Metal Express Radio's Justine Bevan recently caught up with MR. BIG guitarist Paul Gilbert to discuss the band's comeback album, What If... An excerpt from the interview is available below.

MER: What was the writing process like for What If? Were any of the songs already written?

Gilbert: "The album is mostly new songs and new ideas. We used a couple old riffs that became 'American Beauty' and 'I Get The Feeling'. Also, 'All The Way Up' was a melody that Pat (Torpey/drums) had been working with for a while. But, besides these small chunks, everything else is very new. We really wanted to write together as a band, so that's what we did. We had a couple of friends come in to help us finish some things, but mostly it's music from the four of us."

MER: What's changed the most for the band since the beginning? What do you see in the future for Mr. Big?

Gilbert: "It's still the four of us, so really the band hasn't changed that much. We just have a lot more experience, and I think ... more musical depth. But, we still have the same goal as a band. We still like the same kinds of music that we always have. For the future ... well, music is endless. If you're a musician, you're never "finished". There is always more to explore. And I love that!"

Go to this location for the complete interview.

What If… is Mr. Big’s first all original album since the reunion of the four original members, Eric Martin, Paul Gilbert, Billy Sheehan and Pat Torpey back in early 2009. The tracklist is as follows:

‘Undertow’

‘ American Beauty’

‘Stranger In My Life’

‘Nobody Takes The Blame’

‘Still Ain’t Enough For Me’

‘Once Upon A Time’

‘As Far As I Can See’

‘All The Way Up’

‘I Won’t Get In My Way’

‘Around The World’

‘I Get The Feeling’

‘Unforgiven’ (exclusive bonus track for Europe / North America – not on vinyl edition)