Star Bass

Each month we celebrate the great – and rather less great! – work of an acclaimed bass player. This month: Glenn Hughes

Let’s celebrate the great and less-great recordings of a given bass star. This month, it’s the mighty Glenn Hughes

Glenn Hughes, born in Cannock on August 21st, 1951, has brought not only the bottom-end but the vocal frills to top-notch groups from Deep Purple to Black Sabbath. His musical adventures began in the 60s as singer and bassist for the proto-funkers Trapeze, and continued when he joined Purple’s Mark III incarnation in 1973. When that version of the band imploded three years later, Hughes released solo albums and collaborations with various artists, but problems with addiction stymied his progress in the 80s. Thankfully, he recovered and has put out several solo LPs since then. Over the years, Hughes has worked with huge names from the KLF to Tony Iommi to John Frusciante, and in 2009 he formed the supergroup Black Country Communion with Jason Bonham, Joe Bonamassa and keyboardist Derek Sherinian. One of rock’n’roll’s great survivors, the 2010s alone saw numerous projects and guest appearances. Strap a bass round his neck and he’s happy; put a mic in front of him too and he’s a rock god.