Glenn Hughes Retires From Touring for Heart Surgery
Glenn Hughes, Formerly of Deep Purple, Retires from Touring, Live Performances
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Glenn Hughes is retiring from touring and live performances, according to an announcement made Tuesday from his social media accounts.
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The former Deep Purple bassist will have to undergo heart surgery, leading to the “difficult” decision to cancel all of his upcoming live shows. The decision was made based upon his doctor’s advice:
“This past year, I’ve had some health issues,” Hughes said in a social media post. “The results from numerous MRIs, CT scans, and an echocardiogram have alerted my medical team, that I need another open-heart surgery. I really have no option and no choice as health is my number one priority. Grateful to have been chosen with a life full with the gift of music. Thank you for walking beside me.”
At the time of his retirement from touring, Hughes is a member of the Los Angeles-based hard rock band Black Country Communion.
Previously, Hughes was the lead vocalist and bassist of funk rock band Trapeze from 1969 to 1973.
He was tapped to replace Roger Glover in Deep Purple in 1973, where he’d share lead vocal duties with David Coverdale for the band’s Mark III and Mark IV lineups.
Following Deep Purple’s breakup in 1976, he embarked on a solo career, before joining a few projects and bands in the 1980s.
Hughes joined Tony Iommi for what was supposed to be the guitarist’s solo album, but due to label pressure, ended up as Black Sabbath‘s 12th studio album, Seventh Star.
Hughes would battle drug addiction and health issues throughout the decade, but decided to get clean in the early 1990s.
Over the past two decades, Hughes spent time on various projects, before forming Black Country Communion in 2009. The band featured Hughes on bass and lead vocals, guitarist Joe Bonamassa, drummer Jason Bonham and keyboardist Derek Sherinian.
Hughes was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Deep Purple in 2016.
