Glenn Hughes says Ritchie Blackmore blocked his appearance on David Bowie album

Speaking in Issue 2 of Planet Rock Magazine, Glenn Hughes has revealed David Bowie wanted him to sing on his 1975 album ‘Young Americans’.

Author: Scott ColothanPublished 7th Jul 2017

Bowie spent a year living with Glenn in his Beverly Hills home in the mid-seventies and the pair became inseparable bonding over their love of music, fashion and, of course, their mutual drug habits.

“David moved into my home in April 1975, to write ‘Station to Station’, and we had a good time,” Glenn told Planet Rock Magazine.

“People wondered what the greatest living artist of our time was doing living with a rocker. But he became one of my best friends. And it wasn’t just about drugs. David threw away my Kensington Market clothes and got me to cut my hair.”

Playing bass for Deep Purple at the time, Glenn said that a certain genius/volatile guitarist blocked him from collaborating with The Thin White Juke.

“(David) wanted me to sing on ‘Young Americans’, but Ritchie thought it would injure Deep Purple. What nonsense!”

Elsewhere in the interview, Glenn said that he and David Coverdale were “kept at a bit of an arm’s distance” while in Deep Purple.

“Joining a band like Deep Purple was difficult,” Glenn explained. “I was whisked into a world of sold-out arenas, private jets and people wanting to give you girls and drugs and drink.

“The others, Jon (Lord), Ian (Paice) and Ritchie (Blackmore) were wise guys who’d done it all, but David (Coverdale) and I were the new kids and kept at a bit of an arm’s distance. It was lonely and confusing.”

You can read Glenn’s full My Guide To Life feature in Issue 2 of Planet Rock Magazine now, where he also talks about falling “prey to every one of the seven deadly sins”, cheating death and finally finding a higher power.  

As well as first-hand accounts of the heartbreak of AC/DC’s Back In Black, Led Zeppelin’s Earls Court triumph of 1975, and Rival Sons' latest European sojourn and Living Colour’s return, there’s an in-depth chat with Status Quo’s Francis. The issue also features loads more on David Gilmour, The Runaways, Rush, RavenEye, The Darkness, Saxon, Rock Goddess, Cheap Trick and more.

Elsewhere, our deliciously filtered reviews section brings you the lowdown on the latest albums by Alice Cooper through to Steven Wilson via The Cadillac Three, as well as live action from Aerosmith, Guns N’ Roses and Rainbow.

You’ll find all of this and much more in your new favourite magazine! Planet Rock Magazine… Where Rock Lives!

ORDER ISSUE 2 OF PLANET ROCK MAGAZINE HERE!