I am thrilled to welcome Billy Sheehan to our February RRFC lineup!

Rising to cult status in the 80's with his Buffalo, NY based band Talas, Billy overpaid his dues. Starting in 1971 by playing 3 & 4 sets a night, up to 21 nights in a row. He was recruited by David Lee Roth (when Roth left Van Halen in '85), for the legendary "Eat 'Em And Smile" album & tour. He recorded two platinum selling albums with the former Van Halen front man before setting out on his own. Forming Mr. Big in 1989, the band achieved a Billboard #1 single in the USA and 14 other countries with "To Be With You" from their 2nd Atlantic Records album release "Lean Into It", as well as 2 other Top 40 hits, and worldwide platinum status.

Voted the "Best Rock Bass Player" 5 times in Guitar Player magazines Readers Poll, an honor which placed him in their "Gallery of Greats" (alongside Jimi Hendrix, Paul McCartney, Geddy Lee and Eddie Van Halen to name but a few), he has also won readers polls in Germany, Japan, Korea, Italy, and many other countries. On January 27, 1999 Billy's hand-prints and signature were preserved in cement on the Hollywood Rockwalk at Guitar Center.

Billy's first solo album entitled "Compression" featured Sheehan playing Baritone 12 string and 6 string guitar, singing, playing bass, writing all the material and programming drums on the entire record, except for 2 tracks featuring Terry Bozzio on drums and an amazing Steve Vai solo on the song "Chameleon" (the first pairing of Steve and Billy since the David Lee Roth days). This led to Billy joining Steve Vai for several "G-3" tours and Steve's headline tour of Europe.

Billy Sheehan's second solo album entitled "Cosmic Troubadour" was released worldwide in 2005. Billy played all the Bass, and guitar parts along with all the vocals. Also in 2005 Billy performed on Steve Vai's album entitled "Real Illusions: Reflections" and a worldwide tour with Steve Vai.

In 2008, Billy third solo entitled "Holy Cow!" was released. 2009 saw a World Tour by Billy with Mr Big. Sold out shows in Japan, SE Asia, Europe, India along with the release of a live DVD and album in Japan and being voted "Best Bass Player in Japan's premier Rock Magazine Burrn for the seventh time.