Glenn Hughes

This article is about the English rock singer. For the Village People member, see Glenn Hughes (singer). For the cricketer member, see Glenn Hughes (cricketer).

Glenn Hughes
Hughes performing on 6 June 2009
Background information
Born	21 August 1951 (1951-08-21) Cannock, Staffordshire, England
Genres	Hard rock, funk rock, progressive rock, heavy metal, pop rock, blues rock, soul, funk, blue-eyed soul
Occupations	Musician, singer-songwriter, producer
Instruments	Bass, double bass, vocals, guitar, keyboards, synthesizer, piano, trombone, trumpet
Years active	1968–present
Labels	Frontiers, Pony Canyon, SPV GmbH, Yamaha Music, Zero Corporation
Associated acts	Finders Keepers, Trapeze, Deep Purple, Hughes/Thrall, Gary Moore, Black Sabbath, Phenomena, Geoff Downes, Hughes Turner Project, Tony Iommi, Brazen Abbot, Michael Men Project, Black Country Communion
Website	Official website
Notable instruments
Fender Precision Bass Rickenbacker 4001 Vigier basses (with HTP)

Glenn Hughes (born 21 August 1951) is an English rock bassist and vocalist, best known for playing bass and performing vocals for funk rock pioneers Trapeze and the Mk. III and IV line-ups of Deep Purple, as well as briefly fronting Black Sabbath in the mid-1980s. In addition to being an active session musician, Hughes also maintains a notable solo career, and currently fronts the supergroup Black Country Communion.

History

Hughes fronted Finders Keepers in the 1960s as bassist/vocalist, as well as the British funk rock band Trapeze. Hughes was recruited to replace Roger Glover as bassist in Deep Purple in 1973, though he considered himself a vocalist as opposed to a bassist. When David Coverdale was later hired as Deep Purple's lead vocalist, the two would ultimately share lead vocal duties in the band until their breakup in 1976. Battling severe cocaine addiction, Hughes embarked on a solo career following his departure from the group.

In 1982, he joined with ex-Pat Travers guitarist Pat Thrall to form Hughes/Thrall, they released one self-titled album which went virtually unnoticed at the time but is now often cited by many fans/musicians to be their favourite Glenn Hughes album. In the mid-1980s, Hughes recorded several different albums with bands and artists including Phenomena (Phenomena, Phenomena II: Dream Runner), Gary Moore (Run For Cover), and Black Sabbath (Seventh Star, though this was to have been a solo album by Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi, and only came out as a Sabbath album due to record label pressure).

Beginning in the mid 1980s, Hughes' health problems due to over eating, drugs and alcohol began to seriously affect his musical projects, and this contributed to very short stints with Gary Moore and Tony Iommi, as Hughes was unable to tour with them properly due to his bad health. By the end of the decade, Hughes' realised his ongoing drug problem was derailing him, and by 1991 a clean, sober and fully rejuvenated Hughes returned with the vocal for the hit "America: What Time Is Love?" with KLF. He also recorded all the vocals for former Europe guitarist John Norum's solo album Face the Truth. He then re-embarked on a solo career that he has primarily focused on to date. In 1999, Hughes did a short tribute tour to Tommy Bolin in Texas, with Tommy's brother Johnny (of Black Oak Arkansas) on drums.

In 2005 Hughes released Soul Mover supporting it with a European tour. He also collaborated with Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi on the 2005 album Fused. Hughes then released Music for the Divine in 2006, which featured Red Hot Chili Peppers members Chad Smith and John Frusciante. Hughes toured in support of the album throughout Europe in autumn 2006.

Released on edel records on 17 November 2007 is Live in Australia, an acoustic CD and companion DVD of a performance at Sydney's famous "Basement" club. The show features songs from most recent Hughes albums, Purple classics and rare gems and covers.

His newest album, First Underground Nuclear Kitchen was released on 9 May 2008 in Europe and on 12 May in the rest of the world. In 2010, Hughes formed Black Country Communion with Jason Bonham (drums), Joe Bonamassa (guitar) and Derek Sherinian (keyboards). The band has released two albums as of spring 2011.

In July 2010 Hughes appeared as a guest vocalist (together with Masterplan singer Jørn Lande) fronting Heaven & Hell at the High Voltage Rock Festival in London as a tribute to the late Ronnie James Dio.

Hughes's autobiography was published in May 2011 by British art-book publishers Foruli. The book, titled 'Deep Purple And Beyond: Scenes From The Life Of A Rock Star', was co-written with author Joel McIver and featured contributions by Tony Iommi, David Coverdale, Ozzy Osbourne and Tom Morello, as well as a foreword by Lars Ulrich of Metallica. An extended paperback edition, retitled 'Glenn Hughes: The Autobiography', is scheduled for publication in late 2011 by Jawbone Press.

Influences

He stated that he grew up listening to many Motown bass players and he was a funky kind of bassist. He has cited acts like Marvin Gaye, Sly and the Family Stone, and Stevie Wonder as influences.

