Hughes has carved a distinctive vocal style blending the finest elements of hard rock, soul and funk. That astonishing voice is Hughes' calling card. He's known as a singer's singer: in fact, Stevie Wonder once called Hughes his favorite white singer.
Hughes, a native of Cannock, England, absorbed all kinds of influences, including early British hard rock, the Beatles and, most importantly, American soul and R&B. The sleek Motown sound from Detroit and the gritty Stax/Volt sound from Memphis left their mark on him.
The first important band Hughes was a member of that achieved notable success was Trapeze, while in 1973 he joined one of the most popular bands in the world, Deep Purple. The trailblazing hard-rock legends had just weathered the departure of vocalist Ian Gillan and bass guitarist Roger Glover, but guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, keyboardist Jon Lord and drummer Ian Paice continued with the addition of Hughes and David Coverdale. Any skepticism was squelched with the 1974 release of Burn. This stunning album rejuvenated the band and stands tall among Deep Purple classics.
In the halcyon days, Purple headlined at the famous California Jam in 1974 in front of quarter of a million people. World tours via Purple's own jet plane, 'The Starship' and two more studio albums later, (the Hughes influenced Stormbringer and Come Taste the Band), Deep Purple finally split in 1976.
Now living in Los Angeles, Hughes' first solo album Play Me Out was released in 1977. He joined former Pat Travers guitarist Pat Thrall to form Hughes/Thrall, which released an acclaimed self-titled album in 1982. Throughout the '80s and '90s, Hughes made countless guest appearances (both credited and un-credited) as a vocalist, bass guitarist or songwriter on other artists' albums, in particular he appeared on the vastly underrated Seventh Star, was officially credited as 'Black Sabbath Featuring Tony Iommi'. Hughes and Iommi remained friends and in the past few years they have released one brand new studio album together.
More commercial recognition came when the KLF dubbed Hughes 'The Voice of Rock', proudly featuring him on their international best selling hit single America- What Time is Love'
Since 1992, Hughes has toured extensively in Europe, Japan and South America in support of solo albums such as Blues, From Now On..., Feel, Addiction, The Way It Is, Return Of Crystal Karma, Building The Machine, Songs In The Key Of Rock, Soul Mover and Music For The Divine.
Soul Mover saw the continuation of the successful creative partnership with Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith that began with Glenn's live DVD Soulfully Live in the City of Angels (2004). Soul Mover was voted 12th best album of the year by highly influential UK magazine CLASSIC ROCK.
After the release of his album Music For The Divine in 2006, 2007 saw Hughes make successful tours of Russia, South America, Italy, Norway and Spain, along with solo dates in London - at the prestigious Shepherds Bush Empire - Bulgaria and Greece. 2007 also saw Hughes headline at festival appearances in France and Norway. Hughes also took part in the Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp in New York, which was highly successful and he also appeared as a guest presenter at the Classic Rock Awards in both 2006 and 2007. Another highlight of a diverse and colorful year were the 2 sold out solo shows at the famous Whisky in Los Angeles and BB King's in New York.
2008 saw Hughes undertake another extensive European tour; including a month long trek across Russia, festival appearances, and his first live shows in Belarus, Estonia and Romania. Another highlight was Hughes' appearance in London at the Childline Charity concert in March 2008 where he performed a short set of Deep Purple classics with Purple drummer Ian Paice. This was particularly poignant as it was the first time the pair had played together since the Purple days. Ironically, in June 2008, Hughes played in Liverpool, England for the first time in over 30 years; a triumphant and emotional return to the city where Deep Purple Mark IV played their final ever concert before disbanding in 1976.
Other highlights of 2008 include Hughes' live on air performance on the USA radio show Rockline, and his first appearance in New Zealand since 1975 with Deep Purple, when Hughes brought the house down at the G-Taranaki Festival in July.
Hughes' album, the 2008 release "First Underground Nuclear Kitchen"
Chad Smith again plays out of his skin on the drums, and Hughes has rarely - if ever - sounded more inspired, written with such grace, or sung with more passion.
Another world jaunt accompanied the release, carrying on into 2009 with tours of Europe, Russia, South America and selected shows in the States including sell out shows in LA and NYC.
2010 was one of the most exciting and prolific years in Hughes' career as it saw him recording and touring in a new supergroup project, BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION with guitar star Joe Bonamassa, keyboard player Derek Sherinian (Dream Theatre) and drummer Jason Bonham, son of the late Led Zeppelin legend John Bonham. The band released their debut album on September 20th, 2010. The album went to #13 in the Official UK Album Chart and #1 in the Official UK Rock Album Chart. Produced and mixed by Kevin Shirley (Aerosmith, Iron Maiden, The Black Crowes, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, Journey etc), this is yet another world-class musical statement that raises the bar for rock singing.
In November 2010, Hughes was awarded the ChildLine Award at Classic Rock's Roll of Honour.
Hughes and Black Country Communion released their second album, "2", in 2011, followed shortly afterwards, by their debut live tour encompassing the USA, UK and Europe. Their third release, "LIVE OVER EUROPE", recorded live while on the European leg of their debut tour, reached the Top 5 spot world-wide with releases on DVD, CD, Blu-ray and Vinyl.
Hughes had his AUTOBIOGRAPHY published in 2011, in both hard and soft cover editions. The Number 1 best seller is available at all good retailers, both online and at traditional brick & mortar stores!
In November 2011, Black Country Communion won the prestigious Classic Rock Breakthrough Artist of the Year award at the Classic Rock Awards in London, with Glenn collecting the award on behalf of the band.
