In a recent interview with Stefan Nilsson of Roppongi Rocks, Mr. Big’s lead vocalist, Eric Martin, reflected on the band’s decision to call it quits following their farewell tour, “The BIG Finish.” Martin conveyed a mix of emotions about the end of the band’s journey and the impact of the final tour.
“This is the final tour, but it’s slightly bittersweet because it’s the end,” Martin said. He described the experience of the farewell tour as a poignant moment, with each show feeling like a farewell. “Every night is like savoring the moment of, like, ‘Good night. Thank you.’ … And then I’m waving goodbye thinking that, ‘Oh, I’ll see you next time.’ But I will see you next time, probably playing some karaoke bar, bar mitzvah or some sort of acoustic thing, ’cause I do acoustic shows every year, but I won’t be playing with the best players in the world, for me, anyway.”
Martin expressed a sense of nostalgia and regret about the end of the band’s touring career. “It is bittersweet. And I think somewhere down the line, this was about a week ago, I started thinking I think we might be shooting ourselves in the foot here because we’re so tight and we are on fire. And I don’t know if it’s a novelty that this is ‘The BIG Finish’ and it’s over and the crowds are coming, but sold-out shows pretty much every night and the festivals are great.”
Despite the strong response from fans and the success of the tour, Martin was clear that the band would not be going back on their decision. “We’re not the kind of band — when we say that we’re gonna quit and it’s over and we’re not touring anymore… We may do a one-off here and there every couple of years or whatever, but we’re not going to be like the Mötley Crües and the KISSes,” he stated. “No offense to them, because the crowds keep coming to see ’em, but we’re not gonna do it. We just maybe have too much pride in it.”
Martin’s comments highlight the band’s commitment to their decision and their desire to end on a high note. While there may be occasional special performances in the future, Mr. Big’s farewell tour marks the definitive end of their touring career, reflecting their dedication to maintaining the integrity of their final chapter.
