Former Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore has been struggling with health issues. He recently joined Deep Purple on stage for the first time in more than three decades during the band’s headlining concert on August 12 in New York. Blackmore addressed the possibility of playing with the band again in the future in comments shared with Guitar Player.
The guitarist reflected on the emotional weight of reuniting with his former bandmates after so many years apart, suggesting the reunion could be their last time performing together.
“I was there to see old friends,” Blackmore said. “I hadn’t seen in 40 years and were all getting older. I think we realized it could be the last time we see each other, maybe.”
Blackmore went on to describe his approach to the performance itself and the emotional significance of the reunion.
“It was tricky; I didn’t play anything too technical, as I felt I should stick to the rudiments of being simple,” he continued. “I still lost my place at one point, but it’s not why I was there. I was there to heal any wounds — but there weren’t any wounds. Everyone was like, we were in the army, all along the Western front and we were all getting together again. Very emotional moment.”
The moment carries even greater weight when placed against the long stretch of time that had separated Blackmore from his former bandmates.
The reunion took place at the Northwell at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, New York, marking Blackmore’s first appearance on stage with Deep Purple since 1993. That gap stretched the estrangement to 33 years, making the August 12 encore a historic moment for fans who never expected to see the guitarist share a stage with the band again.
Blackmore’s appearance came together quickly. He revealed his plans to join the band just a day earlier, during an Instagram Live broadcast with his wife, Candice Night, on August 11. The announcement set off a wave of anticipation among fans, many of whom scrambled to secure tickets for the show once word spread.
Blackmore finally walked out during the encore. He performed a single song alongside current members Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Ian Paice, Don Airey and Simon McBride: “Smoke on the Water,” the very track that helped define Deep Purple’s legacy and Blackmore’s own guitar riff decades earlier.
Blackmore, 81, made the decision to step back on stage after so long. The moment resonated deeply with longtime fans of the band, many of whom viewed the brief performance as a full-circle moment for one of rock’s most influential guitarists.
No further details have been given on whether Blackmore and Deep Purple will reunite for future performances.
