Glenn Hughes “Burn” 50th. Anniversary
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Glenn Hughes, famously recognized as the “Voice of Rock” and a distinguished Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, has embarked on an exciting new tour titled “Glenn Hughes Performs Classic Deep Purple Live – Celebrating The 50th Anniversary of the Album Burn.”
The New Glenn Hughes Purple Lineup
I remember when Hughes and Coverdale joined Deep Purple with the exit of singer Ian Gillian and bassist Roger Glover. At first, I was a bit bummed as the original lineup was an exceptional hard rock combo second to none, in my opinion.
I believe there have been only a few instances where a lineup change has not suffered to any reasonable degree, and this was one of those cases. Glenn Hughes’ bass playing certainly does not put him in a virtuoso category, but he does get the job done. Given that he is no Charles Berthoud, he does have the added ability to double as a lead singer.
The first new lineup also included David Coverdale, who shared the singing duties with Hughes and the other band members, the original instrumentalists Jon Lord, Ian Pace, and, of course, Richie Blackmore, which worked out well. However, If I had my choice between this lineup and the original, I’d still have to go with Ian Gillian and company.
As a rock enthusiast and concertgoer growing up in Chicago, I saw my fair share, but the Gods never lined up for me to catch the Purple Clan. This was one great band that I regret not seeing live at their peak. Thank goodness for YouTube, where I could see firsthand how great of an act they were. I thought Ian Gillian had an absolute killer-sounding voice and knew how to use it.
Full Video of The 50th. Anniversary
The video below is a full concert from his 50th-anniversary tour posted by the Rebecca Alsen channel. The lineup includes another bass player, who frees up Mr. Hughes to perform more as a lead singer on Highway Star. He does pick up his bass duties again for the expected conclusion with his biggest album hit, “Burn.“
This tour showcases Hughes, the former bassist and singer of DEEP PURPLE, as he revisits the iconic music of the band alongside talented musicians Søren Andersen on guitar, Ash Sheehan on drums, and Bob Fridzema on keyboards.
Reflecting on the making of the “Burn” album, Hughes recalls the magical summer of 1973 spent at Clearwell Castle in Gloucestershire. Here, the band’s creative energies, including new members David Coverdale and Hughes himself, came together. Recorded in Montreux, Switzerland, in October of the same year, the album captured a transformative moment for DEEP PURPLE as they embraced fresh ideas in an inspiring setting.
Hughes fondly remembers writing songs in the castle’s crypt and being pranked by the legendary guitarist Ritchie Blackmore during their time together.
Hughes eagerly anticipated celebrating “Burn” on this special tour, reconnecting with fans and reliving the electrifying tracks that propelled the album to success. Released in February 1974, the “Burn” album marked a significant shift for DEEP PURPLE by incorporating elements of soul and funk.
Its high-energy title track and the bluesy brilliance of “Mistreated” quickly became hallmarks of hard rock. The album climbed to impressive chart positions, reaching No. 3 in the U.K., No. 9 in the U.S., and topping charts in several European countries.
The 2004 remastered edition of “Burn” introduced bonus tracks, including “Coronarias Redig” a B-side from the original sessions. This version of “Burn” was even featured in the video game “Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock.”
Hughes continues to share insights about this era of DEEP PURPLE, further explored in a documentary from “The Ultimate Critical Review” series in 2005.
Now, fans old and new have the opportunity to experience the timeless energy of “Burn” live as Hughes brings these classic songs back to the stage.
By Bob Truesdale