Discography

Hughes playing in 2007

Solo

• Play Me Out (1977)
• L.A. Blues Authority Volume II: Glenn Hughes - Blues (1992)
• From Now On... (1994)
• Burning Japan Live (1994)
• Feel (1995)
• Addiction (1996)
• Greatest Hits: The Voice of Rock (1996) (compilation)
• Talk About It EP (1997) (previously unreleased live and acoustic tracks)
• The God of Voice: Best of Glenn Hughes (1998) (compilation)
• The Way It Is (1999)
• From the Archives Volume I - Incense & Peaches (2000)
• Return of Crystal Karma (2000)
• A Soulful Christmas (2000)
• Days of Avalon (VHS) (2001) (first official solo video release)
• Building the Machine (2001)
• Different Stages - The Best of Glenn Hughes (2002)
• Songs in the Key of Rock (2003)
• Soulfully Live in the City of Angels (DVD and CD) (2004)
• Soul Mover (2005)
• Freak Flag Flyin' (2005)
• Music for the Divine (2006)
• This Time Around (2007) (compilation)
• Live in Australia (DVD and CD) (2007)
• First Underground Nuclear Kitchen (2008)
• Official Bootleg: Live in Wolverhampton: Full Band Show (2009)
• Official Bootleg: Live in Wolverhampton: 'You Are The Music' An Evening of Trapeze (2009)
• Live In Wolverhampton (Official Bootleg) (2009) [DVD]

Solo other

• Glenn Hughes Alive Drive (USB) (2009)

With Finders Keepers

• "Sadie, the Cleaning Lady" (1968) (single)

With Trapeze

• Trapeze (1970)
• Medusa (1970)
• You Are the Music...We're Just the Band (1972)
• The Final Swing (compilation and rarities, 1974)
• Welcome to the Real World (1993) (live 1992)
• High Flyers: The Best of Trapeze (1996) (best of 1970-1976)
• On the Highwire (2003) (best of 1970-1994)

With Deep Purple

• Burn (1974)
• Stormbringer (1974)
• Made in Europe (1975)
• Come Taste the Band (1975)
• Last Concert in Japan (1976)
• Live in London (1982)
• Singles A's & B's (1993)
• On the Wings of a Russian Foxbat: Live in California 1976 (1995)
• King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents: Deep Purple in Concert (1995)
• California Jamming: Live 1974 (1996)
• Mk. III: the Final Concerts (1996)
• Days May Come and Days May Go, the California Rehearsals, June 1975 (2000)
• 1420 Beachwood Drive, the California Rehearsals, Part 2 (2000)
• This Time Around: Live in Tokyo (2001)
• Listen Learn Read On (2002)
• Just Might Take Your Life (2003)
• Perks and Tit (2004)
• Live in Paris 1975 (2004)
• Burn 30th Anniversary Edition (2004)
• Live in California 74 (DVD) (2005)
• Live in London (2007) (remastered)
• Stormbringer 35th Anniversary Edition (2009)
• Come Taste The Band 35th Anniversary Edition (2010)

With Hughes/Thrall

• Hughes/Thrall - Hughes/Thrall (1982)
• Hughes/Thrall - Hughes/Thrall (remastered) (2007)

With Gary Moore

• Run for Cover (1985)

With Tony Iommi

• Black Sabbath featuring Tony Iommi - Seventh Star (1986)
• Tony Iommi - The 1996 DEP Sessions (2004)
• Tony Iommi - Fused (2005)

Eighth Star - 1996 Unreleased album. Stolen and distributed illegally.

With Hughes Turner Project

• Hughes Turner Project - HTP (2002)
• Hughes Turner Project - Live in Tokyo (2002)
• Hughes Turner Project - HTP 2 (2003)
• Michael Men Project - Made in Moscow (2005)

With Black Country Communion

• Black Country (2010)
• 2 (2011)

