  pat torpey is an american rock and roll drummer, known as the drummer of the hard rock band mr. big. he has also played for robert plant, impellitteri, the knack, david lee roth band and the exile social club. he is noted by neil peart for composing unique rhythms such as that of "take cover", a rock song from mr. big. ==early years== 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.â torpey's family moved to phoenix, where he then began honing his skills in local bands, from rock, to funk, to jazz, to pop. ==beginnings of his career== 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 benny king, mike + the mechanics, melissa manchester, bob geldof, and a few i can't even remember." thumb|left|250px 1985, torpey auditioned for the british popârock 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. pat narrates further, "
1959_births American_heavy_metal_drummers American_rock_drummers Backing_vocalists Glam_metal_musicians Living_people Mr._Big_(American_band)_members People_from_Cleveland,_Ohio People_with_Parkinson\'s_disease