By Jim Barber
Rick Hughes has carved a remarkably various, dynamic and eventful profession as a vocalist/frontman/songwriter over the previous 45 years.
The native of Canada’s La Belle Province, aka Quebec, greatest often known as the lead singer for pioneering Canadian traditional metallic band Sword, in addition to stint with worldwide exhausting rockers, Saints and Sinners, has developed a glowing fame for his highly effective and emotive vocals and his demonstrative and completely partaking stage presence, However there was an itch he wished to scratch – Hughes at all times wished to launch an album that was a pure, effusive and celebratory love letter to his ardour for music. And he wished it to be a shared celebration, one the place he set to work with and alongside each friends and heroes to make a file that’s as splendidly melodic as it’s memorable.
And he’s succeeded. With the current launched of Redemption, Hughes, who has strut and strode throughout phases all through North America, Europe and the Far East, sharing these phases and venues on excursions with the likes of Metallica, Motorhead, Alice Cooper and Black Label Society, it is a joyous, considerate, impressed assortment of songs that deftly toes the road between timelessness and resonant fashionable relevance.
“It’s been at the least two years within the making. My supervisor and I began to search for songs about two years in the past. I’m a songwriter at coronary heart, and I like writing songs. However this time round, I wished to sing songs that I felt I used to be not able to or capable of write. I wished to have fun any person else’s craft, different than simply mine. A number of artists and performers select to go that path, as a result of generally it’s exhausting to suppose outdoors the field for your self. Like, I’m sitting right here in my music room. I’ll choose up a guitar and if I begin to write songs, it’s normally going to be a ballad as a result of I’m alone right here with my acoustic guitar. It’s exhausting to get one other vibe; it’s exhausting to get into that tough rock headspace generally. However for some guys, it’s their occupation. They guarantee that a rock track is sweet, and it’s obtained pop vibes and it’s exhausting and heavy, and it’s all the pieces unexpectedly,” he stated.
“I wished to do that album in order that I can journey the world and be on completely different phases. I’m a dwell performer. I’ve been a dwell performer for greater than 40 years, with Sword, with Saints and Sinners. I did a whole lot of work right here in Quebec as a employed gun too, as a vocalist. I labored with many, many individuals, and on many TV exhibits. That introduced the bread and butter for me for just a few of years, however I by no means actually saved writing songs and releasing albums. While you requested me earlier if this was my first solo file. No, it’s not. And I considered it as a result of I launched an album in 2006 simply right here in Quebec [Tiens Ma Main]. And I used to be nominated for the Felix Award [Quebec’s equivalent of the Junos] for Finest Rock album of the Yr. I suppose what I’m attempting to say is that I’ve had an extended profession however I would like it to be even longer. I don’t need it do cease, I wish to proceed till my final breath.
“And it was additionally necessary to do a full album too. As a result of that’s what artists do. Simply take into consideration the painters again within the Renaissance, these guys have been poor, poor, poor however they saved portray and promoting their work for peanuts. Now they’re price tens of millions as a result of the inspiration was there. It was concerning the inspiration. That’s why I created this album as a result of the inspiration for this album was there and it was sturdy. I wished to do one thing completely different, one thing large, one thing that I’d by no means executed earlier than.”
So as to add much more heavyweight musical luster to the album, Redemption was produced by John Webster, the well-respected collaborative drive greatest recognized for his work with Aerosmith, Motley Crue and AC/DC.
“When my supervisor and I have been beginning to speak about this new mission, and John Webster’s title got here up. I stated it might be greatest for the album if we might get John Webster on board and my supervisor stated he was a good friend. So, I owe it to my supervisor Pierre Paradis [Sword’s original manager, former Saints and Sinners Manager and Hughes’ personal manager] as a result of in my e book, John Webster is the very best producer I’ve ever labored for in my complete life,” Hughes stated effusively.
“John was so into high quality management that it obtained me doing completely different songs that I won’t consider. And it began earlier than we even obtained into the studio. I saved feeding him songs and songs and songs that I assumed we must always file and he saved saying, no, no, no, no, no. And, you recognize, I’ve been round. I’ve been on this enterprise a very long time and all through my life I’ve realized to not take issues personally, however generally it was exhausting. However then once more, that’s why you rent a man like John. That high quality management is the utmost necessary factor about your artwork, to guarantee that it’s excellent, and it’s true to who you’re.”
