Glenn Hughes has returned home after undergoing a 10-hour open-heart surgery at UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center, the former Deep Purple and Dead Daisies vocalist shared in an update via his X account. Hughes announced his retirement from music earlier this year due to health concerns that required the procedure.
Hughes had explained that medical tests including MRIs, CT scans, and an echocardiogram indicated he needed another open-heart surgery.
Glenn wrote, “Now Home after an 8-day stay, and a 10-hour open-heart surgery operation, called aortic valve replacement, exactly the same procedure I had done in 2013, at UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center, Westwood, LA.” He continued, “My doctor, Dr Richard Shemin, head, cardiac, and professor of UCLA, really took care of me with his remarkable staff. Each day as I move forward, I am getting my energy back. There is only love in my life. There are no mistakes.”
Hughes then added, “Everything is in its right place. Never believe that there is something wrong in your life. You are where you’re supposed to be. Going through those experiences that are necessary for you right now. When you become angry at yourself because you don’t like the experiences that you are going through, you are hindering your growth. Rather, be grateful, & thankful, for every experience that you’re going through. Even though it may appear to be terrible in your life, be thankful for this experience, for the experience is not what you think it is, in your finite mind. There is a greater purpose to it. All is well…”
“This past year, I’ve had some health issues,” Hughes said when announcing his retirement. “The results from numerous MRIs, CT scans, and an echocardiogram have alerted my medical team that I need another open-heart surgery. I really have no option and no choice as health is my number one priority. Grateful to have been chosen with a life full with the gift of music… Thank you for walking beside me.”
Following his eight-day hospital stay, Hughes shared his relief at being back home. “Now home after an eight-day stay, and a 10-hour open-heart surgery, operation, at UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center,” he wrote. “Gratitude beyond.”
The surgery marks a significant moment for Hughes as he steps back from his performing career to focus on his recovery. Hughes made his decision public in order to prioritize his well-being over his commitments to music.
Hughes has faced heart health challenges throughout his life. He was diagnosed with a heart murmur as a child and underwent his first open-heart surgery in 2013 to repair one of his aortas. In January 2026, he canceled a scheduled six-week U.S. spring tour, citing a minor health issue that required his attention at that time.
Hughes built a career spanning more than five decades in rock music. He was the bassist and vocalist for Deep Purple from 1974 to 1976, appearing on the albums Burn, Stormbringer, and Come Taste The Band. In 2016, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Deep Purple.
After Deep Purple ended, Hughes released his first solo album, Play Me Out, in 1977. He struggled with drug addiction that nearly ended his life, but recovered in the late 1990s and experienced a professional comeback that continued for decades. He fronted California Breed from 2013 to 2015 and joined the Australian-American rock band The Dead Daisies as bassist and lead vocalist in 2019, appearing on the albums Holy Ground and Radiance before returning to his solo career.
Hughes’s most recent full live show took place on May 30, 2026, at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, Illinois, when he reunited with The Dead Daisies for a performance. His decision to retire from touring came shortly after that final show.
