The following report is courtesy of Glenn Mitchell from Australia's Herald Sun:

In another life, GLENN HUGHES was a drug-taking machine who fronted one of the wildest bands of the 1970s, DEEP PURPLE.

And there were no shortage of wild bands back then.

Known as 'the voice of rock' in his heyday, Hughes, though still possessing a remarkable vocal ability, is now more like a voice of reason seeking to help friends and family through the good times and the bad.

Given he had a severe drug and alcohol addiction but has been sober for the past 16 years, Hughes knows the tough times. One of the friends Hughes is paying particular attention to at the moment is JIMMY BARNES, who is recovering in a health clinic after undergoing open heart surgery.

"Jimmy Barnes is a soul brother to me, man,'' Hughes says.

"I know he isn't well at the moment but we are exchanging emails and he tells me he's getting better and I thank the Lord for that.''

Hughes' regard for Barnes, as a performer and a person, is deep and respectful.

"Jimmy is one of the great performers in the world and one of the nicest people I've ever met in any walk of life,'' Hughes says.

"I've no doubt that he's going to emerge an even stronger and better person when he's fully recovered and that he will produce a great album. I only heard about his heart condition over the news wires so it gave me quite a shock. I've had trouble with the old ticker as well.''

Given the way Hughes, who joined Deep Purple in 1973 when they were the top-drawing live rock band in the world, lauds Barnes, you'd think they had known each other since childhood. Yet they only met last May.

"He'd get mentioned in my interviews and I'd get mentioned in his and then a mutual friend, Dr Drew Thompson, got us together in May,'' Hughes, 60, explains.

"From the moment we met we just knew we were going to be like brothers because we have been through similar hard times and come out the other end better people. Besides that, I always thought he had one of the most unique voices I'd ever heard in rock 'n' roll.''

During the visit, Hughes and Barnes got together and wrote songs for Barnes' next album. Barnes replied in kind by performing THE ROLLING STONES classic Monkey Man on Hughes's latest album, Music For The Divine.

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