Glenn Hughes Says He Discussed Joining Van Halen With Eddie

Glenn Hughes has been one of the sought-after vocalists in arduous rock for many years, performing with the likes of Deep Purple, Black Sabbath and the Lifeless Daisies all through his profession. The singer and bassist lately revealed that he was additionally thought of for an additional A-list rock band: Van Halen.

Hughes, who sang and performed bass in Deep Purple from 1973-76, confirmed within the newest episode of The Traditional Rock Podcast that he had spoken to Eddie Van Halen about doubtlessly becoming a member of his band. “Properly, you recognize, Eddie was newly sober at the moment,” he stated. “This is able to have been … I do not know, 22 years in the past.

“We spoke about it. I had no concept as a result of Eddie had been [a friend] of mine from the start,” Hughes continued. “Would it not have labored? I am undecided. Until I used to be fully sober, and I have been sober now for nearly 24 years. Yeah, it could have been fascinating, would not it? You by no means know.”

Hughes beforehand mentioned the prospect of becoming a member of Van Halen in a 1996 interview with Swedish journalist Mike Eriksson. “Eddie Van Halen instructed me final 12 months … he stated to me that, once they had been auditioning Sammy Hagar, that if I’d’ve been clear and sober I’d’ve gotten the gig!” he stated. Hughes, who was within the throes of drug dependancy within the mid-’80s, as an alternative linked up with Tony Iommi round that point and lent his vocals to the 1986 Black Sabbath album Seventh Star.

Van Halen was not shy about his Deep Purple admiration. “Ritchie Blackmore I preferred due to his vibrato bar use on [1970’s] Deep Purple in Rock,” the late guitar hero instructed Rolling Stone in 2011. “Additionally, they arrive out with nice riffs. I imply, come on, ‘Smoke on the Water’ is one for the historical past books.” He additionally cited Deep Purple’s “Burn” as certainly one of his favourite riffs in a 2015 Billboard interview.

Hughes is about to embark on a joint U.S. tour with guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen. The previous will have fun the fiftieth anniversary of Deep Purple’s Burn, whereas the latter will ship a greatest-hits set.