Deep Purple singer Glenn Hughes has announced his retirement from touring as he prepares to undergo open-heart surgery. The 74-year-old musician stated on Tuesday that he has made the difficult decision to step back from live performances for the foreseeable future.
The Cannock, England native explained that he has had some health issues over the past year that he is focusing on moving forward. "The results from numerous MRIs, CT scans, and an echocardiogram have alerted my medical team, that I need another open-heart surgery," Hughes said. "I really have no option and no choice as health is my number one priority."
The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer added that he is "grateful to have been chosen with a life full with the gift of music," adding, "Thank you for walking beside me." The Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for Hughes for further comment on the story.
Hughes was pictured performing in 2024 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Early in his career, he was influenced by musical styles ranging from the Beatles to English hard rock and American Motown, according to Blabbermouth. In other music news, Oasis is set to enter the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame despite previous ridicule from Liam Gallagher.
Deep Purple History and Tour Cancellations
Hughes gained prominence with the group Trapeze in the 1970s before joining Deep Purple in 1973 alongside David Coverdale. The band achieved success with a trio of album releases, including 1974's Burn, 1974's Stormbringer, and 1975's Come Taste the Band, before that incarnation split up in 1976. Hughes and his colleagues in Deep Purple were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2016.
His latest show came on May 30 at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, Illinois. Playing with the band The Dead Daises as The Purple Daises, he performed a mix of songs from Deep Purple, Blabbermouth reported.
In January 2026, Hughes cited health issues when canceling a spring tour in the U.S. titled The Chosen Years. That tour was scheduled to feature guitarist Søren Andersen and drummer Ash Sheehan, with Hughes as lead vocalist and bassist. The planned performances were set to include tracks from Deep Purple, Trapeze, Hughes/Thrall, Iommi/Hughes, and Black Country Communion.
Hughes had a busy 2025, releasing a solo album titled Chosen in September. The release included accompanying music videos for the title track, Voice In My Head, and Into The Fade, according to the outlet.
A 1974 U.S. tour photograph pictured Hughes alongside Ian Paice, David Coverdale, Ritchie Blackmore, and the late Jon Lord.
Hughes was also pictured in concert in Milan, Italy, in 2017.
Solo Career and Notable Collaborations
Hughes spent most of the fall season touring locales in Europe and South America. His tour spanned from a September 2 concert in Zoetermeer, Netherlands, to a concluding show in Bogota, Colombia, on November 29.
In 1977, Hughes released his initial solo record, Play Me Out, which was the first of a dozen studio albums he would release in subsequent years. He also collaborated with guitarist Pat Thrall for the band Hughes/Thrall, which released a self-titled album in 1982.
Other notable musicians Hughes has worked with as a singer, writer, or bassist include Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi, Gary Moore, and John Norum. He has also collaborated with Red Hot Chili Peppers members Dave Navarro, Chad Smith, and John Frusciante, as well as guitarists Joe Satriani and Steve Vai. Hughes and Iommi worked together again on the 2025 single Rocket by Robbie Williams.
