The architects of Hard Rock are The Who, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, and Black Sabbath. And I was in two of those bands, so I'm very lucky to be a part of rock history.”
Glenn Hughes: Hi, Nando! How are you?
Wikimetal (Nando Machado): Great, Glenn. It's so good to talk to you, it's a real honor to have you at our show. Thank you so much for your time. Let me wish you a happy birthday tomorrow.
GH: Oh, thank you. Thank you very much.
W (NM): We're here to talk about the release of a tribute album, probably one of the best in rock history, "Machine Head." Do you remember where you were and how you felt when you first heard this album?
GH: Well, I remember one time in particular… This was when Deep Purple watched me playing at Trapeze, you know, this was when Ian Gillan was kind of, you know, having problems in the band, and this was all around the time I saw Deep Purple play in the United States for the first time. And I was really blown away by that particular album, that was the album that made the band very popular, so… But I remember very clearly where I was and what my sound was like, and it was really cool.
W (NM): So how did you choose “Maybe I’m Leo”, and what was it like recording with Chad Smith?
GH: You know, when this project came about, about two years ago, I had the opportunity to choose all the tracks I wanted, you know. And initially, Black Country was going to record “Highway Star,” but my first choice was “Maybe I’m a Leo.” It kind of seemed like, “Glenn Hughes could do something with this song.” If you really listen to the track, the way I did it, it sounds a lot like Glenn Hughes. I didn’t think it was appropriate to sound exactly like… I wanted to make it a bit more groovy. And, you know, you have the keyboard, and Luis Maldonado plays guitar, and of course, Chad plays drums, so it’s a groovy track, and I really like it, so…
W (NM): In your opinion, what other rock albums could or should have a tribute like this one?
GH: You know, it's kind of difficult to get tribute albums done on these big bands, because, you know, when you talk about Led Zeppelin, or Deep Purple, or The Who, Pink Floyd, Rolling Stones, they're so big… And, as you know, looking at the people involved in this, you know, Metallica, Iron Maiden, and myself, and Joe Satriani, and Steve Vai, there are a lot of people who like Deep Purple, and I'm sure a lot of people would love to do a cool Led Zeppelin album too. But it's very difficult to do tribute albums of bands that are very popular, because if you're going to do a tribute, you have to do it in a way that doesn't sound exactly like the original, you know. I think Metallica has a really cool sound doing "When a Blind Man Cries," I think it's a really good track, and I think it has the Metallica feel to it, you know, it would be silly to sound like Deep Purple.
W (NM): We have a classic question on our show, Glenn, that we ask everyone we interview: imagine you're listening to music, and a random song starts playing that makes you totally lose control, what song would that be, so we can hear it on our show right now?
GH: You know, I think the Beatles… It’s always been the Beatles for me, so, you know… The Beatles have always been the best rock 'n' roll band for me, you know. So it would have to be a Beatles song. Probably “A Day in the Life,” by the Beatles.
W (NM): Speaking about your new band, Black Country Communion, what's it like being in such a successful band after such a long career? And how do you manage to stay so young and fresh even after 40 years of playing music?
GH: I think for me, Nando… I think it’s important… I’m very competitive, and I also really enjoy studying voice and guitar, and I think you know me well enough to know that I have a great hunger to play live and record albums. I’m not lazy, I work hard. And I also believe in spiritual progression, and I also believe that things happen in their own time. Many people tell me, “Wow, man, if you hadn’t done those jobs, you could have been a big star in the 80s, and blah blah blah.” But, you know, my time is now, I think my time is now. And I think that in the next 10 years, you’re going to see more Glenn Hughes than you’ve seen in the last 20 years, so I’m very, very happy to be where I am now.
W (NM): That's great to hear, Glenn. We're very, very happy with Black Country Communion. How did you guys get together, and do you have any plans to come to Brazil soon?
