MR. BIG’s Eric Martin: ‘Our Touring Days Are Over’

In a recent interview with George Dionne of KNAC.COM, Mr. Big frontman Eric Martin reflected on the band’s decision to stop touring following “The Big Finish” farewell tour. When asked what “The Big Finish” means to him, he candidly stated (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “Yeah, I’m not pulling the wool over anybody’s eyes. It means the touring is over, which kind of bums me out. I was there in the meeting a year ago, agreeing with everyone that it was time to call it quits.

“For the longest time, I didn’t want to quit,” he admitted. “This conversation came up about five years ago: ‘Should we do a farewell tour?’ We had other projects in the works, and it became increasingly difficult to keep the Mr. Big brand alive. I was cheering for us to continue, saying, ‘Please, no. We’ve got to keep it going.’ But a year and a few months ago, I found myself in total agreement with everyone else, saying, ‘Yeah, this is it.’ I even came up with the name ‘Big Finish.’ So, I put the nail in the coffin. But now I find myself wishing I had a big hammer to pull that nail out because the band is sounding so good and so tight. The crowds are showing up, we have a new album out, and the momentum is really there.

Regarding the future of Mr. Big live shows, Eric elaborated: “What I mean by ‘The Big Finish’ is that there will be no more touring. However, I hope we can leave the door open for the future. I’ve brought this up many times online. Even our drummer, Nick D’Virgilio, has suggested doing a residency in places like Indonesia or Japan. I’d love the chance to play four or five shows here and there or maybe perform at a festival with bands similar to us. It would be fantastic to keep that door open. But I think after a year and almost a half of touring, everyone is ready for a break. I’m the one saying, ‘Let’s ride this wave, brother. Let’s keep going.’ But, as it stands, there will be no more touring or multiple dates. It’s over. The big lady has sung.”