A big portion of the album was recorded at HippoSonic Studio in Vancouver B.C. Initially based in 1989, in 2017 the studio moved from its unique location to 201 West Seventh Avenue in Vancouver – previously the house of probably the most well-known studios in rock music legend and lore, Little Mountain Sound. That studio was basically the house studio for legendary producers Bruce Fairbairn and Bob Rock, and earlier than the ability closed in 1993, noticed among the most necessary bands heading out west to file among the most profitable and important albums in rock music. The roster is a veritable if not literal who’s who of iconic bands and artists together with AC/DC. Aerosmith, Metallica, Bryan Adams, Bon Jovi, The Cult and Motley Crue.
“Nothing has modified. They saved all of the framed albums and issues on the wall. I noticed photos of Bon Jovi within the studio and I requested the query if that they had modified it. They stated no, it’s all there. It’s the best way it’s at all times been. They haven’t modified a factor, simply the house owners and the title. I’m a really curious particular person and naturally an enormous fan of these bands, so I simply saved asking folks questions. They advised me tales concerning the studio and what occurred with Aerosmith and Motley Crue and this and that. I used to be like a child in a sweet retailer. But additionally, I’ve been doing this lengthy sufficient that I didn’t let myself get distracted by the historical past. As an alternative, I let it encourage me and assist me focus. I’m a really targeted man and at all times have been. After I went out to Vancouver to file, they hoped that for this primary journey I might nail vocals on 5 – 6 songs. However I went there and I recorded my components for all of the songs in a single shot. It took me 5 days. And whereas I used to be there, we needed to resolve to choose yet another track as a result of we have been one brief. I used to be already there once we selected the final track, so I realized it, and I recorded it. So, I did all ten songs in a single stretch though I used to be imagined to do it in two or three stretches. However no, I used to be targeted.”
Redemption got here out Friday, Oct. 24 worldwide in each bodily (vinyl and CD) and digital codecs by means of Deko Leisure.
To launch the promotion for the album, on Sept. 5, Hughes launched a music video and single for his incendiary cowl of The Who traditional track of revelation and self-empowerment, ‘The Actual Me’ from their 1974 traditional rock opera, Quadrophenia. The model offered is great in its personal proper, sonically and energy-wise, with superlative taking part in and Hughes’ skillful and highly effective vocal interpretation, which is each homage to unique singer Roger Daltry, but additionally a declaratory assertion that he can also rise to the heights of vocal explosiveness.
However what makes this model, particularly the video, so important, one might virtually say ‘historic’ is the people backing Hughes. What we have now, heavy metallic followers, is a reunion of the Converse of the Satan period band of the not too long ago, and dearly departed Ozzy Osborne: Rudy Sarzo on bass, Tommy Aldridge behind the equipment and Brad Gillis shredding on guitar.
Converse of the Satan, launched in late 1982, was a dwell album which featured solely songs from Ozzy’s Black Sabbath repertoire, coming whereas he and the members of his Blizzard of Ozz band have been nonetheless in deep mourning after the sudden, catastrophically tragic loss of life of genius guitarist Randy Rhoads in a aircraft crash earlier that yr.
“You already know that track ‘The Unattainable Dream’ from the musical Don Quixote, what occurred was not even an not possible dream, as a result of I by no means even dreamt that this might have occurred. It was pure luck. It began with the concept of getting outdoors writers for the albums. After I advised my supervisor that, he stated, ‘let’s ask Jesse.’ Jesse Bradman was the keyboard participant in Saints and Sinners. He lives out in San Francisco and he’s an in depth good friend of Brad Gillis of Night time Ranger. So, Jesse despatched us a few songs that he wrote with Brad Gillis and likewise David Sykes, who was with Boston for some time too. We picked a few these songs, and John preferred them, so we began to work on them. After which we had the concept to ask Brad to be the guitar participant on the songs he co-wrote. And he stated sure. So, when it was time to do ‘The Actual Me’ we stated, nicely, we have now Brad Gillis, let’s ask him if he needs to do ‘The Actual Me’ and have some main gamers with him, as a result of that is such an enormous track. We’d like some large names, some heavy hitters for this one, so he was the one who advised Tommy and Rudy. We thought it was an excellent thought. However, once more, the not possible dream,” he stated.
