It’s a busy time for Glenn Hughes.
The former Deep Purple singer and bass player is currently on a solo tour, celebrating the music of the legendary band he was part of in the 70’s. He is also a current member of blues rockers Black Country Communion, and has just been announced as the new face of rock super group, The Dead Daisies.
Glenn Hughes’ story is an incredible tale. Overcoming serious addiction (“I don’t remember the 80’s” he tells the audience) to forge a successful career after Deep Purple, now close to 70 somehow he still possesses a voice in a million. Tonight that soul-drenched sound fills The Music Hall.
As is the case with rock gigs these days, it’s an older crowd in tonight, many of whom remember Deep Purple the first time around.
Glenn Hughes walks on stage in front of his excellent three piece band and somehow looks no different to the giant backdrop photograph of himself, taken in the mid-seventies. They launch into Stormbringer, and we’re off on a two hour nostalgia trip that skilfully balances the funkier, more soulful Deep Purple material that he helped to create, with the harder rock era of the band.
Songs like Getting Tighter and the epic You Keep On Moving have like Hughes, aged well and that glorious voice (more Stevie Wonder than Lemmy) is breathtaking. Guitarist Soren Anderson is superb too, making Highway Star and the inevitable Smoke On The Water look easy.
Hughes ends the night with Burn, the song that started has DP adventure. On this form he still has some way to go. Excellent.