No one knows how things will work out between the various Deep Purple alumni when the band is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but as far as former bassist and vocalist Glenn Hughes is concerned, everyone should just forget about their differences for a night and get up on stage together.

"All I know is I'm getting the award," Hughes told Billboard. "There's a lot of gossip and innuendo about who's saying what. I'd love to play. I'd love to sing."

Hughes went on to add that he'd spoken with his fellow former bandmate David Coverdale, who seems to feel the same way. According to Hughes, it was Coverdale who reached out to Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan to get his side of the story, and both Hughes and Coverdale understand Gillan's frustration regarding current longtime members Don Airey and Steve Morse being excluded from the induction lineup.

"I'm just gonna stay out of the way, and Coverdale is as well. If Ian Gillan wants to run the show on behalf of his Deep Purple that's his business," said Hughes. "My business is to show up and gracefully accept my award. But we're really hoping that we will be invited to sing. I'd like to think that Deep Purple can be just one big happy family on the night, y'know? Egos outside the door and be graceful in what we do."

As for former guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, who has claimed he's being barred from the Rock Hall induction ceremony (something the band denies), Hughes has no idea. "You just never know with him, but I'd love it if he showed up," he added. "I just hope he has the balls to [attend], and for God's sake he bloody wrote those songs. He wrote those riffs. He wrote 'Smoke on the Water.' Whatever happened — the eccentricities, the behavior, the name-calling and all that stuff — I say let it all go. Blackmore should be there accepting his award. I'd be very upset if he didn't."

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