Mr. Big – Defying Gravity

By starrymag | June 2, 2017

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

A) I need a book to talk about them all. It’s standards. The Beatles, Ledd Zeppelin, Jimmi Hendrix, The Stones and the classic rock n’ roll bands. But I picked and choose. I love songs so there were one-hit wonder songs that I latched on to for many different reasons. It wasn’t always just about the song. Sometimes it was the drums or melody, harmony or lyrics.

Q) You have had such a long lasting career. How does that make you feel to continue to be such a popular band?

A) It makes me feel really old, but good. [laughs] It’s kind of amazing. The passage of time is an odd thing because when you sit down and think about it is a blink of an eye. It’s hard to believe we’ve been together for over twenty-five years. In 2018, we’ll be together for twenty-five years. I remember when we were show casing and had been together for six months. I remember saying, “I don’t know if this is going to last.” I think everybody goes through that, but I’m grateful we’ve been able to maintain a career all this time and still be together, the original four guys. We’ve stayed together through the ups and downs. We had a hiccup for a while with Paul when he left for a little while, but he came back. I’m really proud of that because it’s just kind of a personal achievement to be together for this long.

Q) Talk about your new music. Is it a new sound or a classic Mr. Big sound?

A) I think it’s the same and different at the same time. There is a balance there because we’re always trying to explore new ideas and new approaches. But we still keep the same kind of instrumentation. We don’t do a lot of trickery. It’s basically us in the studio playing live trying to capture a live performance. That’s the kind of band we have always been. That’s the kind of bands I grew up listening to and really thought were great. Real musicians, really singing – not any fake stuff. I think that whether or not that is popular, it was always popular with me. That’s kind of the approach we maintain and still do. With the music, if anything we’re kind of trying to be a throwback because I think more and more there is processed and produced music where it is difficult to perform live without types and samples. We don’t do that. So, that’s kind of the philosophy we go for.

Q) How did the new album get the name Defying Gravity?

A) We had a song idea that came out of a little jam that Billy [Sheehan], Paul [Gilbert] and I did and then Eric [Martin] got a hold of it and he had a song title called “Defying Gravity.” We thought it was kind of interesting because it means you can’t keep us down. It’s kind of got the connotation that even though we’re experienced and have been around forever we’re still doing it. We’ve been through a lot and we keep coming up. We’re like a bad penny; we keep coming up. I think it was apropos and it is a positive message, which is always something we’re into. I think it fits well with where we are now.

Q) What songs off the new album are you looking forward to performing live?

A) I think the song “Defying Gravity” is going to be great live. There is another song called “Mean to Me” that I really like and a song called “Open Your Eyes.” There is also a song that has some really great Mr. Big elements with vocals. We do this big vocal element thing on “1992,” which is kind of a story about what happened to us when “To Be With You” became a hit. It’s a flashback song to what we went through with the label. At first they didn’t want anything to do with us and then all of a sudden we have this big hit and we’re here. Then, they want us to do it again and made us jump through a lot of hoops. Trying to chase a hit single is always difficult. So, I’m looking forward to doing those songs live. I like performing the old songs too. A lot of people ask, “Are you sick of playing ‘To Be With You,’” and I never get sick of it. It always puts a smile on the audience’s face and it’s a great song to sing along. It’s a classic and I’m just grateful that we had it!

Q) What is it about producer Kevin Elson that makes the band continue to enjoy working with him?

A) If anyone knows our history, Kevin was our producer on our first four studio albums. So, we have a long standing relationship with him. And we love Kevin! Kevin is not only a real talent in mixing, producing and recording records but he is also a world class live sound mixer. He’s done everybody from Michael Jackson to Kelly Clarkson. He’s been around forever and he’s just a great guy. He’s not just a producer because sometimes a producer can be a dominating, dictator guy. He isn’t like that. We work together. It’s a together effort. He always has a good suggestion. Say we run into a bit of a brick wall about what we’re going to do. He just always seems to come up with a solution where we go, “Yeah, that’s a great idea!” It’s nice working together. He’s not only our producer and has mixed us live, he’s also a really good friend. We thought about trying to work with him on the album before this one, but he wasn’t available. W ewer grateful he was able to find time for this one. So, it’s kind of full circle that we started working with him and we’re still working with him after all these years.