“When Converse of the Satan got here out, I used to be a kind of large, large, large Ozzy followers. Diary of a Madman, Blizzard of Oz, Randy Rhoads, all that stuff. So, when Randy died all people was like, ‘what the hell. What’s going to occur? Who’s going to interchange him.’ So, when Converse of the Satan got here out all of us put the needle on the file and went, ‘wow! What a tone. Who’s that? Brad Gillis? The guitar participant for Night time Ranger?’ Wow what a participant. Quick ahead to at this time and these guys are all like 10 years older than me, so once I was 15 they have been 25. I might go to the Montreal Discussion board and see these guys play on stage. And once I was 25 I used to be onstage taking part in with Metallica. So, the wheel retains turning and it retains turning and it feeds itself. It brings us again to why some artists nonetheless file albums whereas others desire to not. Let me be very, very honest. It’s not at all times concerning the cash. Some folks will say, ‘what’s using doing albums. We don’t earn money anymore.’ Properly, It’s not concerning the cash. It’s not for me. Look, I’ve a home. My children are grown they usually’re out of the home. I’m fortunately married. I don’t know methods to clarify it aside from that is what I do. I do it for the love of music, for the enjoyment of writing and recording, and particularly so I can maintain taking part in exhibits and travelling everywhere in the world. I believe folks get depressing in life as a result of all the pieces’s about cash to them. No, it doesn’t should be. When is sufficient, sufficient.”
Whereas the main focus of the previous few paragraphs has been on the star-studded lineup that appeared on ‘The Actual Me,’ Hughes talked about why he and Webster selected to file that track within the first place, a track that has truly be coated just a few instances by acts comparable to WASP, Pearl Jam and Phish.
“The Who’re a part of my main influences as a rock singer. I sang a whole lot of Who songs all through my profession as a canopy artist, as a performer. Roger Daltry is a legend and an actual inspiration to me. That track was one I at all times wished to do, and with an album known as Redemption it was the very best place to place it, to do it lastly. And I selected that track not figuring out it might be the Converse of the Satan lineup that will be taking part in the track with me. We selected the track approach again, approach again. The video was shot final yr and we have been imagined to launch it earlier. However once we heard about Ozzy’s well being and all the pieces, we determined to attend out of respect. When Ozzy died, we have been imagined to launch it that very same week, however we stated no, let’s not do this. Let the followers mourn. Let Ozzy relaxation in peace, after which we’ll launch it. However the video has been within the can for nearly a yr. And I do know folks have performed and recorded that track so much. It’s track, with a whole lot of that means. Anyone that’s skilled that performs that track as a canopy goes to sound good as a result of it’s so nicely written. I imply, there’s a particular half for the bass, there’s an element to showcase the drums, there’s an element for the guitars and there are these nice vocals proper within the center. It’s only a nice track. Pete Townsend is such a superb songwriter.”
Some of the evocative and important songs on Redemption is ‘Dans La Peau,’ which was initially written for French (as in France!!) music and cultural icon Johnny Hallyday as a duet together with his oft collaborator Amy Keys. Hallyday died in 2017 at age 74, so the track by no means obtained recorded by him, however was in essence gifted to Hughes, who occurs to be considered one of Hallyday’s largest admirers. Oh, and the transportive, ethereal, jangly guitar intro simply occurred to be recorded by Robby Kreiger … co-founder and guitar participant for The Doorways.
“Johnny Hallyday is the French Elvis Presley. He’s the largest, largest star they ever had in France, and likewise in Quebec. Not solely is he considered one of my idols as a child, I might look as much as him as a singer as a result of, like I stated earlier, I’m a performer. I like doing the studio work. I like to sing in studio so I can work on my voice and ensure all the pieces sounds excellent. However to me, it’s all concerning the stage. That’s the place I used to be born to be completely happy – on a stage. Properly, this man had the very best presence you possibly can think about on stage. Go try movies from Johnny Hallyday when he was doing stadium excursions. He’s bigger than life and his voice is so large. I at all times wished to do considered one of his songs,” Hughes stated, explaining how the recording for ‘Dans La Peau’ got here to be.
