Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member and former Deep Purple bassist and vocalist Glenn Hughes has announced that he is stepping away from touring and live performances after doctors advised him to undergo another open-heart surgery.
Hughes, who turns 75 later this month, made the decision following a series of medical examinations that revealed the need for the procedure. As a result, he will be putting his live career on hold for the foreseeable future.
Sharing the news, Hughes said: “This past year, I’ve had some health issues. 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 of the gift of music… Thank you for walking beside me.”
Hughes‘ most recent appearance on stage came on May 30, 2026, at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, Illinois, where he reunited with The Dead Daisies for a special performance under The Purple Daisies banner. Joined by Doug Aldrich, Tommy Clufetos, and David Lowy, the group performed a set divided between The Dead Daisies material and Deep Purple classics. Following the sold-out show, a second performance had been scheduled for October 2 at The Canyon Club in Agoura Hills, California.
Earlier this year, Hughes had already postponed his planned spring 2026 U.S. tour because of what was then described as a minor health issue requiring medical attention.
That canceled run was built around The Chosen Years, a career-spanning live show featuring music from Trapeze, Deep Purple, Hughes/Thrall, Iommi/Hughes and Black Country Communion. Hughes had planned to perform alongside guitarist Søren Andersen and drummer Ash Sheehan.
Born in Cannock, England, Hughes developed a style shaped by British hard rock, American soul and R&B, as well as the influence of The Beatles. His first major breakthrough came with Trapeze before joining Deep Purple in 1973 alongside David Coverdale during one of the band’s most significant lineup changes.
The new lineup quickly established itself with the release of Burn, followed by performances including the legendary California Jam and world tours aboard the band’s private jet, The Starship. Hughes also appeared on Stormbringer and Come Taste The Band before Deep Purple split in 1976.
His solo career began with the release of Play Me Out in 1977. A few years later, Hughes teamed up with former Pat Travers guitarist Pat Thrall to form Hughes/Thrall, releasing their self-titled album in 1982.
Throughout the following decades, Hughes remained active as both a solo artist and collaborator, contributing vocals, bass, and songwriting to projects involving musicians including Gary Moore, John Norum, and Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi.
Beginning in the early 1990s, Hughes expanded his solo catalog with more than a dozen studio albums while continuing to collaborate with artists such as Chad Smith of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dave Navarro and John Frusciante. He also became a member of projects including California Breed, Black Country Communion, and The Dead Daisies.
In 2025, Hughes reunited with Tony Iommi on Robbie Williams‘ single “Rocket”, marking their first recorded collaboration since Fused in 2005. More recently, he contributed vocals and lyrics to “I Wanna Play My Guitar”, the debut single from SatchVai, the collaboration between Joe Satriani and Steve Vai.
Although Hughes‘ touring career has now come to an end, his body of work across Trapeze, Deep Purple, his solo releases and numerous collaborations leaves behind one of the most influential catalogs in hard rock.
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