I joke to people in the press that I realize I'm not black, I'm actually white. But I've got these roots in black American music. I love it.

Released on edel records on 17 November 2007 is Live in Australia an acoustic CD and companion DVD of a performance at Sydney's famous "Basement" club. He has cited acts like Marvin Gaye Sly and the Family Stone and Stevie Wonder as influences. The band has released three albums as of October 2012.

In addition to being an active session musician Hughes also maintains a notable solo career and currently fronts the supergroup Black Country Communion. III and IV line-ups of Deep Purple as well as briefly fronting Black Sabbath in the mid-1980s.