Why Glenn Hughes Says He Should Never Have Left Trapeze

When Glenn Hughes talks about his illustrious career spanning five decades in rock music, you might expect him to reminisce fondly about his time in Deep Purple or Black Sabbath. Instead, the legendary bassist and vocalist makes a surprising confession that his most important musical work came from his first band, Glenn Hughes Trapeze. Despite achieving worldwide fame with Deep Purple and working with some of rock’s biggest names, Hughes maintains that leaving Trapeze was the biggest mistake of his career.

This revelation from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee sheds new light on one of classic rock’s most fascinating “what if” stories. The Voice of Rock built his reputation on the funky, soulful foundation he created with Trapeze in the early 1970s, making three groundbreaking albums that influenced generations of musicians. Today, as he continues to perform and record, Hughes reflects on why that original trio meant everything to him.

(Image credit: Joby Sessions)

The Early Days: How Glenn Hughes Joined Trapeze

The story of Glenn Hughes Trapeze begins in Cannock, Staffordshire, where a young bassist found his musical soulmate in guitarist Mel Galley. Hughes started as a guitarist at age thirteen, but everything changed when he saw Galley perform. Galley became his idol, and Hughes would mimic everything about the older musician’s playing style and stage presence.

When Galley joined Finders Keepers and their bass player left, he thought of the young guitar player from his hometown. Within twenty-four hours, Hughes switched from guitar to bass just to play alongside Mel Galley. This decision would shape the rest of his career and lead to the formation of one of classic rock’s most underrated bands.

By 1969, Trapeze had formed with Hughes on bass and vocals, Galley on guitar, and Dave Holland on drums. Two members from another local band, The Montanas, completed the original five-piece lineup. The band caught the attention of The Moody Blues, who signed them to their Threshold Records label. This connection gave Glenn Hughes Trapeze immediate credibility and opportunities that most new bands could only dream about.

Finding His Voice: Becoming the Frontman

Hughes originally joined Trapeze as a bassist who occasionally sang a few lines. His powerful voice was still developing, influenced heavily by the soul and R&B music he discovered through his girlfriend’s brother who ran a discotheque in Walsall. While his schoolfriends listened to The Beatles and Rolling Stones, Hughes immersed himself in Tamla Motown, Stevie Wonder, Al Green, and Marvin Gaye.

Behind his back, Mel Galley and Dave Holland had a meeting with management. They recognized something special in Hughes’s vocals and convinced management to build the band around him as the frontman. When they called Hughes into the office with this proposal, he was completely shocked. He had no idea his bandmates were planning to make him the lead vocalist.

Hughes felt conflicted about letting original vocalist Johnny Jones go, but he stepped up to the challenge. The transformation of Glenn Hughes Trapeze into a power trio would prove to be one of the most exciting developments in early 1970s rock. The chemistry between Hughes, Galley, and Holland created something magical that still resonates with fans today.

The Magical Trio Years with Trapeze

Between 1970 and 1972, Glenn Hughes Trapeze released three albums that showcased the band’s unique fusion of hard rock, funk, and soul. Their self-titled debut in May 1970 received strong reviews, with Billboard predicting big chart action. But it was their second album, Medusa, released in November 1970, that truly defined the Trapeze sound.

Hughes still speaks with passion about Medusa, calling it a beautiful piece of music. The album featured seven songs driven by Galley’s chunky riffs and marked by Hughes’s increasingly powerful voice. The title track demonstrated Hughes’s ability to blend melodic American West Coast sounds with heavy, riffy rock sections, a signature style he carries to this day.

The third album, You Are The Music… We’re Just The Band, released in 1972, came closest to commercial breakthrough. Songs like Coast To Coast, Way Back To The Bone, and the title track showcased fantastic groovy crossover R&B that should have made Trapeze household names. Hughes believes they were one song away from cracking it big. This lineup of classic rock artists created music that influenced everyone from Deep Purple to later funk-rock bands.

The trio developed an incredible musical connection. Hughes describes being completely in tune with Galley and Holland, working together in their hometown of Cannock. Mel Galley shared Hughes’s love for groove music, while Dave Holland proved himself a truly great drummer. For Hughes, that band was everything to him.

Deep Purple Came Calling in 1973

Deep Purple had been watching Glenn Hughes for a year. They saw him with Trapeze at legendary venues like the Marquee in London and the Whiskey A Go Go in Los Angeles. When Deep Purple decided to replace Ian Gillan and Roger Glover, they wanted Hughes for his incredible voice and bass playing.

