Glenn Hughes confirms Eddie Van Halen approached him to sing for Van Halen
Following the departure of David Lee Roth
Glenn Hughes claims that Eddie Van Halen spoke to him about fronting Van Halen following the departure of David Lee Roth in 1985.
Speaking to The Classic Rock Podcast, former Deep Purple vocalists Glenn Hughes said he had a chat with Eddie Van Halen, however Hughes’ battle with drugs and alcoholism thwarted his chances.
"Well, Eddie was newly sober at that time… And we spoke about it," Hughes explained. "I had no idea. Eddie had been a friend of mine from the beginning.
"Look… Wow… Would it have worked? I'm not sure. Unless I was completely sober — and I've been sober now for 24 years. Yeah, it would have been interesting, wouldn't it? You never know."
Hughes previously said in a 1996 interview that Van Halen would have picked him ahead of Sammy Hagar if he was sober.
"Eddie Van Halen told me last year… He said to me that, when they were auditioning Sammy Hagar, that if I would've been clean and sober I would've gotten the gig."
In the same year Van Halen were auditioning, Glenn Hughes sang lead vocals on Tony Iommi’s Black Sabbath album, ‘Seventh Star.’
Glenn Hughes hits the road in the UK this autumn on Planet Rock’s Rocktober tour celebrating the 50th anniversary of Deep Purple’s ‘Burn’.
The snappily titled 'Glenn Hughes Performs Classic Deep Purple Live - Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the album Burn' tour will also feature other songs from the MKIII and MKIV era of Deep Purple when Hughes was a member of the legendary band.
Featuring special guests The Damn Truth at all dates, tickets are on sale from Planet Rock Tickets now.
Glenn Hughes UK tour dates for Planet Rock’s Rocktober:
OCTOBER 2023
Holmfirth Picturedrome – Tue 10th
Southampton The 1865 – Thu 12th
Bexhill De La Warr Pavilion – Fri 13th
Nottingham Rock City – Sun 15th
Newcastle Boiler Shop – Tue 17th
Glasgow Queen Margaret Union – Fri 20th
Wolverhampton KK’s Steel Mill – Sat 21st
Bury St Edmunds The Apex – Mon 23rd
London Electric Ballroom – Wed 25th
Frome Cheese & Grain – Sat 28th
Manchester Academy – Sun 29th
Buy Glenn Hughes tickets
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