Glenn Hughes at Robin2, Bilston

 

By Debbie Bennett

There are a few artists so prolific in their songwriting and with such a diverse back catalogue that they warrant two gigs in one weekend.

 See more pics of Glenn in our gallery below!

Cannock-born singer Glenn Hughes is one of those few and this weekend a loyal following from the Midlands and beyond was treated to a mini festival at Bilston’s Robin2, celebrating all that is “the voice of rock”.

On Saturday Glenn’s band performed a mix of material from the singer’s latest album First Underground Nuclear Kitchen, his extensive solo career and classics from his time as singer and bassist with Deep Purple.

The show, which was being filmed, provided a few surprises of rarely played songs, including some material that Glenn had never played in the UK before. One European fan was visibly moved by What’s Goin’ On Here from Deep Purple’s Burn which the singer hasn’t performed in years.

Testosterone-charged show opener Muscle and Blood from Hughes/Thrall, tracks from Music for the Divine, and You Keep on Moving from DP’s Come Taste the Band were expertly crafted live with help from LA guitarist Jeff Kolman, Bristol keys man Anders Olinder, and Steve Stephens on drums, while an epic Mistreated kept the sell-out Robin crowd transfixed.

Sunday’s show – “You are the Music – an evening of Trapeze”– turned out to be a unique and exclusive musical tribute to Glenn’s former band, the legendary Trapeze, and was the first time the singer has ever played a full Trapeze set as a solo artist.

Songs such as Way Back to the Bone, Touch My Life, Medusa and Seafull were played for the first time in years.

The show was particularly poignant and emotional as it was dedicated to the memory of Glenn’s dear friend, the former Trapeze and Whitesnake guitarist Mel Galley, who died in July last year.

Mel’s widow Annette joined Glenn briefly on stage to respected applause, while the singer took up Mel’s much-loved Gibson Les Paul “Black Beauty” for a soaring Coast to Coast.

There was even a brief comedy interlude when Glenn’s old pal Cannock comedian Ian “Sludge” Lees took over the stage.

The singer also mentioned his autobiography which will be published next year and, although vague in comments about his days in Deep Purple, he did say “Wait ’til you read the book.”

The show ended with the Trapeze classics You Are The Music and Black Cloud, and was a momentous tribute to what marked 40 years since the band was formed.