Mr. Big’s Pat Torpey Dies

Courtesy Mr. Big/Facebook – Pat Torpey

Pat Torpey, drummer and a founding member of Mr. Big, died of complications from Parkinson’s Disease Feb. 7, according to the band’s website. He was 64.

“With breaking hearts, we tell you that our brother, friend, drummer and founding member, Pat, passed away Wednesday, February 7 from complications of Parkinson’s disease,” the band said in a statement. “Family, band and management request privacy at this very difficult time. Services are pending.”

Torpey, along with Billy Sheehan, Eric Martin and Paul Gilbert, co-founded the band in 1989. He stayed with the group until it broke up in 2002 and took part in Mr. Big’s reunion in 2009. Torpey continued with the band as percussionist and backing vocalist after he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2014, Guitar World reported.