GH: Yes, we would love to go to Brazil, you know, we got together three years ago, well, almost three years ago, and we've made three albums. The new album is coming out on October 30th, it should come to Brazil on October 30th. You know, I hope there will be a tour next year, and I'm also doing something new this year that will be announced in the next three months. It's going to be something new that I'm going to do, and it's going to be very, very big. Something new that I'm doing, I can't say more than that, but I promise I'll give you an exclusive.
W (NM): Ah, that's great, man. That's great. Well, I hope we can talk to you, or maybe one of the other guys, about the release of the new album later.
GH: Yeah, I'd love to do an interview with you guys. You know, I could maybe do it in September.
W (NM): Changing the subject, Glenn, we were all very sad a few days ago with the passing of the great Jon Lord. What do you think Jon represented for music and for the world of hard rock?
GH: Well, Jon was the originator of the Hammond… of the very heavy Hammond sound, you know… Jon was the original creator. He was the Jimi Hendrix of the Hammond organ, you know. But what I like people to remember about Jon Lord is that he was a lovely man, very kind and sweet. He was like a father to me in Deep Purple, and I miss him very much as a friend. We all miss him, obviously, musically, but for the people who knew him personally, it was really tragic. Jon was a really great man, you know… Jon Lord was the Jimi Hendrix of the Hammond organ.
I'm very competitive, and I also really enjoy studying voice and guitar. I think you know me well enough to know that I have a great hunger to play live and record albums. I'm not lazy, I work hard.”
W (NM): Correct me if I'm wrong, but you have many Brazilian friends. What is your relationship with Brazil, and what do you know about Brazilian music?
GH: You know, I come to Brazil quite often, and I don't know many rock groups, of course I know Sepultura. But I don't know many bands. I come to Brazil a lot, and I have many friends there, and I know there's a different music culture there. But I also understand that the metal and rock scene in Brazil is very, very big, and that's why it's a huge pleasure to go there, whether on tour, with Black Country, or with a new band I'm playing with. So the coolest part about Brazilian fans is that they really love music, and they are very passionate about their music, and it's an honor for me to play there.
W (NM): That's great, Glenn, we love you very much. I was a child in Brazil, almost 30 years ago, and I remember like it was yesterday watching Deep Purple's California Jam in the cinema. I was fascinated by the way you sang and played. What do you remember about that festival?
GH: Well, I remember it was really hot, and the festival started earlier, you know, so we had to go on stage before sunset, you know. Because originally, we weren't supposed to play until sunset. But it was kind of… What I liked about Deep Purple when I was in the band, the band was really good, it was like a place, if you were on the Deep Purple stage, there was a good chance you'd get hit by something. You know, there was a lot of aggression on stage, which we don't see much of these days, so what happened… When you look at the California Jam, you realize we were like five warriors there, and it was… It was almost like a sporting event, you know, and I remember it was very aggressive and very powerful.
W (NM): When I found out I was going to interview you, I started listening to some of your older albums, and recent ones too, and I thought, “My God.” I still get goosebumps when I listen to the album “Burn,” for example. In '74, you probably did an audition, or something like that. What was it like listening to the whole album back then, and how did you feel? Did you know you were releasing one of the best albums in rock history when you listened to it all?
GH: You know, I was talking to Dave Grohl about this same thing, about when they made their first album, you know. We talked about… I talk to a lot of artists I admire about what it was like when they made their first album, before it became famous, and we all kind of felt the same way, we all felt that when we made our first album that became big, we knew we had something very special on our hands. So, of course, when I was making “Burn,” with Blackmore, Paice, Coverdale, and Lord, we knew we were creating a big hit, so it was very special.
W (NM): I know this is going to be difficult for you right now, but could you choose a song from your career that you're very proud of, so we can hear it on our show now?
GH: Well, honestly, you have to listen to the song “Soul Mover,” because as a solo song, I think it’s very strong, and I also think the song I did with Iommi, “Dopamine,” from Fused, is a very strong song. I’m talking about rock now, metal songs, I think Iommi’s “Dopamine” is a very, very big song, and “Soul Mover” from my album is great.
W (NM): Glenn, our show is a hard rock and heavy metal show. So, since you're such an important part of hard rock history, who do you think invented heavy metal?
