In a recent chat with Guitar Interactive Magazine, Glenn Hughes criticized Deep Purple’s Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, and Ian Paice.
When asked about his memories of Purple’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2016, the singer replied:
“I will never speak to any of them again, simply because they were rude. Both Roger, Ian and Gillan were rude to David [Coverdale] and I. Very, very hurtful. I didn’t give a f*ck, actually, because I knew they were rude to begin with.”
Hughes continued, sharing Gillan’s behavior towards him at the ceremony:
“I was the only sober man there. I don’t care about those guys. Gillan was rude to me on stage, accepting the award. I went to congratulate him. He looked at me in the eyes like I didn’t exist. The guy has a problem with me, period. I’ll let him run with it. I feel bad for him. I’m really sorry about his wife [Gillan’s wife of 40 years, Bron, died in 2022]. I’ve tried to reach out to him. He doesn’t want to know.”
Deep Purple Didn’t Want Hughes And Coverdale To Perform
In a 2016 interview with Metal Rules, Glenn said someone in Deep Purple’s lineup stopped him and David Coverdale from performing at the band’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. He explained:
“I’m not going to name names, as there is a member who didn’t feel it was appropriate that we should sing. So David and I braved it together as we were arm and arm all the way through. But I knew by the end of the night it would not happen.”
The musician mentioned that despite not performing initially, they eventually got on stage thanks to an invitation from Cheap Trick, and he emphasized that there were no hard feelings:
“Am I upset about not singing with Deep Purple? Not at all. Everybody knows that David and I can sing. Everybody knows that we were in the band. All that mattered to me was accepting the award on behalf of Deep Purple and the fans.”
Deep Purple’s Rock Hall induction included their first three lineups, featuring Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Paice, Jon Lord, and various singers and bassists like Rod Evans, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Coverdale, and Hughes. Gillan, Glover, Paice, Coverdale, and Hughes gave acceptance speeches.