In a new interview with Guitar World, Mr. Big guitarist Paul Gilbert pays tribute to his greatest influence, Eddie Van Halen. Gilbert ecalls how his life was changed by witnessing the magic of EVH live on stage, and how this served as an education in what it takes to be a guitar great.

"Eruption"

Gilbert: "I was lucky enough to see every Van Halen headline tour from 1979 until 1984. To be there in person was amazing. Because of technology changing and MTV coming out, the band were much better documented in terms of quality during the Sammy Hagar era. Anyone young discovering Van Halen now will have a hard time experiencing what I did because the video quality is quite bad. You really had to be there. With all of the fiery things, especially 'Eruption', Eddie was like a new sun appearing in the sky. You could sense that the world would never be the same. So I was lucky to see them with my own eyes and take in what Eddie had to offer. Those were some really astounding years. I don’t often use words like spiritual or religious but it had that kind of profound effect on me. I actually still have recurring dreams about those experiences because they were so exciting."

Impact

Gilbert: "It felt like everything exploded when Eddie came out. Everyone after him took some influence. It’s actually hard to think of anyone who wasn’t influenced by him! I guess Eric Clapton didn’t change and B.B. King didn’t start tapping, so the older generation managed to not be too affected by it. Anyone who was a little more current, however, learned a lot from Eddie. You can hear it in how Joe Satriani was tapping and, of course, Steve Vai. I think Vito Bratta from White Lion got a lot of his feel from Eddie. I was like that, too – in fact when I was putting together Racer X, Mike Varney from Shrapnel Records was our producer and he was concerned we sounded too much like Van Halen with just me and suggested we get another guitarist in the band."

Read the complete interview here.

Earlier this summer, Mr. Big - Eric Martin (lead vocals), Paul Gilbert (guitar and vocals), Billy Sheehan (bass and vocals), Nick D’Virgilio (drums and vocals) - put on their signature top hats and old shoes for the launch of their last worldwide tour, aptly titled The BIG Finish. Since the band’s original drummer and co-founder, Pat Torpey, lost his battle with Parkinson’s disease in 2018, the band now feels it’s time to mark the end of this chapter of their legacy.

The first leg kicked off in Japan and Southeast Asia in July and August, where the band performed for hundreds of thousands of loyal fans at 11 sold-out shows including Budokan in Tokyo, Japan. Now Mr. Big is ready to bring The BIG Finish to South America, Europe, and the US. The first batch of shows throughout the States will start January 12 in Houston, TX at the Rise Rooftop. More US dates will be announced soon. Ticket info can be found on the band’s official website.

One particular aspect of this upcoming final run that Mr. Big are excited about to a man is the decision to perform the entirety of their breakthrough Platinum-selling 1991 album Lean Into It from start to finish as a featured highlight of the live setlist. (To be sure, the full setlist will encompass Mr. Big’s entire career.) Fact is, Lean Into It is the perfect litmus testament to the band’s inherent dexterity at blending a variety of styles together, whether it’s the heady rocking brew of “Green-Tinted Sixties Mind,” the power-drilled and power-chorded identity checklist “Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy,” or the truly heartfelt sentiments found within “To Be With You,” Mr. Big’s chart-topping, worldwide #1 smash hit single.

"I love playing the entire Lean Into It record,” says Paul Gilbert. “We've never done that until now, and the songs flow together really well. It's a first-class seat in the time-travel-machine back to 1992! I was amazed that during my guitar solo, the whole audience started singing along with me! That was the first time that has ever happened! That's what a live show is about!"

“We wanted to do a proper farewell, and this seems like the right way to do it,” asserts Billy Sheehan. Notes Eric Martin, “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.”

Joining Mr. Big on drums for this special final world tour will be longtime friend of the band Nick D’Virgilio (Spock’s Beard, Big Big Train), stepping in for founding drummer/vocalist Pat Torpey, who sadly passed away in 2018 following his heroic battle with Parkinson’s disease. “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.”

After 35 years of being addicted to that perpetually electrifying performance rush, the band feels it’s finally time to collectively hang up their top hats and shoes after coming together for one final, extended curtain call — a curtain call that will take them on an all-out world tour commencing in 2023 that will go for as long as, well, as long as Mr. Big fans demand it.

Make sure to catch them before they bring down that final curtain, because when it’s through, it’s through.

For details and tickets, head here. Dates are listed below.

January
12 - Houston, TX - Rise Rooftop
13 - Dallas, TX - The Factory In Deep Ellum
17 - Key West, FL - Rokisland Fest
20 - Orlando, FL - The Plaza Live
21 - Clearwater, FL - Capitol Theatre
23 - Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse
24 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium
26 - Cincinnati, OH - Ludlow Garage
28 - Warrendale, PA - Jergel’S Rhythm Grille
30 - Portland, ME - Aura
31 - Patchogue, NY - Patchogue Theater

February
2 - Sayreville, NJ - Starland Ballroom
3 - Ridgefield, CT - Ridgefield Playhouse
6 - New York, NY - Sony Hall
7 - Derry, NH - Tupelo Music Hall
9 - Glenside, PA - Keswick Theatre
14 - Wabash, IN - Honeywell Center
16 - Des Plains, IL - Des Plains Theatre
17 - Green Bay, WI - Epic Event Center
20 - Detroit, MI - Royal Oak Theatre
21 - Minneapolis, MN - Fitzgerald Theater
23 - Wichita, KS - The Cotillion
24 - Oklahoma City, OK - Diamond Ballroom

March
17 - Carlswerk Victoria - Köln, Germany
19 - Rock City - Nottingham, United Kingdom
20 - O2 Ritz Manchester - Manchester, United Kingdom
22 - KK's Steel Mill - Wolverhampton, United Kingdom
23 - O2 Shepherds Bush Empire - London, United Kingdom
25 - Ancienne Belgique - Brussels, Belgium
26 - Bataclan - Paris, France
28 - Sala Riviera - Madrid, Spain
30 - Razzmatazz - Barcelona, Spain

April
1 - Komplex - Zurich, Switzerland
3 - Live Club - Milan, Italy
4 - Kino Šiška - Ljubljana, Slovenia
6 - Majestic Music Club - Bratislava I, Slovakia
7 - Barba Negra - Budapest, Hungary
11 - Progresja - Warsaw, Poland
12 - Kasárne/Kulturpark - Košice Iv, Slovakia
14 - Muziekgieterij - Maastricht, Netherlands
15 - Rockhal - Esch-sur-alzette, Luxembourg