Glenn Hughes has been touring Europe, performing classic Deep Purple songs from the Mark III and Mark IV eras and fortunately, this tour included stops in Athens and Thessaloniki. As soon as I heard about the shows in Greece, I was thrilled: this time, we would have the chance to experience Hughes solo, with his touring band, playing those iconic Purple tracks. Last summer, we saw Hughes live at the Release Athens Festival 2022 with the Dead Daisies, however, this time, we are in for a substantial dose of Glenn Hughes, showcasing his legendary repertoire.
by Dimitris Zacharopoulos
photos by Iro Kalligeri (@irokalligeriphotography)
We arrived at the big and beautiful Floyd venue in Athens early in the afternoon to secure a spot right in front of the stage. By eight o’clock, we were eagerly waiting, although the show wasn’t set to start for another two hours. It would have been nice to have an opening act before Glenn Hughes, but we passed the time chatting and speculating about the incredible performance to come. The anticipation was palpable, and time flew by swiftly. Before we knew it, it was already ten o’clock, and the lights dimmed as the musicians took their places on stage.
Firstly, we saw Søren Andersen (guitar), Ash Sheehan (drums), and Bob Fridzema (keyboards) take their positions, and then The Voice of Rock himself, Glenn Hughes, graced the stage. Dressed in a ’70s style outfit, wearing glasses, and sporting a big smile, he greeted the fans and began the show with the first notes of “Stormbringer”! It was the perfect start, and the crowd went wild as the band delivered an incredible performance. The next song was “Might Just Take Your Life,” and Hughes and his band had us all thoroughly shaken.
The evening’s setlist consisted entirely of Deep Purple songs from the albums “Stormbringer”, “Burn” and “Come Taste the Band” and it seemed everyone was thrilled with that choice. Hughes performed with the energy of a teenager, in great spirits and shape, masterfully playing his bass and singing with his unique, high-pitched yet rough voice. His bandmates were equally excellent, playing passionately and furiously, all while smiling at the fans. Søren Andersen proved himself a guitar hero, Ash Sheehan commanded the drums like a god, and their solos were magnificent.
We had an incredible time, headbanging and cheering for Mr. Hughes, who kept engaging with us, sharing interesting anecdotes, telling jokes, and spreading his message of “peace and love”. The songs sounded heavenly, and when Hughes performed “Mistreated”, he set the venue on fire. We were ecstatic, thrilled, and completely satisfied. During the encore, “Burn” became our anthem, with everyone singing along and playing air guitar. Hughes left the stage to a standing ovation—it was a blast!
I thoroughly enjoyed Glenn Hughes’ solo performance. The English rock star treated us to nearly two hours of incredible music, filled with emotion and heart. This live show was truly unique. Thank you so much, Mr. Hughes!
