Glenn Hughes Announces Retirement From Touring and Live Performances

Health Complications and Surgery Requirements

The legendary Glenn Hughes, a Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee who will turn 75 later this month, shared the news of his retirement via social media on Tuesday afternoon. The decision comes after medical consultations regarding ongoing health concerns that surfaced throughout the past year. According to the musician, his medical team reached the conclusion that surgery was necessary after reviewing the results of multiple diagnostic tests, including MRIs, CT scans, and an echocardiogram.

"This past year, I’ve had some health issues. The results from numerous MRIs, CT scans, and an echocardiogram have alerted my medical team, that I need another open-heart surgery. I really have no option and no choice as health is my number one priority. Grateful to have been chosen with a life full with the gift of music… Thank you for walking beside me."

— Glenn Hughes

This announcement follows a previous health-related interruption in January, when Hughes was forced to cancel a planned six-week U.S. spring tour. At that time, the situation was described as a "minor health issue" that required attention over the subsequent months. However, the latest medical findings have necessitated a more permanent step back from the stage for the foreseeable future.

Recent Performances and Tour Cancellations

In the wake of his retirement announcement, an upcoming concert scheduled for October 2, 2026, at The Canyon Club in Agoura Hills, California, has been officially canceled. This show was intended to be a continuation of the momentum generated by his recent live activity. Most recently, Hughes appeared on stage this past Saturday night in Rancho Mirage, California, where he fronted the Kings of Chaos supergroup. During that performance, he led the band through four Deep Purple classics, including the track "Stormbringer."

His most recent full-length live concert occurred on May 30, 2026, at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, Illinois. That event featured a reunion under The Purple Daisies banner, where Hughes performed alongside guitarist Doug Aldrich, drummer Tommy Clufetos, and guitarist David Lowy. The setlist for the sold-out show was a 50/50 split, featuring 10 tracks from The Dead Daisies followed by nearly ten iconic songs from his tenure with Deep Purple.

Prior to these events, Hughes was active on "The Chosen Years" tour throughout 2025, which saw him performing across Europe and South America. The tour began in Zoetermeer, Netherlands, on September 2 and concluded in Bogota, Colombia, on November 29. These shows were designed as a two-hour career retrospective, featuring material from Trapeze, Deep Purple, Hughes/Thrall, Iommi/Hughes, and Black Country Communion. For these performances, he was joined by guitarist Søren Andersen and drummer Ash Sheehan.

Recent Studio Work and Artistic Legacy

While his live career has reached a conclusion, Hughes remains a prolific figure in the Hard Rock and blues rock genres. His latest solo studio album, titled "Chosen", was released on September 5, 2025, through Frontiers Music Srl. The album was preceded by the release of several music videos, including the title track in June 2025, "Voice In My Head" in July, and "Into The Fade" in August.

In addition to his solo work, Hughes has been involved in several high-profile collaborations recently. On May 22, 2025, he was featured on the Robbie Williams single "Rocket," a track that also included Tony Iommi. This marked the first recorded collaboration between Hughes and Iommi since the 2005 album "Fused." Furthermore, he contributed songwriting and vocals to the single "I Wanna Play My Guitar" for SATCHVAI, a project featuring guitarists Joe Satriani and Steve Vai.

Historical Context and Influences

Born in Cannock, England, in 1951, Hughes developed a musical style that blended early British rock with American soul and R&B. He was heavily influenced by the Motown sound from Detroit and the Stax/Volt sound from Memphis. His career rose to international prominence in the early 1970s with Trapeze before he joined Deep Purple in 1973 as part of the Mark III and Mark IV lineups. During his time with Deep Purple, he appeared on the seminal albums "Burn", "Stormbringer", and "Come Taste the Band", and performed at the California Jam for over 300,000 fans.

Following the disbandment of Deep Purple in 1976, Hughes released his first solo album, "Play Me Out", in 1977. His extensive career includes over a dozen solo albums and memberships in various groups and alliances, such as Black Sabbath (appearing on the 1986 album "Seventh Star"), Hughes/Thrall, California Breed, Black Country Communion, and The Dead Daisies. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, he also contributed to projects by Gary Moore and John Norum, and later collaborated with musicians such as Chad Smith, Dave Navarro, and John Frusciante.