficult to find a drummer who sings in that range, but Nick has the voice we really need onstage."
Paul Gilbert adds: "Nick gets close to the spirit of Pat Torpey. Billy, Eric, and I have been really happy with the music we've already shared back and forth. I'm impressed with Nick's level of musical adaptability and breadth of skill. He and I have done some recording together, and I was blown away with his groove, and how he just played what fit the song. If the song requires him to be more progressive and stand out, he will stand out. But if the song requires him to groove, he will groove. That's actually a rare thing, and it really fits in with what we do in MR. BIG." "I love the fact that Nick was a fan of Pat Torpey and wants to keep our BIG sound intact," says Eric. "When I first saw his audition demo video of the 'Lean Into It' song 'Lucky This Time', Nick was playing drums with those signature Pat snare hits and singing harmonies spot on to what Pat used to do. It gave me goosebumps!! I am so thrilled to have this man who will be filling some mighty BIG shoes join us on our last tour."
July 20 // Nagoya Shimin Kaikan Nagoya, Japan
July 22 // Osaka Maruzen Intec Arena Osaka, Japan
July 25 // Budokan Tokyo, Japan
July 29 // Yes24 Live Hall Seoul, Korea
July 31 // Southorn Stadium Hong Kong, China
Aug 2 // Zepp New Taipei, Taiwan
Aug 4 // Marina Bay Sands Theater Singapore
Aug 5 // Marina Bay Sands Theater Singapore
Aug 7 // Show DC Hall Bangkok, Thailand
Aug 9 // Skydome Manila, Philippines
Aug 12 // The 90's Festival Kemayoran, Jakarta