Q) Your song “Open Your Eyes” is out now. What is it about the track that fans are responding to?

A) think it’s a good opening track. Paul wrote the lyrics and it’s kind of a song from him mostly. He has a really innocent and pure way of looking at things. It’s always a positive message. It’s kind of a throwback rock n roll song. It’s got all the elements that Mr. Big is about – good bas playing, good guitar playing, good drum playing and good singing. It’s one of the songs I’m really looking forward live.

Q) Do you still have a pre-show ritual that you do before performing?

A) If anything, we just kind of warm up in our own way – stretching, warming up our voices and making sure we’re ready. One of the things we do is that a lot of times Paul will be playing guitar through a little mini amp and he’ll start playing a Beatles song. We all join in and sing harmonies. It’s very spontaneous and Paul knows every Beatles song. That’s something we do a lot. It’s not something that is hard and fast and we have to do it. It just kind of happens. Then, right before we go on stage we all kind of stand in a circle and knock each other’s fist together for that comradery thing. It sounds silly, but it keeps us grounded and together. We don’t meditate and chant mantras. We do have a little ritual.

Q) What do you hope listeners take away from playing your album Defying Gravity?

A) I hope they like it! I think the song “Defying Gravity” says it all – we’re still doing it with a lot of energy and a lot of enthusiasm and the energy. Being able to do it…Paul and Billy are world class musicians and if anything guitar and bass players seem to gravitate towards our records and enjoy them. So, if anything we hope it just puts a smile on your face. Listen to it more than once, it will grow on you.

Q) You recently announced you were diagnosed with Parkinson’s. What do you want to be sure fans know about how it has affected you and your role in the band?

A) I was diagnosed almost three years ago. I started having issues way back in 2009, but I didn’t know what it was. It was subtle little things and for all the fans, I’m doing fine. I have some symptoms. I think everybody associates a tremor with someone who has Parkinson’s. I do have a tremor, but it’s not debilitating to the point I can’t walk or function or move. I did write a little piece for the Michael J. Fox Foundation. They have a blog and they published an article of mine and it kind of explains the beginnings of it. I had a bit of a depression time that I think is understandable. I’m not the first person who had to go through it. The guys in the band have been super because I was ready to throw in the towel. I told them, “I don’t blame you guys. Get another drummer and go out and play because you guys are still Mr. Big and it happens a lot.’ Sometimes people can’t play anymore. They said, “Well, we want you to be there. We want you to be a part of it.” So, we found a way for me to be involved with the show. I don’t play the drums like I used to and I don’t play all the drums. We have a guy, Matt Starr, who is a great guy who fills in when I can’t. But I’m there on stage singing and playing percussion. It’s just kind of my new role. I really enjoy it. And thank God I have people around me to support me and help me through this time. I’m doing well. I’m still hanging in there!

Q) Is there anything else you want to be sure fans know about the album?

A) Go out and check it out. I hope they like it! We put out a new set of songs and our main idea is that we’re hoping people enjoy it as much as we enjoy playing it. That’s kind of what our live shows are about. Come see our shows because we’re going to be playing around this summer at a lot of different places. If you come see us, check out the new CD because we’re going to be playing some songs off of it and you’ll enjoy the show that much more.

Q) What would you like to say to fans of Mr. Big?

A) Thanks! Everything I have in my life is because some fan decided o support Mr. Big. I really appreciate that. All four of us started out when we were young with a dream to be in a band and make music, make records, do concerts and have people around the world support us and enjoy our shows. I just want to thank the fans for fulfilling their part in the dreams of four guys who got together in 1988.

 

ALL QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY DRUMMER PAT TORPEY