2012 saw Hughes touring Russia as a solo artist and also South America as a member of the Rock and Roll AllStars, featuring his good friends Gene Simmons, Matt Sorum, and Joe Elliot amongst others. Hughes also did solo shows and guest appearances in the UK, Israel, Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Russia, Ukraine, China and Armenia but his main focus in 2012 was the writing, recording and press promotion for the third Black Country Communion album, "AFTERGLOW". Released worldwide in late October 2012, and again produced by Kevin Shirley, the album was another huge success for the band, and is possibly the most Hughes dominated album of the three, with many of the songs written solely by Glenn.
2013 saw Hughes embarking on some exciting new projects, with the best yet to come from this most eclectic, talented and inspired musician and songwriter.
Nights In White Satin
Glenn Hughes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Never reaching the end
Letters I've written
Never meaning to send
Beauty I'd always missed
With these eyes before
Just what the truth is
Cuz I love you
Yes, I love you
Oh, how, I love you
I love you
Gazing at people
Some hand in hand
Just what I'm going thru
I can't understand
Some try to tell me
Thoughts they cannot defend
Just what you want to be
You will be in the end
And I love you
Yes, I love you
Oh, how, I love you
Oh, how, I love you
Nights in white satin
Never reaching the end
Letters I've written
Never meaning to send
Beauty I'd always missed
With these eyes before
Just what the truth is
I can't say anymore
Cuz I love you
Yes, I love you
Oh, how, I love you Oh, I love you
I love you
Yes, I love you
Oh, I love you
I really do
I love you
Glenn Hughes's cover of The Moody Blues' classic hit "Nights in White Satin" presents a somber and melancholic approach. The song speaks of the emotion and the pain of a love that cannot be fulfilled or expressed. The lyrics touch upon the poet's unspoken feelings and emotions that he has tried to articulate through letters that he never meaning to send. The song suggests the futility of trying to reveal one's true feelings to another, as the beauty that has been missed thus far remains invisible to the poet before his eyes.
The lyrics describe a scene of people walking together, hand in hand but the poet is troubled, trying to understand what he is going through. He then goes on to say that people try to tell him about their thoughts, which they cannot defend. The ambiguity of these lines may suggest that people's opinions and beliefs are not always based on reality, and that eventually, we become what we want to be, in the end. The words "I love you," repeated throughout the song's chorus, seemingly express the poet's frustrated love that cannot find a way out despite his efforts to communicate his feelings.
Overall, the song portrays the pain and hurdles one faces when trying to reveal their true feelings to another. It speaks of the beauty that may have been missed, the ambiguity of people's opinions, and the confusion that comes with trying to understand one's emotions. The song speaks to the human experience of love and the pain that comes with it, making it a timeless classic.
Line by Line Meaning
Nights in white satin
The nights are calm and peaceful like a soft and warm satin cloth.
Never reaching the end
The nights seem endless and never-ending.
Letters I've written
The writer has expressed their emotions and feelings through letters.
Never meaning to send
The writer never intends to send the letters but uses them as a way to convey their emotions.
Beauty I'd always missed
The writer has missed the true beauty of life before and is only now seeing it.
With these eyes before
The writer has seen things before, but never truly understood the beauty of it.
Just what the truth is
The writer is unsure of the reality of what is happening in their life.
I can't say anymore
The writer is unable to explain or express their thoughts any further.
Cuz I love you
The writer is in love with someone and this is the reason for their emotions.
Yes, I love you
The writer confirms their love for the person they are addressing.
Oh, how, I love you
The writer shows extreme passion and love for the person they are addressing.
Gazing at people
The writer is observing people around them.
Some hand in hand
Some people are holding hands with each other, symbolizing their love and affection.
Just what I'm going through
The writer is uncertain of their own emotions and feelings.
I can't understand
The writer is unable to comprehend their own thoughts and emotions.
Some try to tell me
Others are offering advice or suggestions to the writer.
Thoughts they cannot defend
Their thoughts and opinions may be questionable or unsupported.
Just what you want to be
The writer implies that people have the potential to become what they desire.
You will be in the end
The writer suggests that people will ultimately become what they aspire to be.
Oh, how, I love you
The writer again expresses their immense love for the person they are addressing.
Oh, I love you
The writer continues to affirm their love for the person they are addressing.
I love you
The writer again repeatedly confirms their love for the person they are addressing.
Yes, I love you
The writer confirms their love one more time.
I really do
The writer emphasizes and confirms that their love for the person they are addressing is genuine.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Justin Hayward
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Peter Bardy
Love it
dalecatoymadrid1
Una de las mejores canciones de todos lo tiempos. Fantastica.Gracias earMUSICofficial
helloweenjunior
GLENN is the best!!
sam arts
awesome,great,thank u for uploading,his voice is damn good!
CrotchBlaster
Still the voice of rock!
Malikai Hoon
He wasnt the og
Andy Hillas
I met Glenn a couple of years ago and he was a very nice gentleman. Didn’t mind having a picture with me and my friend. A very nice man
David Morris
As good as coverdale is, i think purple had 2 for the price of one in glenn. Superb singer, solid bassist.
Pati Moto
Glenn Hughes., THE GREATEST PERFORMER AND THE COMPOSER, I ADORE, SUPER!!!! ITS VOICE NOT FORGOTTEN........
Dave Yt
...Muchísimo mejor que la original. !Y eso es demasiado!. :)