The band’s guitarist, Paul Gilbert, was in Japan for a solo tour the first week of February and reportedly gave a taped message to Sakai confirming the reunion rumor.

Gilbert left Mr. Big in 1997 to pursue a solo career and was replaced by Richie Kotzen, the former guitarist for Poison.

The other members of Mr. Big are Eric Martin on vocals, Billy Sheehan on bass and Pat Torpey on drums. No dates have been set for the reunion concerts.

The band, which formed in 1988 and is most famous for the hit “To Be With You,” was particularly popular in Japan.