Legendary vocalist and bassist Glenn Hughes has confirmed his intentions to step away from the touring circuit for the remainder of 2026, marking a rare period of downtime in his decades-long career. The announcement comes as the musician prepares for an exclusive, one-night-only performance with The Dead Daisies scheduled for May 30 at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, Illinois.
The May 30 show comes after Hughes recently canceled his Spring 2026 U.S. tour due to a “minor health issue.” The planned run, which was to feature his “The Chosen Years” show from March 27 in San Juan Capistrano, California to May 10 in Tempe, Arizona, was postponed to allow the 74-year-old musician to focus on his well-being. Hughes addressed fans in a statement: “I’m taking advice from my medical team, who I am working closely with. Hoping to see you on the road of happy destiny.”
During a recent interview with “Metal Kaoz“, former Deep Purple frontman discussed the upcoming concert, which will see him sharing the stage with guitarist Doug Aldrich, drummer Tommy Clufetos, and guitarist David Lowy. The special setlist is designed as a 50/50 split, featuring ten fan-favorite tracks from The Dead Daisies followed by ten iconic Deep Purple classics.
Regarding the possibility of this lineup embarking on further tour dates, Glenn was quick to clarify that this appearance is strictly a singular event before his planned hiatus begins.
“Specifically when David Lowy asked me to do this show, I don’t know what they have planned, if they have anything planned. I know I’m taking some time off. I’m looking forward to that. But we really haven’t talked about anything other than the Arcada Theater. Really, it’s just a one-show celebration of Deep Purple and Dead Daisies,” he stated.
The singer emphasized that his decision to take a break was a long time coming, driven by a relentless work schedule that has spanned over three decades.
“For me, I was gonna take 2026 off. I’ve been working like a crazy man for 30 years, and I haven’t really had any time to take a break. So this year, for me, was going to be a no-show, no-album year. So all I know is I’m doing one show with my friends, and the rest is up to God,” he explained. “I’ve been touring constantly since 1992. And I really haven’t had a good length of downtime, and I thought this would be the year to do it.”
In addition to his touring plans, Glenn touched upon his creative mindset and what fans can expect from his future studio efforts. Having released his most recent solo album, Chosen, in 2025, he remains committed to pushing his artistic boundaries rather than relying on established formulas.
“What I was saying last year was — I’ve been making rock music for 50 years, more than that, and as an ever-changing artist, I have to listen to my soul and listen to and breathe. I’m not saying I won’t make rock music, but it’s not gonna be straight-down-the-middle classic rock. It’s gonna be a little bit different. I can’t stay in a formula. I can’t do that. I’ve been changing every time I make an album. It’s got the rock feel, but there’s groove and there’s R&B, a little jazz. That’s the way I operate. I can’t make Burn Part 2 or Addiction Part 2. I can’t do that. And I think it doesn’t matter how old [I am] — I could be 20 or 70, it doesn’t really matter. For me, I have a young spirit. And I love writing music, and I love to sing. It’s everything to me,” he added.
Despite the planned year off from the public eye, the enduring passion for his craft remains intact. The vocalist expressed deep gratitude for his enduring vocal abilities and the continued support of his global fanbase.
“ For me, I sing all the time, whether I’m on stage or off stage. I’ve been given a tremendous gift with this voice. In my peer group, there’s four or five of my friends, and you know who they are, at my age that are still out there doing this. And we’re all very, very grateful. But while I have this ability to sing and feel the way I do, I think it’s important to feel good about giving it to people. I’ve had a lot of support with my voice all these years. There’s no one more grateful than I am for the people that have really come to see me sing. I’m a live singer. I’m very much a live singer.”
