Deep Purple guitarist Simon McBride shared a photo with former Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore following the band’s August 12th show. Blackmore joined Deep Purple on stage for the first time in more than three decades, marking a rare reunion for fans of the band.
McBride’s post reflected on what it meant for him to perform alongside a musician who helped shape the band’s legacy.
“My absolute pleasure to share the stage with this legend,” McBride said. “Such a great guy and an inspiration to all.”
The reunion unfolded at the Northwell at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, New York, giving fans on the East Coast a front-row seat to a genuinely historic night for Deep Purple.
Blackmore stepped out during the encore and delivered a performance of “Smoke on the Water,” the very song that helped define his legacy with the band. It was his first time playing alongside Deep Purple since 1993, closing a 33-year gap between appearances.
Blackmore had reportedly reached out to current frontman Ian Gillan to set the reunion in motion, and the band welcomed the idea without hesitation. Notably, the guitarist and his former bandmates did not rehearse together beforehand, making the encore performance an entirely unscripted, in-the-moment collaboration.
Adding to the nostalgia, Blackmore brought back his iconic yellow Stratocaster for the occasion, the same instrument closely associated with his tenure in Deep Purple decades ago. The sight of him wielding that guitar alongside his former bandmates gave the performance an added layer of authenticity for longtime fans.
The one-off reunion brought Blackmore back into the spotlight with Deep Purple after decades apart. No further reunions have been announced at this time.
