If any single person in the rock world seemed destined to keep on truckin’ despite a terrible diagnosis, it was Pat Torpey. Even though he had Parkinson’s disease, he was still participating in Mr. Big in every way except physically playing the drums. He wrote the parts and oversaw their performance by Matt Starr. He was in the videos. He was so positive and inspiring in interview footage.
This debilitating disease finally took Torpey’s life at age 64.
This one hurts. Mr. Big is one of those underrated bands made up of fantastic players, but largely ignored. They had the dreaded “one hit” (“To Be With You”), but that’s not the song we’ll use here to remember Pat Torpey.
Listen to the power, precision and sheer rock and roll that is Pat Torpey on “Addicted to that Rush”.
Rest in peace.
mikeladano.com 
It’s a sad day… Meet the Band on the last tour… Anda I Just can say a Big Thank You for come and play… Shake his hand…
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Hi Maese, thank you so much for this comment. It is very cool that you got to meet Pat. I was very inspired and impressed by his positive attitude.
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This totally sucks. Not only another death for 2018 but now I’m worried Mr Big won’t be coming to Bloodstock this summer. Fingers crossed, I’m really looking forward to seeing them.
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I think they will still be able to play — Matt Starr will be on drums, although they surely will be feeling the pain of the loss of Pat.
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They certainly will, still fingers crossed eh?
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Yeah this one sucks as they all seem like cool guys!
RIP Mr Torpey!
Even though i don’t listen to these guys that much anymore I did like how they handled stuff with Pat..kept him in the band and live which is really incredible in this day and age
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Totally classy how they handled it. Those four guys are a team. They seem like family.
This one has me super sad!
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Agreed. It is sad…hopefully they will bounce back but I thought Martin said that if one guy can’t do it they are done…
Maybe I’m wrong….
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They may have said that. I think they’ll be able to carry on with Matt Starr but Pat was also a writer, he wrote a bunch of stuff with that band.
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sad stuff.
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Scary! Now Glenn Tipton and he is even older…
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