A Dirty Dozen with RICK HUGHES – October 2025

According to a recent press release: “Canadian-born Rick Hughes is renowned for his powerful and rangey voice as the lead singer of the legendary metal band Sword, and of the hard-rock band Saints & Sinners. A seasoned performer with hundreds of headlining shows in Canada, America, Europe and Japan over the years, and his superb stage performances while opening for bands such as Metallica, Motorhead, Alice Cooper, Black Label Society, etc. So when it was time for him to record Redemption, his first international solo album, he spared no expenses and efforts to make this album a great one, hiring producer John Webster (Aerosmith, Mötley Crüe, AC/DC, etc.) and renting HippoSonic Recording Studio (formerly known as Little Mountain Studios) in Vancouver to record this opus.” We get Rick to discuss new music, influences, and more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

Redemption is the sound of a man who’s walked through fire and came out stronger. Every song reflects a chapter of my life, from chaos to clarity. In “The Real Me,” for instance, the drive behind the vocals isn’t just technical, it’s spiritual. It’s me reclaiming everything that once broke me.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

It started with my father’s guitar. He passed away when I was a kid, but that instrument became a bridge to him, and to something bigger than myself. I used to sit in front of the stereo, trying to decode the emotions behind every note of Zeppelin, Sabbath, and The Who.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

Absolutely. Led Zeppelin’s movie The Song Remains The Same for me, changed everything. It was raw, hypnotic, and larger than life. Later, hearing Ozzy and Dio taught me how power and vulnerability could live in the same voice.

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

I’ve been lucky to collaborate with legends like Rudy Sarzo, Tommy Aldridge, Brad Gillis, and Robby Krieger. But if I could add one more, it would be Robert Plant. Not just because he’s a mentor, but because he represents artistic freedom. Every era of his career has been fearless.

5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour?

That’s easy, family, the dogs, and the woods. I recharge walking with my bull terrier Rosie and my border collie Billy through the forest near Mont-Saint-Hilaire. That’s where I find balance. When I’m home, it’s gym time, cooking with Nancy, or just music with my grandkids. That’s the real joy.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before?

It’s rock, soft, melodic, sometimes heavy, but always real. There’s power, but there’s also reflection. My music speaks to redemption, courage, and truth. As for comparisons, someone once said I sounded like “a Canadian Dio meets Bryan Adams.” I laughed. I love both of them, but I’d say I sound like a guy who lived both sides of the coin, the light and the dark, and came back with stories to tell.

7. When your band is hanging out together, who cooks, who gets the drinks in, and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

We’re all pretty down-to-earth guys. If there’s food involved, it’s usually me or my brother Dan, he’s a great cook, especially when there’s a BBQ around. The drinks… well, I’ve been sober for over 20 years, so I’m usually the one on water and the designated driver. As for the acoustic guitar, it doesn’t take long. We’ve been through decades of music together, once the guitar’s out, the songs start flowing.

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

Meeting Robert Plant years ago. I grew up studying his every move, his tone, his phrasing. When we met, he was humble, gracious, exactly what you’d hope a legend would be. I’ve worked with big names since, but that moment still stands apart.

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

The best part is connection. Hearing someone say a lyric helped them get through something, that’s the real payoff. If I couldn’t sing anymore, I’d still want to inspire people somehow. Maybe write, maybe mentor younger artists who are walking the same uncertain road I did. I’ve learned a lot, and if sharing that helps someone else avoid the traps, it’s worth it.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask, and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

I wish more people would ask, “What keeps you grounded after all these years?” My answer is simple, gratitude. For the music, for the people I love, for being alive and sober to live it all consciously. The question I could live without? “Are you ever going to do a reunion with so-and-so?” I’m proud of my past, but I live in the now. Redemption is about evolution, not repetition.

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?

I don’t live with regrets, but there were times I let pride or fear steer the ship. In the early 90’s, when grunge took over, I probably could’ve adapted faster instead of stepping back. But honestly, every detour led me here, to music that means something real. So no, I wouldn’t change a thing.

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose, and what does that record mean to you?

Led Zeppelin IV. No hesitation. The energy in that room must have been otherworldly. That album taught me that perfection isn’t about clean takes, it’s about capturing a moment. The spirit. The imperfections are part of what makes it timeless.

RICK HUGHES LINKS:

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Category: Interviews