Glenn Hughes – Doug Aldritch Interview
Christopher David: Glenn, you left the Daisies a couple of years ago to pursue your solo endeavors and Black Country Communion, so what led to the decision to come back for this show on May 30th?
Glenn Hughes: I had lunch with David Lowy back in February, and he was dying to play some Deep Purple music. He asked me how I’d feel about doing ONE show where we play some Purple stuff, a few Daisies tunes, and I thought, that sounds like a lot of fun! Then, when we had the discussion of where we should do it, we both went: what about the Arcada Theater? And everyone agreed.
Christopher David: The Arcada is amazing, and I know it really has a rep at this point for being sort of sacred ground for this type of music, the classic ‘70s and ‘80s rock.
Glenn Hughes: It’s one of the best theaters in America, for sure.
Christopher David: So are there plans to do more of these shows?
Doug Aldrich: One is all we plan to do. We wanted to do something that would be special, and a one-off is definitely special – we want to make it an event. It’s really two shows – obviously, Glenn’s the feature of the night, being back with the Daisies, so we’re gonna do some songs with Glenn that we haven’t done for a long time, and then obviously, the classics from Mark 3 and 4 of Deep Purple.
Christopher David: Doug, what led you and the Daisies to decide on doing the blues covers album you released last year (Lookin’ for Trouble)?
Doug Aldrich: It was kind of the result of just being in a really inspiring studio. We were writing in Mussel Shoals, and there was so much history there, it just kinda led to us having some jams. We’d get done writing for the day, and just be like, ‘hey, man, let’s have a jam on something.’ So we started with “I’m Ready,” but decided to rock it up a little bit. It wasn’t intended to be a record, and it came down to Marti Frederiksen, he really liked the vibe, wanted to keep it raw with no overdubs, and it was really easy.
Christopher David: I’m a huge fan of ‘80s rock and hair metal, and I always tell people that those tunes, for as blown-out as they are in terms of production and whatnot, they’re just blues songs, at their root. That’s exactly how I felt listening to your cover of “Crossroads,” for example, it was true to the song, but it still has that ‘80s rock vibe.
Doug Aldrich: Yeah, that’s the thing we all grew up on. For me, it was Deep Purple, Sabbath, Cream, Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, and all those guys got their sound from the original blues guys. So you’re always in touch with those old blues guys.
Christopher David: Glenn, what were some of your early influences?
Glenn Hughes: Well, as a kid, you know, it was the Beatles and the Stones, that was just part of being an English kid. Then, toward the end of the ’60s, I found Motown. Once back then when I was in the studio making a Deep Purple record, Stevie Wonder walked in! Every since, I’ve been close with Stevie. All of my heroes are really black American artists.
Christopher David: That era of Motown was truly unbelievable in terms of output, the classic songs that came from such a relatively short period of time. The collective experience you two have playing seminal rock music, with such notable bands, is really incredible. What’s it like, as music from that era hits all these anniversary milestones, for you to look back and see the lasting impact of the music you’ve created?
Glenn Hughes: I don’t like to look back too much, but today, when I listen to rock radio, things that are coming out of college radio—with great respect, I’m hearing young bands emulating music we made in the 1970s. Respectfully, there I’m not really hearing anything organic or fresh. I’m still waiting to be blown away by the next Prince or the next Jeff Buckley or something like that, you know?
Doug Aldrich: I think it’s interesting that everything goes in circles. It seems like a lot of bands are coming out influenced by the ‘80s and ‘90s, and I keep referring back to the ‘70s as MY inspirational years. As far as my own stuff, I don’t really go back and listen to my own stuff, and I just try to move forward.
Glenn Hughes: When I’m making an album, all I’m really listening to is what happens in post- production, and then I’m done.
Doug Aldrich: It’s exciting when you’re working on a piece of music with someone, like with me and Glenn, and only the two or three of you know about it, you’ve created something that feels exciting then, and you listen to it over and over. Then, you might hear it on the radio or online or something, but I rarely would go, ‘hey, Glenn, listen to this thing I did twenty years ago!’ That’d be a conversation stopper!
Glenn Hughes: I meet people all over the world who will tell me about music I’ve made that I’ve forgotten about! I say that with respect, they love these pieces of music I’ve created all those years ago, and I’m so honored that people recognize me as a songwriter and that I’m able to be in that world.
Doug Aldrich: There are people who will come up to me and be like, “I love that Whitesnake song you did, ‘Forevermore,’ we got marred to that song!” And I’m thinking to myself, “man, the snare’s not loud enough in the mix of that song.”
Christopher David: I think everyone nitpicks their own creative output to some extent. So Glenn, what’s next for you after this show on May 30th?
Glenn Hughes: Well, I’ve been touring for a long time, and I needed a break this year, so I decided to take some time with my family, enjoy my California home, and that’s pretty much what I’m doing for the rest of the year. We all have to recharge the creative batteries!
Christopher David: Doug, what’s up for the Daisies after this?
Doug Aldrich: We were also going to take this year off, actually, since we’ve been hitting it really hard for the last few years right after Covid. When Glenn joined the band and we made [2021’s] Holy Ground, and then Covid hit, so it kinda pushed off promoting it, and then we made Radiance (2022), os we’re really excited to be playing those songs we did with Glenn at this show. I’m always doing sessions, and I just played on a track for Stephen Pearcy. When I have time off with Glenn, I’m really into doing stuff with my family—you can’t get the days back, and every day is blessing as far as that goes.
Christopher David: Given each of your incredible careers, is there anything you haven’t done that you still want to?
Glenn Hughes: I’ve played and sung with pretty much all of the people I’ve wanted to. I mean, I’ve had David Bowie as a house guest! Across the board, from Sabbath to Zeppelin to Jeff Beck, I’ve performed with a lot of people who, as a kid, I could never have imagined. And I’m one of the last ones standing! You don’t know how much time you have, so I try to live every day with love.
Doug Aldrich: There are lots of things, but I feel so lucky and grateful for everything I’ve gotten to do. I wouldn’t change anything, I’m just enjoying the ride. I love to travel, and we get the opportunity to go play in other countries, it’s amazing. Thanks to our instruments, we’ve gotten to have a really great life!
Christopher David: Any parting shots for the readers?
Glenn Hughes: The opportunity to play this one show at the Arcada, with these songs—it’s like having a big party, and we’re lucky to be able to share the love with you all!
Doug Aldrich: Don’t miss it, because you’re not gonna see this show again. It’s gonna be a great, long night of kick-ass rock music!
