Mr. Big Using Backup Lead Vocalist

[GaulPilbert]

So Mr. Big's in Europe in the middle of a really successful world-wide farewell tour (quite a few sold out shows, etc.) and Eric Martin is having vocal issues... So they called in Michele Luppi (most recently of Whitesnake but who actually did Mr. Big tribute vocals in the 90s) to sing along on stage. Interesting way to keep the show going and also not use tracks or anything like that...

https://youtu.be/tSvzhT65mHY

[War_in_D]

Eric's put on a couple pounds.

[BootyDaddy69]

no issue with me they are being upfront and honest about Eric's vocal issues

[TooOldToCare]

Kinda weird, but not trying to pull a fast one. The thing that jumped out to me is how much I hate watching Billy. It's annoying AF. I thought his fretboard gymnastics were cool back in the 90s.

[skinni]

Thanks for the link, great band!
It's better than singing along to a tape....

[Wednesday 13 Fan]

I don't have an issue with it. At the very least, they're honest about it.

[BulletProofPoet]

Friend of mine just saw a show over there and here is one of the things he told me …. After To Be With You (when he could hardly sing a note) he stormed off the stage before Paul’s guitar solo saying ‘This is ridiculous!’

He seemed to still enjoy the show and said the new drummer was amazing and at one point they all switched instruments and said he was amazing at guitar as well.

[Darrien]

Eric's voice has really gone to shit, at least they aren't trying to hide it. Band sounds tight though.

[Black Stuff]

no issue with me they are being upfront and honest about Eric's vocal issues

exactly and not resorting to tracks

[Mister Freeze]

Eric's put on a couple pounds.

With that shirt, he appears to be slowly morphing into Mick Foley.

Interesting side note: the backup singer once fronted a Mr. Big tribute band in the '90s.

[DonJuanDeMarco]

Friend of mine just saw a show over there and here is one of the things he told me …. After To Be With You (when he could hardly sing a note) he stormed off the stage before Paul’s guitar solo saying ‘This is ridiculous!’

He seemed to still enjoy the show and said the new drummer was amazing and at one point they all switched instruments and said he was amazing at guitar as well.

Basically, what I'm gathering is that the new drummer and backup singer should start a band! And probably will!

This is sad because Eric is a great singer. This is a MEGA tour. I guess it was too big to postpone.

Are Paul Gilbert and Billy Sheehan having fun at least?

[CrankerBait]

I'll take extra musicians and/or vocalists on stage over hidden musicians/singers or tapes.

[Bono Nettencourt]

Eric's put on a couple pounds.

With that shirt, he appears to be slowly morphing into Mick Foley.

Interesting side note: the backup singer once fronted a Mr. Big tribute band in the '90s.

In Japan, no doubt.

[GaulPilbert]

Basically, what I'm gathering is that the new drummer and backup singer should start a band! And probably will!

This is sad because Eric is a great singer. This is a MEGA tour. I guess it was too big to postpone.

Are Paul Gilbert and Billy Sheehan having fun at least?

Yeah, it's a crazy big tour for them. They did Asia and the USA- Now they're doing 6 weeks in Europe, then Mexico & South America, the BACK to the US in May/June and then BACK to Europe for July and August! You wonder if the success of this tour makes them want to reconsider the farewell (they are doing one more studio album).

I saw the NYC show. New drummer Nick D. is a great fit and he has the vocal chops and range to do the Pat Torpey vocal parts. Eric Martin was sick during the US run and they actually postponed a couple shows. Maybe this touring schedule and so many shows is just too much- Must be crazy frustrating because I always got the feeling he's the one who misses doing the Mr. Big shows the most.

[The Sacred Cowman]

Kudos to Eric Martin for knowing his limit and putting his ego aside. I hope more vocalists take note.

[aznsquirt]

It's super interesting that in general the response seems positive. I guess the fact that it's straight up honest resonates with people.

There is something sort of cool about "the original singer is gonna do his fuckin' best but you're getting a good show regardless".

I just hope it really is a temporary "he needs some rest" thing and not a "this is the end for him" thing.

[The Prez]

I'll take extra musicians and/or vocalists on stage over hidden musicians/singers or tapes.

For sure. This isn't Motley Crue.

[veritas]

yeah, it's the upfront nature of all this that makes it okay.
it's got to really suck to be a decent singer who, for whatever reason, can no longer sing well on stage....

[Jason Jennifer Leigh]

This is how you do it … Jon Bon Jovi take note.

[Turner Coates]

This is how you do it … Jon Bon Jovi take note.

Billy Joel does it.

[REO Cokewagon]

They did Asia

I know. I was the first to report on it but u were nowhere to be found.

https://forums.metalsludge.tv/forums/vi ... 1&t=382977

[superglide88]

no issue with me they are being upfront and honest about Eric's vocal issues

exactly and not resorting to tracks

Same thing, only diff is it’s not prerecorded.
Kiss uses a track, Mr Big uses a live dude.
The result is the same: your lead vocalist is hardly singing.

[The Prez]

no issue with me they are being upfront and honest about Eric's vocal issues

exactly and not resorting to tracks

Same thing, only diff is it’s not prerecorded.
Kiss uses a track, Mr Big uses a live dude.
The result is the same: your lead vocalist is hardly singing.

Except that one is hidden, the other isn't.

[superglide88]

exactly and not resorting to tracks

Same thing, only diff is it’s not prerecorded.
Kiss uses a track, Mr Big uses a live dude.
The result is the same: your lead vocalist is hardly singing.

Except that one is hidden, the other isn't.

The other one isn’t hidden either, everyone knows.

[Bono Nettencourt]

This is how you do it … Jon Bon Jovi take note.

Billy Joel does it.

Cov and Ozzy did too.