Hard rock supergroup The Dead Daisies hit the stage for an exclusive, one-night-only reunion with former frontman and bassist Glenn Hughes. On May 30, 2026, the band delivered a highly anticipated special concert event at the historic Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, Illinois.
For this rare gig, Hughes linked up with the band’s current touring lineup, featuring guitarist Doug Aldrich, drummer Tommy Clufetos, and guitarist David Lowy. The musicians treated fans to a massive, 50/50 split-set performance. The night opened with a powerful run of ten original tracks from The Dead Daisies, before pivoting entirely into a second half packed with iconic Deep Purple classics.
Hughes originally departed from The Dead Daisies in May 2023 after fronting the project for four years. Following his exit, the band welcomed back returning vocalist John Corabi, who had previously handled frontman duties from 2015 until Hughes took over in 2019.
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.”
Earlier this month, Hughes 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.
During a recent interview with “Metal Kaoz“, Hughes said:
“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. 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.”
“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.”
The Dead Daisies featuring Glenn Hughes setlist at Arcada Theatre (According to Setlist.fm):
- “Unspoken“
- “Resurrected“
- “Chosen And Justified“
- “My Fate“
- “Fortunate Son” (Creedence Clearwater Revival cover)
- “Born To Fly“
- “Rise Up“
- “Radiance“
- “Hypnotize Yourself“
- “Holy Ground (Shake The Memory)“
Deep Purple Set:
- “Stormbringer” (Deep Purple cover)
- “Sail Away” (Deep Purple cover)
- “Space Truckin’” (Deep Purple cover)
- “Gettin’ Tighter” (Deep Purple cover)
- “Might Just Take Your Life” (Deep Purple cover)
- “Smoke On The Water” (Deep Purple cover)
- “Mistreated” (Deep Purple cover)
- “Highway Star” (Deep Purple cover)
Encore:
- “Long Way To Go“
- “Burn” (Deep Purple cover)
