“Joe and I had been hanging out, secretively making music, knowing that one day we'd do something. Four sessions later, we had an album”: How Glenn Hughes brought his low-end expertise into the spotlight with Joe Bonamassa and Black Country Communion

Despite having a dozen solo albums to his credit, a mile-long resume that includes storied stints with Trapeze, Deep Purple, Gary Moore and Black Sabbath, and a crossover hit single, America: What Time Is Love? with UK electronica act The KLF, Glenn Hughes still lies somewhat under the radar. Hughes may be acknowledged by many as ‘The Voice of Rock’ for his ecstatic singing, but what's truly underrated is his superb bass playing. It has been the anchor for several classic albums, including Deep Purple's Burn and Come Taste the Band , yet it often goes unacknowledged because of his vocal prowess.

The 2009 supergroup, Black Country Communion, finally brought his low-end expertise into the spotlight. From the incendiary opening riff of Black Country through the closing jam in Too Late for the Sun , it’s a bass-heavy album that illuminates the brilliance of Hughes’ playing. Thanks to producer Kevin Shirley's keen ear, the vibe of the group with guitarist Joe Bonamassa, keyboardist Derek Sherinian, and drummer Jason Bonham relied heavily on Hughes's muscular P-Bass tone.

We spoke with Hughes in December 2010 following the release of a record that simultaneously reaffirmed his status as ‘The Voice of Rock’ while delivering a legitimate tour de force on bass guitar . How did Black Country Communion come together? “Joe was a fan of my work with Trapeze. We'd been hanging out, secretively making music, knowing that one day we'd do something.

Then Kevin Shirley saw us pla.