Pat Torpey

Pat Torpey
Pat Torpey at Festivalna Hall, Sofia. June 2011.
Background information
Birth name	Pat Torpey
Born	(1959-12-13) December 13, 1959 (age 57)
Origin	Cleveland, Ohio, US
Genres	Hard rock, progressive rock, pop rock, heavy metal
Occupation(s)	Musician, singer-songwriter
Instruments	Drums, percussion, vocals, guitar, bass guitar, keyboards
Years active	1980–present
Associated acts	Mr. Big, Richie Kotzen, Lanny Cordola, David Lee Roth, The Knack, Impellitteri
Website	Official website

Pat Torpey is an American hard rock drummer and singer, known as the drummer and backing vocalist of the hard rock band Mr. Big. He has also played for John Parr, Belinda Carlisle, Robert Plant, Montrose, Richie Kotzen and The Knack. Pat has recorded with Impellitteri and Ted Nugent. He is noted by Neil Peart for composing unique rhythms such as that of "Take Cover", a rock song from Mr. Big.

Pat Torpey was born in Cleveland, Ohio on December 13, 1959. At age 7, he first played the drums. He tells the story: "I was at a family and friends picnic and there was a polka band. I was sitting on a railing behind the drummer and was fascinated at what I saw and heard. I went home and fashioned my own 'signature' drum sticks out of a fallen tree branch from our front yard".

In high school, Torpey immersed himself in all available music programs, concert, orchestra, marching and stage bands. About his teenage years, he says: "I wanted to play everything percussion and I convinced my mother to buy me a used drum-kit for my thirteenth birthday.” Torpey's family moved to Phoenix, where he then began honing his skills in local bands, from rock, to funk, to jazz, to pop.

In 1983, Torpey moved to Los Angeles. He recounts the beginning of his career: "I'm a pretty good softball player and joined an entertainment league, and through that I was able to make some new friends and network my way into a couple of gigs. I became a regular on the American Bandstand and Solid Gold TV shows performing with Ben E. King, Mike + The Mechanics, Melissa Manchester, Bob Geldof, and a few I can't even remember."

1985, Torpey auditioned for the British pop–rock singer John Parr, who was riding high on his #1 hit "St. Elmo's Fire" and had landed the opening slot for Tina Turner on her Private Dancer tour. When that tour ended he became the drummer for Belinda Carlisle on her first solo tour, opening for Robert Palmer.