“Once more, it was pure luck. The man who wrote the track ‘Dans La Peau’ on the album is Gerry Stober, a superb songwriter who was born in Montreal however lives in Los Angeles. And he labored so much with Johnny Hallyday as a result of Johnny additionally lived in L.A. So, he was working with Amy Keys, who was a back-up singer for Johnny Hallyday for all his excursions. When he would do duets on tour, she would come as much as the entrance of the stage and he would sing with Amy. At one level Jerry stated to me, ‘I obtained a track that was proposed for Johnny and Amy they usually have been set to do it. However Johnny obtained sick, so the track obtained placed on a shelf. In case you’re , you may have it.’ I heard the track and instantly stated sure, however I additionally requested if it was potential to have Amy file it with me, as a result of on the demo, it was Amy Keys singing with one other man. And Gerry made it occur.
“However hearken to this. So, the album was recorded in Vancouver, however some classes have been executed in Los Angeles. When it was time to file Amy, any person stated I ought to go to Robby Krieger’s studio [Love Street Sound] to do the recording of Amy. I stated, ‘Robby Krieger’s studio!?!’ I stated, come on man, he’s considered one of my idols. After all we have now to go there. That’s how we obtained him on the track too. Pure luck, my good friend. We booked a recording session together with his folks, so when Amy was doing her half, I stated to my supervisor, ‘let’s attempt to discuss to Robby’s supervisor and have him play on the track whereas we’re there. It’d be wonderful.’ It took a little bit of time, a little bit of negotiation, as a result of he’s a busy man. He’s a legend and I suppose he doesn’t settle for all the pieces proper on the spot. It takes some time. After I heard that it was an enormous sure, I used to be thanking my fortunate star as a result of, I imply, what are the percentages?”
Having songs like ‘Will of the Gun,’ which speak about necessary points and mindsets prevalent in fashionable society and tradition is necessary, as music is a gateway into consciousness elevating for many individuals, particularly the youth. Songs about actual life, actual love, misplaced love and heartbreak are additionally necessary as these are on a regular basis experiences felt by folks around the globe. It’s why music is taken into account to be a tonic for robust instances, and a strong therapeutic device for therefore many. Which is why Redemption has a dynamic vary of compelling songs on its observe itemizing.
“It’s true that music brings folks collectively, nevertheless it additionally helps you being alone. Typically once you’re alone and your ideas go on the market, they’re in all places. You placed on a file and also you come again to your self as a result of it’s your music, it’s the music you selected, that you just love. It’s your vibe proper now within the second. So, it does each: it unites and it invitations you to be calm with your self. That’s what I like about rock music. In case you take Led Zeppelin I after which In By way of the Out Door, it’s like two completely different bands. One is heavy blues and the opposite one is world music. And it between, it’s all completely different – each album is sounding completely different, you recognize,” he stated, warming to the topic.
“And the identical goes for The Beatles. ‘I Need to Maintain Your Hand,’ ‘I Noticed Her Standing There,’ – they began like that and ended with ‘Let It Be.’ In case you take time to learn the lyrics to ‘Let It Be,’ Paul McCartney was 26 years previous when he wrote that. Think about being so mature at such a younger age, but additionally have a look at how he grew as an artist in simply 5 – 6 years. It’s unimaginable. Music is necessary. It’s there for a motive, and it’s there for the precise motive. After I get up within the morning and I’m going round and run some errands, I’m going to hearken to Elton John, Johnny Money, you recognize, mellow music, however significant. After which later within the afternoon, let’s placed on some AC/DC after which once I go to the fitness center, there’s good exercise music. And there’s a lot that makes up rock music too. It’s so varied. You’ve obtained blues, heavy blues, rock, exhausting rock, ballads, up-tempo songs, nation rock. It’s all rock music. And that’s what I attempted to discover with this album, to guarantee that every track had a style of one thing completely different. As an illustration, the track ‘Shake My Soul.’ It is a exhausting rock track, nevertheless it’s actually the one exhausting rock track on the album. So, you can not say that my album is tough rock. It’s not. There’s a tough rock track, there’s a pop rock track, there’s a blues rock track. That’s what I like about rock music.”
