"Glenn Hughes, who's collaborated with legendary guitarists, avoids naming Ritchie as his top pick"
In an exclusive interview with Classic Rock magazine, legendary rock musician Glenn Hughes has revealed his top two favourite rock guitarists as Gary Moore and Joe Bonamassa. Hughes, who has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry, described it as a tie between the two, highlighting the inspiration and impact they had on him.
Hughes, a key member of Deep Purple's Mark III and Mark IV line-ups, reminisced about Gary Moore's visit to his house at three in the morning, stating that Moore "came and just blew my mind." He went on to praise Joe Bonamassa, calling him "the greatest right now" and describing the awe he feels every night working with him.
Bonamassa, who now wields Tommy Bolin's 1960 Les Paul Standard, has also had the privilege of collaborating with Hughes on several occasions. The two have produced five records together in Black Country Communion, and Hughes has stated that working with Bonamassa is "mind-blowing every night."
Bonamassa has also expressed admiration for Eric Johnson's impact on his playing. Meanwhile, he shared a surreal experience of collaborating with Ozzy Osbourne and played Rory Gallagher's 1932 National resonator at a gig in Gallagher's hometown.
Tommy Bolin, another name on Hughes' list of favourite guitarists, is in his top three friends and guitar players. Bolin's Les Paul Standard now belongs to Bonamassa, who went through a supernatural process to add it to his collection.
Hughes has also worked with other notable guitarists such as John Frusciante, Dave Navarro, Jerry Cantrell, and Ritchie Blackmore. He fronted Black Sabbath and collaborated with Tony Iommi on the album Fused in 2005. More recently, he played with Joe Satriani on Satriani's 2018 album, What Happens Next.
In a surprising turn of events, Hughes ranked Joe Bonamassa as the best rock guitarist he has worked with in October 2023. This marks a change from his previous answers, where he considered it a tie between Gary Moore and Bonamassa. Regardless, it's clear that both Moore and Bonamassa have left a lasting impression on Hughes and the world of rock music.