While Trapeze was in Baltimore, Hughes received an invitation to fly to New York to watch Deep Purple play at Madison Square Garden. The next day, Jon Lord, Ian Paice, Ritchie Blackmore, and their management team made their offer. But there was a twist: they wanted him to play bass, planning to ask Paul Rodgers to be the lead singer.

Hughes initially said no. He was a lead singer in an established band, and he didn’t want to just play bass in what he saw as very classic, square, white-boy rock. The music of Glenn Hughes Trapeze was funky and soulful, completely different from Deep Purple’s style at that time. But the prospect of singing alongside Paul Rodgers changed his mind, even though Rodgers ultimately declined and David Coverdale got the job instead.

Leaving Trapeze to join Deep Purple seemed like the opportunity of a lifetime. Hughes was only 21 years old, and Deep Purple offered international stardom. They recorded the album Burn at Clearwell Castle, flew on their private jet The Starship, and played to massive crowds. On paper, it was everything a young musician could want.

Why Leaving Was His Biggest Regret

In a revealing interview about his new album Chosen, Hughes made a statement that surprised many classic rock news followers: “I should never have left Trapeze. I should never have left that band.” This confession carries weight because it comes from someone who achieved massive success after leaving.

Hughes admits he didn’t enjoy being in Deep Purple. While the music was okay, it wasn’t what made him happy. He felt uncomfortable with Ritchie Blackmore’s isolated approach to the band, missing the family aspect he experienced with Trapeze. Despite joining as a lead singer, Hughes found himself known as the second singer behind David Coverdale, even though they sang brilliantly together.

The real Glenn Hughes, as he puts it, emerges in his solo career. But the foundation of everything he does traces back to those years with Mel Galley and Dave Holland in Trapeze. The deep love and musical connection he shared with those two musicians created something irreplaceable. They were so in tune with each other as a trio that Glenn Hughes Trapeze remains the most important music he ever made.

Hughes emphasizes that Trapeze is still the most important music of his career because of his profound love for Mel and Dave. Working with those two people so closely in Cannock created a musical chemistry that he never quite recaptured, despite working with countless legendary musicians over the following decades.

The Enduring Legacy of Glenn Hughes Trapeze

What makes the Glenn Hughes Trapeze years so significant is their lasting influence on rock music. The band’s fusion of hard rock with funk and soul predated much of what would become standard in the genre. When Hughes brought that funky edge to Deep Purple, it rejuvenated the band and created some of their most interesting work on albums like Burn and Stormbringer.

Trapeze found particular success in the southern United States, especially Texas, where their groove-oriented approach resonated with audiences. While they never achieved massive commercial success, they earned respect from fellow musicians and built a devoted following. The band influenced the direction of classic rock throughout the 1970s and beyond.

After Hughes left for Deep Purple, Galley and Holland continued Trapeze with new members, releasing albums like Hot Wire in 1974. Hughes even returned briefly for guest vocals on their 1975 self-titled album. When Deep Purple broke up in 1976, Hughes reunited the classic trio for The Appreciation Tour, though his drug problems cut it short.

The trio reunited again in 1991, 1992, and 1994 for various tours and recordings. Mel Galley died in 2008 and Dave Holland in 2018, leaving Hughes as the sole surviving member of the classic lineup. Their legacy lives on through remastered albums and Hughes’s continued championing of their music in his live performances.

The Voice of Rock Today

Today, Glenn Hughes continues to honor his Trapeze roots while moving forward with his career. His 2025 album Chosen marks a return after nine years as a solo artist, and he’s currently touring The Chosen Years shows that celebrate his entire catalog, including Trapeze songs alongside Deep Purple, Black Country Communion, and his solo work.

Hughes has been sober since 1997, overcoming the drug addiction that plagued him from his Deep Purple days through the early 1990s. His wife Gabi and his Buddhist practices have given him stability and clarity. At 73 years old, he still possesses the powerful voice that earned him the nickname “The Voice of Rock,” performing two-hour shows with remarkable energy.

When asked about his remarkable vocal preservation, Hughes admits he doesn’t fully understand it himself. He credits a spiritual dimension and staying present in the moment. His voice remains one of rock’s most distinctive instruments, carrying the same soulful power that first emerged during those early Glenn Hughes Trapeze years.

Hughes maintains that while he doesn’t regret anything in life, believing everything happened for a reason, that one confession stands: he should never have left Trapeze. His solo career makes him happy, representing the real Glenn, but those early years with Mel and Dave remain his musical pinnacle. For fans of classic rock artists, this honest reflection provides a fascinating glimpse into the career of one of rock’s most talented and versatile musicians.