Glenn Hughes, the English bassist and singer known for his work in Deep Purple, Trapeze and Black Sabbath, announced on August 4 that he is retiring from touring and playing live, Metal Injection reported the next day. He shared the news in an Instagram post under the header "live shows cancelled," attributing the decision to a need for a second open-heart surgery.
"This past year, I've had some health issues," Hughes wrote. "The results from numerous MRIs, CT scans and an echocardiogram have alerted my medical team that I need another open-heart surgery." He said health now has to come first, with no other option available to him, and thanked fans for "the gift of music" and for "walking beside me."
Hughes underwent an earlier open-heart surgery in 2013, just months before recording the debut album with the hard-rock supergroup California Breed. Earlier this year he had already cancelled a US tour over an undisclosed health issue; he had been due to play an October 2 show billed as Purple Daisies, a mashup of his two touring bands, the Dead Daisies and Deep Purple, and that date is now cancelled along with the rest of his live schedule.
Fellow musicians posted support under his announcement. Extreme's Nuno Bettencourt wrote that Hughes has "given us so much music and love with a heart as big as yours," and told him to "look after yourself... and let us entertain you for a while." Former Guns N' Roses drummer Matt Sorum called him "my dear brother" and said he was "sending the most healing vibes," while guitarist Joe Satriani wished him "the speediest of recoveries."
Hughes has spent more than five decades in rock music, joining Deep Purple as bassist and co-lead vocalist in 1973 for its Mark III and Mark IV lineups, later working alongside Tony Iommi in Black Sabbath's short-lived Seventh Star era, and fronting Trapeze before that. His retirement from live performance leaves his recorded output, rather than the road, as the focus of what comes next.
The facts
- Glenn Hughes is retiring from touring and live shows
- He needs a second open-heart surgery, after one in 2013
- The announcement cancels his remaining live dates, including an Oct 2 Purple Daisies show
- He played bass and sang for Deep Purple, Trapeze and Black Sabbath
- Nuno Bettencourt, Matt Sorum and Joe Satriani posted support
- Hughes joined Deep Purple's Mark III/Mark IV lineups as bassist and co-lead vocalist in 1973
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