With others

• Roger Glover and Guests - The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast (1974)
• Jon Lord - Windows (1974)
• Tommy Bolin - Teaser (1975)
• Various Artists - The Wizard's Convention (1976)
• Pat Travers - Makin' Magic (1977)
• 4 On The Floor - same (1979)
• Climax Blues Band - Lucky for Some (1981)
• Night Ranger - Midnight Madness (1983)
• Heaven - Where Angels Fear to Tread (1983)
• Phenomena - same (1985)
• Various Artists - Dragnet (motion picture soundtrack) (1987)
• Phenomena II - Dream Runner (1987)
• Whitesnake - Slip of the Tongue (1989)
• XYZ - same (1989)
• Notorious - same (1990)
• Various Artists - Music from and Inspired by the Film Highlander II: The Quickening (1990)
• L.A. Blues Authority - same (1991)
• The KLF - "America: What Time Is Love?" (single) (1992)
• Lynch Mob - same (1992)
• John Norum - Face the Truth (1992)
• Geoff Downes/The New Dance Orchestra - Vox Humana (European version) (1993)
• Sister Whiskey - Liquor and Poker (1993)
• Marc Bonilla - American Matador (1993)
• George Lynch - Sacred Groove (1993)
• Stevie Salas - Stevie Salas Presents: The Electric Pow Wow (1993)
• Mötley Crüe - Mötley Crüe (1994)
• Manfred Ehlert's Amen - same (1994)
• Various Artists - Smoke on the Water: A Tribute (1994)
• L.A. Blues Authority Volume V - Cream of the Crop: A Tribute (1994)
• Hank Davison & Friends - Real Live (1995)
• Brazen Abbot - Live and Learn (1995)
• Wet Paint - Shhh..! (1995)
• Richie Kotzen - Wave of Emotion (1996)
• Liesegang - No Strings Attached (1996)
• Asia - Archiva Vol. 1 (1996)
• Various Artists - To Cry You a Song: A Collection of Tull Tales (1996)
• Various Artists - Dragon Attack: A Tribute to Queen (1996)
• Amen - Aguilar (1996)
• Glenn Hughes/Geoff Downes - The Work Tapes (1998)
• Glenn Hughes, Johnnie Bolin & Friends - Tommy Bolin: 1997 Tribute (1998)
• Stuart Smith - Heaven and Earth (1998)
• Various Artists - Humanary Stew: A Tribute to Alice Cooper (1999)
• Various Artists - Encores, Legends & Paradox: A Tribute to the Music of ELP (1999)
• The Bobaloos - The Bobaloos (1999)
• Niacin - Deep (1999)
• Erik Norlander - Into the Sunset (2000)
• Tidewater Grain - Here on the Outside (2000)
• Voodoo Hill - same (2000)
• Craig Erickson Project - Shine (2000)
• Nikolo Kotzev - Nostradamus (2001)
• Max Magagni - Twister (2001)
• Various Artists - Stone Cold Queen: A Tribute (2001)
• Various Artists - Another Hair of the Dog - A Tribute to Nazareth (2001)
• Various Artists - Let the Tribute Do the Talking - A Tribute to Aerosmith (2001)
• Ape Quartet - Please Where Do We Live? (2001)
• Voices of Classic Rock - Voices for America (2001)
• Ellis - Ellis Three (E-III) (2001)
• The Alchemist - Songs from the Westside (2002)
• An All Star Lineup Performing the Songs of Pink Floyd - same (2002)
• Ryo Okumoto - Coming Through (2002)
• Jeff Scott Soto - Prism (2002)
• Various Artists - Influences & Connections, Volume 1, Mr.Big (2003)
• Chris Catena - Freak Out! (2003)
• Rata Blanca/Glenn Hughes - Vivo (2003)
• Aina - Days of Rising Doom (2003)
• Voodoo Hill - Wild Seed of Mother Earth (2004)
• Monkey Business - Kiss Me On My Ego (2005)
• Various Artists - Back Against the Wall (2005)
• Phenomena - Psychofantasy (2006)
• Moonstone Project - Time to Take a Stand (2006)
• The Lizards - Against All Odds (2006)
• Quiet Riot - Rehab (2006)
• Ken Hensley - Blood on the Highway (2007)
• Robin George/Glenn Hughes - Sweet Revenge (2008)
• Keith Emerson/Glenn Hughes/Marc Bonilla - Boys Club - Live From California (2008)
• Jake E. Lee - Runnin' With the Devil (2008)
• Monkey Business - Twilight Of Jesters? (2009)
• Abbey Road - A Tribute To The Beatles (2009)
• Moonstone Project - Rebel On The Run (2009)
• Various Artists - An All-Star Salute To Christmas (2009)
• One Soul Thrust - 1st (2010)
• Kens Dojo - Reincarnation (2010)
• Mike Porcaro - Brotherly Love (2011)
• Pushking - The World as We Love It (2011)
• Joe Bonamassa - Dust Bowl (2011)
• Various Artists - Sin-Atra (2011)
• The Slam - Hit It (2011)

Film & TV appearances

• 1991 Deep Purple - Heavy Metal Pioneers (Warner, archive footage)
• 1992 The Black Sabbath Story Vol. 2 (archive footage)
• 1995 Rock Family Trees, ep. 'Deep Purple' (BBC, interviewee)
• 2005 Heavy: The Story of Metal, ep. 'Looks That Kill' (VH1, interviewee)
• 2008 Guitar Gods - Ritchie Blackmore (interviewee)
• 2008 Deep Purple - In Their Own Words (interviewee)
• 2009 A Shot of Whisky (History of The Whisky A Go Go club in LA) (TV, interviewee)
• 2009 Spicks And Specks (Guest on music games show, 26 August)
• 2011 That Metal Show (VH1, interviewee)

Music videos

• 1982 I Got Your Number (with Pat Thrall)
• 1982 The Look In Your Eyes (with Pat Thrall)
• 1986 No Stranger To Love (with Black Sabbath)
• 1992 America (What Time Is Love) (with KLF)
• 1994 Pickin' Up The Pieces
• 1994 Why Don't You Stay
• 1995 Save Me Tonight
• 2000 Days Of Avalon
• 2005 Soul Mover
• 2006 Black Light
• 2006 The Divine
• 2006 This House (dir. Jon Cohan)
• 2007 Monkey Man (featuring Jimmy Barnes)
• 2008 Love Communion
• 2009 Gumball (with Monkey Business)
• 2011 Man In The Middle (with Black Country Communion)

External links

• Official Website