MUMBAI: As the lights go down and the intro tape begins to roll at Mr Big's first concert in India this October, we will be witnessing a small piece of rock music history. India will be the part of Mr. Big's second leg of their reunion tour. Sadly, Mumbai will not be part of the bands touring schedule.

According to the bands official website mrbigsite.com, the band was initially scheduled to perform in Mumbai on 14 October, however, now, on the same date the band will perform in Dimapur, Nagaland. "We had thought of it earlier, but then Mumbai is a pretty expensive city, somehow things did not fall into place - we thought its better to put up the concert in northeast," said a spokesperson of the Neoclasse, the official promoters of the band.

Mr. Big will now perform in Bangalore, Shillong and Dimapur (Nagaland). The promoters are expecting an audience of 40-45,000 in Shillong and Nagaland.

"No doubt, Bangalore and Mumbai has a culture of music, and many bands come and perform here, but up north not too many bands come and perform - maybe the yearning among people in that zone to see bands is a little more," the spokesperson added. As a part of promotions, Neoclasse would be spreading the word by the way of radio, hoardings, malls and other mediums as the concert date nears.

Based in Bangalore, Neoclasse has been in business for more than a decade working with some of the best known global brands and implemented solutions across India and abroad. A Bangalore based, Neoclasse is a 15 year old group, which has businesses in entertainment, communication and media.

SCHEDULE

BANGALORE: 10 October, 2009

Gayatri Vihar, Freeway 19, Palace Grounds

Ticket Prices: 800, 1300, 2500

SHILLONG: 12 October, 2009

Polo Grounds

Ticket Prices: 500, 1500

DIMAPUR, NAGALAND: 14 October, 2009

DDSC Stadium

Ticket Prices: 600, 1500

Tickets will be available from, September 25th, '09 in Bangalore and 1st Oct 2009 in Shillong and Dimapur. Online booking- www.bookmyshow.com and all Planet M stores in Bangalore, Shillong and Guwahati

On 1st February 2009, coinciding with MR. BIG's very first album release in 1989, Paul, Eric, Billy, and Pat sent out a message officially announcing the reunion of MR. BIG to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their debut album. The reunion comes for the first time in 13 years after the Super Group split. The fact that this super group has never played in India will make this tour even more memorable amongst fans. The news of the re-union is already highly talked about affair.

We are very excited to come to India. Eric played in Shillong and expressed the crowd in the country is fantastic. We can't wait to experience it! Our set list will be a mix of our studio records and a few surprises, so await India!-And we shall rock,... said Paul Gilbert and Pat Torpey.

Alluding to the choice of band playing in India and reason for bringing Mr Big, says Suhael G.M.CMD-NeoClasse Entertainment Media, "Apart from the fact that Mr Big is a true rock super group, the reunion line up consists of all original band members. Being an original line-up, the band will be performing in India for the first time, the timing being great, just before Diwali and the fact that no concerts have happened in a long time, all these and more make it reason enough to get them to India,... he adds.  

The first leg of the tour that happened in Japan saw an audience of around 100 thousand. There are more concerts to come in the coming months, says the official statement from the promoters.

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