Mr. Big Drummer Pat Torpey Diagnosed With Parkinson’s Disease
Pat Torpey, the drummer for Mr. Big, has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. The band made the announcement via press release today (July 24).
“I’ve been dealing with Parkinson’s symptoms for the past couple of years and only recently received a confirmed diagnosis as symptoms worsened," Torpey said. "I intend to fight the disease with same intensity and tenacity that I drum and live my life by and will continue recording and performing, as always, to the best of my ability."
Mr. Big will release their eighth studio album, '...The Stories We Could Tell,' this September, with the first single coming this summer. They plan to embark on a world tour in the fall with a replacement drummer for much of the set. However, Torpey is expected to be featured on a handful of songs, which includes the nightly acoustic portion.
Formed in 1988, Mr. Big struck platinum on their second album, 1991's 'Lean into It,' which featured the chart-topping single 'To Be With You.' After breaking up in 2002, they reunited seven years later. Prior to forming the band, Torpey had been an in-demand session and live drummer, working with artists as diverse as Belinda Carlisle and the Knack.