Glenn Hughes had a plan for 2026: do absolutely nothing. It got interrupted exactly once.
In a new interview with Metal Kaoz, Hughes discussed his one-off appearance with The Dead Daisies on May 30 at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, Ill. The show brings together Hughes, guitarist Doug Aldrich, drummer Tommy Clufetos, and guitarist/band founder David Lowy for a 50/50 split set — ten Dead Daisies tracks followed by ten Deep Purple classics. That’s the full itinerary.
“Specifically, when David Lowy asked me to do this show, I don’t know what they have planned, if they have anything planned. I know I’m taking some time off. I’m looking forward to that,” Hughes said (transcribed by Blabbermouth). “But we really haven’t talked about anything other than the Arcada Theater. Really, it’s just a one-show celebration of Deep Purple and Dead Daisies.”
“For me, I was gonna take 2026 off. I’ve been working like a crazy man for 30 years, and I haven’t really had any time to take a break,” Hughes explained. “So this year, for me, was going to be a no-show, no-album year. So all I know is I’m doing one show with my friends, and the rest is up to God.”
On what his next creative chapter might look like — following the 2025 solo album Chosen — Hughes had no interest in staying in a lane: “I’ve been making rock music for 50 years, more than that, and as an ever-changing artist, I have to listen to my soul. I’m not saying I won’t make rock music, but it’s not gonna be straight-down-the-middle classic rock. It’s gonna be a little bit different. I can’t stay in a formula. I’ve been changing every time I make an album. It’s got the rock feel, but there’s groove and there’s R&B, a little jazz. That’s the way I operate. I can’t make ‘Burn Part 2’ or ‘Addiction Part 2.’ I can’t do that.”
“For me, I sing all the time, whether I’m on stage or off stage. I’ve been given a tremendous gift with this voice,” Hughes said. “In my peer group, there’s four or five of my friends, and you know who they are, at my age that are still out there doing this. And we’re all very, very grateful. But while I have this ability to sing and feel the way I do, I think it’s important to feel good about giving it to people. I’ve had a lot of support with my voice all these years. There’s no one more grateful than I am for the people that have really come to see me sing. I’m a live singer. I’m very much a live singer.”
Hughes departed The Dead Daisies in May 2023 after four years with the band, replaced by a returning John Corabi. His career runs from early ‘70s success with Trapeze, through the Mark III Deep Purple lineup alongside David Coverdale — the Burn, Stormbringer, and Come Taste the Band era — to a prolific solo run and collaborations including Black Country Communion (with Joe Bonamassa and Jason Bonham) and a guest turn on Robbie Williams’ 2025 single “Rocket,” which also featured Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath.