GH: Well, you know, I think the architects would have to be Sabbath, Purple, Zeppelin, and The Who. Those four bands: Sabbath, Purple, Zeppelin, and The Who are the architects of hard rock. And of course, later came Priest and Maiden, Metallica and AC/DC. But the architects are The Who, Purple, Zeppelin, and Sabbath. And I was in two of those bands, so I'm very lucky to be part of rock history.
If you have the ability to become a musician, please embrace that gift, because it is the greatest gift God could give you.”
W (NM): Speaking about the beginning of your career, Glenn, you were heavily influenced by R&B, as everyone knows. How do you think those influences helped you create such a unique way of playing and singing?
GH: Well, you know, every artist you interview on your show, each one will say something different. I mean, if you interviewed Rob Halford, or if you interviewed Robert Plant, or, you know, Ronnie James… Each one would have a different answer about who they grew up listening to… I know my friend Robert Plant was very influenced by Mississippi blues, and David Coverdale and I were influenced by Detroit music. You know, we come from the '60s, so when you interview people, I don't know, like James Hetfield, or Bruce Dickinson, they probably have a different kind of answer. But for me, it was what came from the United States, it was Black, it was either blues or soul, it was about life, you know. That time was very difficult for Americans, and many of my vocal influences come from prayer and, you know, it comes from within. So my voice is… I'm a white man who was blessed with this ability to control my feelings within a Black sensibility.
W (NM): Yeah, I love that. I also really like Motown, and you know, Sam Cooke, and all those great singers… Marvin Gaye, and I think it's great to hear rock sung with that kind of feeling, like you do. I hope Ritchie Blackmore doesn't hear me saying this, one of the best guitarists in the world, you played for a short time with the great Tommy Bolin. What do you think the world lost after this untimely death?
GH: Tommy was also… He loved Brazilian music, and he also loved reggae, and he loved jazz, and she really liked music from all over the world. Blackmore, as you know, influenced many guitarists. Blackmore enjoyed more medieval music. If Tommy Bolin were still alive today, I don't think he would be playing rock, he would be playing something completely different. Tommy Bolin, Ritchie Blackmore, two completely different people.
W (NM): And he was a musician who had no barriers, he played all kinds of music. Do you agree with me?
GH: I agree 100%, he didn't have… Like I said, you know, he liked Brazilian music, and, you know, folk and jazz and reggae and also rock. I really admire people who can express themselves in various musical genres.
W (NM): Glenn, we're almost done here. First of all, let me thank you so much, because, you know, we've interviewed so many, many rock legends, and I always get a little emotional when I talk to my rock 'n' roll heroes, and you're certainly one of them.
GH: I love you all there, and I hope to see you again sometime next year.
W (NM): Yes, thank you very much, Glenn, and just to wrap up, we usually ask our guests to leave a final message for a young person who is starting a music career. What would you say to him?
GH: That's what I would say to young Brazilians: if you have the opportunity to start learning to play an instrument, whether it's singing, or playing drums, or guitar, bass, keyboard, or, you know, saxophone… If you have the ability to learn to play an instrument, and you feel connected to that instrument, and your soul tells you, “This is the right thing to do,” I want you to have that dream, and dream and never lose the dream of becoming an artist. Because when you become a musical artist, you are free, it's almost like freedom… It's like great football players, it's an art form, a wonderful freedom. So my gift to the young Brazilians listening today is that if you have the ability to become a musician, please embrace that gift, because it is the greatest gift God could give you.
W (NM): Excellent, Mr. Glenn Hughes on Wikimetal. Again, it was an honor to speak with you, and I hope to see you when you come to Brazil next time, and count on us to promote everything you do with your band, or with a new band, or with Black Country Communion, we will always be there.
GH: Well, thank you very much, I'm looking forward to seeing you.
W (NM): Thank you very much, Mr. Glenn Hughes at Wikimetal.
GH: Thank you, Wikimetal, we love you! Rock N' Roll!
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