The Dead Daisies Feat. Glenn Hughes @ Arcada Theatre, St Charles (US)

THE DEAD DAISIES Feat. Glenn Hughes

Date: 30th May, 2026
Venue: Arcada Theatre
Ticket Price: $56.75/€49 - $98.75/€85
Promoter: OShows

I always like to calculate the “music age” of a show by counting the years the bands on the bill have been active. For this event, however, that number becomes especially meaningful because Mr. Glenn Hughes has been active for well over half a century. Take a moment to let that sink in: his career could easily be older than some of the attendees who made their way to the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles that Saturday night. Add guitarists Doug Aldrich and David Lowy, plus drummer Tommy Clufetos, and the combined musical mileage onstage easily surpassed what most three-band bills can offer.

Still, this event was special for another reason. It was the one and only live performance by Glenn Hughes with THE DEAD DAISIES in 2026. As he told METAL KAOZ, his plan was to take it easy this year, but thankfully, he broke that commitment for the lucky ones who made the drive to St. Charles. The phrase “a night not to be missed” is used often, but in this case, this show was the definition of it.

This would also be the second time in my concert-going life that I would see a band opening for itself. The first was with John Bush playing two sets with CATEGORY 7 at the Arcada. This time, Glenn Hughes would first celebrate his time with THE DEAD DAISIES and then honor his years with DEEP PURPLE alongside THE DEAD DAISIES musicians. The plan was simple: two separate sets that could only scratch the surface of Hughes’ career, but would still give everyone in attendance a great time.

The backscreen and added stage lights were ready to host the first of the two sets. Right on time, the stage was bathed in blue, while the pink-colored THE DEAD DAISIES logo appeared on the screen behind this stellar lineup. “Unspoken” opened the night with excellent sound and Hughes’ crystal-clear vocals sitting right on top of the mix. The audience cheered with excitement as Clufetos bashed his drum-kit like his life depended on it. I also loved hearing the bass this loud in the mix, standing as an equal partner to the guitars, exactly as it should.

“Chicago, let me hear you,” said Glenn with open arms, as if he were hugging everyone inside the Arcada, before asking left, right, and center, “How are you feeling today?” The loud response was all he needed to launch into the heavier “Resurrected”. The lasers added a beautiful touch, while Aldrich's guitar tone served the solo with the in-your-face attitude it deserved. This was the kind of Hard Rock sound that electrifies your spine from the bottom up.

Musicians are expected to monitor their energy levels when performing during a full tour. There is no way to deplete your energy every single night because fatigue is cumulative, and no one wants the last shows of a tour to feel like survival mode. However, in rare cases like this one, where the show is truly special, the difference in energy is palpable. That joy of playing live was especially visible in Hughes, who sounded completely genuine when he said, “This is a special occasion for us tonight,” while wearing a wide smile and clearly enjoying every minute of the performance.

He added, “Let us prove to you how much we love you,” before the Hard Rock groove of “My Fate” sounded absolutely excellent. Watching the musicians interact with each other showcased the chemistry of this lineup, which created a constant loop of energy between the band and the audience. Every time the crowd gave more, the band pushed harder, and every time the band pushed harder, the crowd responded even louder. The lasers matching the color palette of the screen projection were the icing on the cake, while the CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL cover “Fortunate Son” got everyone off their seats. Not that there were many people still sitting, but there are always a few who need some extra convincing. Hughes was hitting those high notes with impressive power and clarity, proving through action that talent can take you far, but taking care of the instrument can take you to another level.

Then, he dedicated “Born To Fly” to David Lowy, who, among other planes, knows how to fly Spitfires. In case anyone challenged this fact, the music video was shown during the live performance, while the main riff gained serious weight at concert volume. This was definitely one of the night's highlights, although there were far too many to choose from. “Tell me how you feel,” said Hughes, as if checking to make sure everyone was having as much fun as he clearly was. When a band is having that much fun onstage, the audience follows. There is no question about it.

“Radiance” sounded amazing, and watching the avatars from the music video on the screen confirmed something everyone should already know: there can be no virtual reality or AI-driven digital experience that recreates the feeling of experiencing live music in person. “Hypnotize Yourself” and “Holy Ground (Shake The Memory)” closed the first part of the performance, leaving everyone more than ready for what was coming next.

After about ten minutes, the lights dimmed again, resetting the timer for THE PURPLE DAISIES. AEROSMITH's taped “Sweet Emotion” called everyone back to their spots, and things were about to get even louder. The stage lights mimicked a storm before “Stormbringer” arrived with excellent sound. Aldrich started playing the riff to “Sail Away”, and Hughes asked, “You know this, right?” Based on the loud sing-along that followed, yes, everybody knew it.

The legendary musician then took some time to explain what a “greatest time” means to artists, pointing to the exact place where he was standing. He spoke about the energy exchange between musicians and the audience, capturing the essence of what makes concerts irreplaceable. “Space Truckin’” followed as proof of everything he had just explained.

“In 1975, we had to find a new guitar player,” said Hughes, adding, “It was not easy to replace Blackmore.” This, of course, had to do with Tommy Bolin, and it was emotional to hear Glenn say, “We love you, Tommy,” before launching into a song he co-wrote with him. Hughes also mentioned his decision not to tour in 2026, explaining how David proposed the idea of this one-time show, adding, “The important thing is you.” Indeed, no band and no musician can tour without the support of the audience, and hearing these words from such a legend made the moment feel even more special.

“Might Just Take Your Life” and the must-have “Smoke On The Water” both received loud responses, but the jaw-dropping moment was the Bluesy “Mistreated” and the way Hughes delivered the vocals using his impressively wide range. His manager also received some extra love from the audience since it was his birthday, adding even more fun to an already delightful night.

Before “Highway Star”, Hughes introduced his friends and bandmates, making a special mention of David, “who is responsible for getting all of us together,” as he put it. The band left the stage, but no one in the audience moved, because there was no way this night would end without a couple more songs from these gentlemen.

Indeed, THE PURPLE DAISIES returned, and as David played the opening riff to “Long Way To Go”, Hughes asked, “Will you take my love?” Of course, he received his answer in the form of loud cheers and applause. Doug introduced the final song of the set simply by playing the opening riff. The stage was bathed in red light, fire effects were projected on the screen, and Glenn sang, “The sky is red, I don’t understand,” the opening line of “Burn”. The audience sang the chorus, giving this once-in-a-lifetime experience the proper curtain call.

Sometimes events are called one-offs just to make them sound special. In this case, however, the two sets created an experience no one in attendance will forget. Watching the four-piece lineup say goodnight and receive the audience's final ovation proved that they felt it too.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for this.

THE DEAD DAISIES setlist:

01. "Unspoken"
02. "Resurrected"
03. "Chosen And Justified"
04. "My Fate"
05. "Fortunate Son"
06. "Born To Fly"
07. "Rise Up"
08. "Radiance"
09. "Hypnotize Yourself"
10. "Holy Ground (Shake The Memory)"

THE PURPLE DAISIES setlist:

01. "Stormbringer"
02. "Sail Away"
03. "Space Truckin'"
04. "Gettin' Tighter"
05. "Might Just Take Your Life"
06. "Smoke On The Water"
07. "Mistreated"
08. "Highway Star"
09. "Long Way To Go"
10. "Burn"

THE DEAD DAISIES