Jimmy Hughes

Who is Jimmy Hughes?

James C Hughes is an English bassist who has played with many punk rock and new wave bands, and whose career as a rock musician and writer continues to this day.

Born to Irish parents in London, Hughes, inspired by the glam rock sensibilities of his hero, Ziggy Stardust, and the bass playing of Free's Andy Fraser, began his career in music at the birth of punk rock with The Banned, enjoying immediate success as their first single "Little Girl" broke into the UK Top 30. After The Banned dissolved, Hughes joined Cowboys International, forming a rhythm section with drummer Terry Chimes, formerly of The Clash, together playing on the album The Original Sin in 1979, and the subsequent tours, television and radio appearances of the band. However, a year later he and Chimes left due to internal friction, leading to the band's demise.

In 1980, having turned down audition requests from Woody Woodmansey, Alex Chilton's Big Star, and Marco Pirroni of Adam and the Ants, he joined Ian Broudie's band, Original Mirrors, playing on an album and two singles including "Dancing with the Rebels". Later, he played alongside the NME journalist, Nick Kent and Johnny Thunders' drummer, Chris Musto, in the short-lived band, The Subterraneans, before joining Department S, in time to record the album Substance, produced by David Tickle.