The Dead Daisies
Touring during a pandemic is tough, but someone’s gotta do it.
Ahead of a first UK tour in three years, guitarist Doug Aldrich and bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes are in Chicago when Classic Rock places a Zoom call.
Your fifth album, Holy Ground, was two months old in March 2020. How were you affected? Aldrich: We thought that maybe we’ll be off work until June, but it kept going. We went online to retain that connection with our fans, but it was tough. Hughes: We did use that time productively; Doug and I got together to write new material that will be recorded at the year’s end.
In America, just like here in the UK, were rock bands overlooked when it came to financial aid? [Both, in firm tones]: Yes.
Aldrich: People could get onto the dole, and some actually made more than they had done working.
But the clubs in particular got hit really, really hard.
What protocols do you have in place to combat the so-called ‘pingdemic’?
Hughes: Even double-vaccinated people are getting sick, so there’s no more mingling with the audience.
The whole thing is just difficult. We are spending a lot of time on the bus instead of inside the venue. We don’t have [backstage] catering anymore. Aldrich: We do like everyone else; we mask up and keep our hands clean.
Hughes: We’ve already had a couple of [Covidrelated] cancellations this week.
As gentlemen of a certain age, is there a part of you that’s nervous?
Hughes: I am, yeah. It spooks me out a little that on our run of [US] shows in June and July [2021], we must have shaken hands with people that had it.
With Glenn having joined since the band’s last UK tour in 2018, will the set now include any Deep Purple, BCC or Trapeze songs?
Aldrich: The current show is focused mostly on the new album, Holy Ground, but let’s just say there are some surprises.
The Daisies have never been shy of playing covers until now.
Hughes: That’s something I would like us to leave in the past. We will be concentrating on original songs.
How well do you know the tour’s special guests, the Quireboys?
Hughes: I know them well, especially Spike. I really didn’t want a heavy metal band opening for us. Aldrich: The Quireboys came out at the same time as The Black Crowes, and both are going strong, which is great.
After so much negativity, is it time for bands like the Daisies to bring a little fun back into our lives?
Aldrich: I really, really hope so!
Hughes: Our show is tight, it has a good set-list and of course I am super-happy to be coming back to my homeland [Glenn was born in Cannock].
Do you believe that the industry will ever return to normal?
Hughes: That’s a very, very tough question.
Aldrich: Here in the States, it’s not happening as fast as everybody hoped. People are refusing the vaccine and there’s no excuse for that. It’s only a vaccine like all the others that we took as kids.
Hughes: Europe is in a much better position which means we can get into the place. We were supposed to go to Moscow, but that’s impossible.
Aldrich: To get live music back we really need to get this thing under control.
The Dead Daisies’ eight-date tour begins in Birmingham on October 30.