1. Patrick Allan Torpey was an American musician, best known as the drummer for the rock band Mr Big, as well as playing for other various singers and artists such as John Parr, Belinda Carlisle, Robert Plant, Montrose, Richie Kotzen and the Knack.
11 Facts About Pat Torpey
1. 2.
Pat Torpey first became interested in drumming as a child after seeing a drummer in a polka band performing at a local picnic.
3.
Mr Big secured a recording contract with Atlantic Records but before the band started work on the first CD, Pat Torpey was tapped to play drums with Robert Plant on his Now and Zen tour when Plant's drummer Chris Blackwell was injured.
4.
In January 2009, Pat Torpey reunited with his old Mr Big bandmates Eric Martin, Paul Gilbert and Billy Sheehan for a reunion tour.
5.
Pat Torpey continued to tour and record with the band through two more albums,.
6.
Pat Torpey had been noted as an accomplished backing vocalist with an extensive vocal range, often singing cover songs in the Mr Big show during his encore, including singing Beatles songs during his drum solo.
7.
Pat Torpey played for the reformed version of Montrose; the "new" band stepped up for a memorable debut performance at the Los Angeles Key Club on April 29,2002, in honour of Ozzy Osbourne and Motley Crue drummer Randy Castillo.
8.
Pat Torpey had been involved in live performances at clinics for Tama Drums in Japan, Russia, China, Indonesia, Philippines and many other parts of the world.
9.
Pat Torpey has two instructional videos, Big Drums and Rock Groove Drumming, showing his approach to paradiddles, grace notes, heel-toe technique, and very fast triplets and double strokes with feet.
10.
Pat Torpey acted as a "drum producer" on Mr Big's 2017 album, Defying Gravity, contributing drums and percussion to some tracks on the record, and playing percussion on tour, though Matt Starr had mostly taken over lead drummer duties at that point.
11.
Pat Torpey died from complications of Parkinson's disease at the age of 64 on February 7,2018.