American hard rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1988. Lineup: Eric Martin (vocals), Paul Gilbert (guitar, 1988-1996, 2009-present), Billy Sheehan (bass), and Pat Torpey (drums, 1988-2018, died 2018). Distinguished by the virtuosic musicianship of Gilbert and Sheehan, both renowned as instructional-video instructors.
Nine studio albums starting with the 1989 self-titled debut. Commercial peak: Lean into It (1991), featuring the #1 single "To Be with You." Gilbert departed in 1996 (replaced by Richie Kotzen, 1999-2002), and the band dissolved in 2002. Reformed in 2009 with the original lineup. Torpey died of complications from Parkinson's disease in 2018.