‘Sometime’ began off as an unique composition from a few years in the past, a heartfelt meditation on loss, grief and mourning, which was given some magic musical pixie mud alongside the best way by fellow Quebecois artist Aldo Nova, and Nova’s pal from New Jersey, Jon Bon Jovi. Nova recorded it for his 1991 album, Blood on the Bricks, whereas Hughes’ model goes again to extra of its unique tonal intent.
“I used to be working with Aldo Nova once I was with Saints and Sinners. He had written some very, excellent songs for me and a few ballads and different great things. On the similar time, he was working with Bon Jovi on his personal album, Blood on the Bricks, and he felt he was lacking a track. However I didn’t know that. One evening once we have been within the studio, I confirmed him that track. I picked up a guitar and I performed part of ‘Sometime’ and he stated he beloved it. I advised him we have been going to place it on the Saints and Sinners album we have been engaged on. He stated, ‘higher than that, Rick. In case you permit me, I’ll put it on my album which is produced by Jon and it’s going to grow to be successful. I swear to you, it’ll, for those who belief me with it.’ I stated, okay,” he stated.
“Quick ahead a few months and I obtained a name from them. They have been within the studio doing the track and stated that they had modified some components and a few lyrics. So, I break up the songwriting credit score with Aldo Nova and Jon Bon Jovi and it did grow to be successful {prime 50 in Canada] when Aldo obtained it out available in the market within the early Nineteen Nineties. After I wrote it initially, I used to be pondering so much about my father that I misplaced once I was only a child, as a result of my first little one had simply been born. It’s a kind of instances the place a track means precisely what you suppose. It paints an image of your emotions and feelings. It’s a track about shedding any person, however gaining one thing too. Which, you recognize, generally in life you simply have to attend. You suppose you’ve misplaced one thing, however then one thing’s going to return alongside to equalize that loss – steadiness issues. Nevertheless it’s a track that I believe all people could make their very own tales for.”
Sword can also be nonetheless a going concern for Hughes, with the band taking part in just a few exhibits in Quebec, together with one which occurred on Oct. 18 in Montreal. The band bolted out of the gate within the early Nineteen Eighties, inflicting a preferred stir with their 1986 debut album, Metalized and it’s 1988 comply with up, Candy Goals. In that brief, however epic, span of time, Sword opened exhibits internationally for Motorhead and Alice Cooper, in addition to on Metallica’s breakthrough Grasp of Puppets tour. A 3rd album was launched in 2022, after Hughes introduced Sword out of mothballs in 2011. Once more, the aim of preserving the Sword title and band related will not be merely for monetary issues, however to present him extra possibilities to do what he likes to do in life greater than anything – sing on stage.
“The icing on the cake for all the pieces is the gang. The group makes all the pieces worthwhile. If it’s 50 folks, I don’t care. They paid for his or her ticket, they’re there so I’m going to present them 100 per cent. If there’s 50 or if there’s 2,000, for me, it’s the identical,” he stated.
“I’m a dwell performer. I’ve been doing between 50 to 100 exhibits a yr for the previous 20 years. I’ll play this album and the songs from this album in all places they need me. And if they need me to do my cowl band factor, I’ll do this, and if they need me to do Sword I’ll do this. However not on the identical present. If I do exhibits with Sword, then I simply do Sword. If I’m with my solo band, I don’t do any Sword. And in order that’s the rationale for this album, so I can tour with my band, and play the music I like, and have one thing new to deliver to folks.”
For extra info on Hughes, Redemption and future touring plans, go to https://www.rickhughes.co.
- Jim Barber is a veteran award-winning journalist and writer primarily based in Napanee, Ontario, Canada, who has been writing about music and musicians for greater than 30 years. In addition to his journalistic endeavors, he works as a communications and advertising specialist and is an avid volunteer in his group. Contact him at bigjim1428@hotmail.com.
