The song that saved Glenn Hughes’ life and career: “Game-changer”
Stepping into any well-established group can be a challenge even for the most seasoned musicians, but Glenn Hughes managed to take it in his stride – twice.
After all, Hughes not only took over as the bassist for Deep Purple, but also managed to stand in place of Ian Gillan and Geezer Butler in Black Sabbath in the 1980s, a stint that most would have shied away from, let alone grab for everything it was worth. It might not have been his best credential, but he still did more than most, showing a willingness to stake a claim that others merely dream of.
In bands and as a solo artist, Hughes has rubbed shoulders with some of the best names in the business, constantly keeping his eyes on the prize when it comes to opportunities. This is something that Hughes has done all his life, having picked up a guitar in his teens and watching someone four years his senior – Mel Galley – lead the way.
However, as was the path Hughes took with many of his peers, the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle eventually started to take its toll, and drug abuse took flight – something he initially shunned but took one night after wondering what all the fuss was about. In hindsight, he realises it was deeper than that, and that he probably wasn’t very happy at the time, despite everything on the outside looking different.
Through the ‘80s, Hughes’ drug addiction led to some bizarre and, quite frankly, scary situations, many of which he revealed candidly in his 2011 autobiography, From Deep Purple to Black Country Communion. Along with his near-death experiences and those he lost to drug addiction, he also recalled each isolating moment that led to checking into the Betty Ford clinic, though he remained somewhat active during the time, even on the cusp of a one-way spiral.
Looking back, Hughes would often say he wasn’t sure what ultimately pulled him out of it at the turn of the 1990s, but one look at the way he talks about his work with the KLF reveals that maybe he knows more than he lets on. In 1991, Hughes provided vocals on ‘America: What Time Is Love?’, a moment he later said “saved his life” from his downward descent.
It was a turning point not only musically, but literally, as he told MusicRadar: “I figured to myself, ‘Here’s an opportunity now, after being gone from Deep Purple for quite some time, to change the course of my career. But this wasn’t simply a career move. It was a push toward sobriety. It was an opportune moment for me. It led me to think, ‘Let’s go to rehab and see if I really am an alcoholic.’”
He went on, “That song, and that session, and the realisation that was to come was a game-changer for me. If I hadn’t have done that song in October or November of 1991, it would have been difficult for me to have another life-changing moment where I thought I needed help.”
At the time, the KLF duo didn’t know the extent of Hughes’ problems, but in a way, that ended up being for the best, as it allowed him the space to reflect on his own situation and take a step back, readying himself for what was to come. What he hadn’t realised at the time was that his desire for a career switch-up had manifested itself as something bigger, setting him on the path to recovery that he knew he needed.
