Ritchie Blackmore recently opened up about his health struggles and their impact on his touring future. He shared concerning details about his condition in an interview with Ultimate Classic Rock.
The legendary guitarist discussed his battle with vertigo, which forced the cancellation of his recent U.S. tour with Blackmore’s Night. He revealed how the condition has affected his approach to performing.
“I woke up one morning when we were on tour and I had what is called vertigo. I don’t recommend it to anybody. It was the worst thing I’ve ever been involved with. I’ve had heart problems, gout problems and pain, but vertigo is the worst thing I’ve ever been involved with,” Blackmore said.
He described the severity of the condition and the treatment he received.
“You’re very dizzy to the point of where you have no control over any part of your body, and you just fall down, basically and you can’t even think properly. It’s almost like a stroke, but you can speak and you can understand, which is different to a stroke and I had that in a hotel. I was taken off to the local hospital, where they kind of gave me the cure for vertigo. It’s called epi movement [also known as the Epley Maneuver],” he continued.
Blackmore further explained the ongoing impact of his condition.
“You have to move your head to the left and right and you have to take antihistamines, believe it or not. Taking those antihistamines is like taking something for seasickness. It’s like seasickness when you’re at sea. It was like I was in a fishing boat at sea in the biggest gale you could imagine. I had to grab hold of anything I could find, like a chair to stop from falling down. That scared the hell out of me,” he said.
The guitarist revealed how the condition has influenced his future touring plans.
“So we canceled the tour after that, came home and then it hit me again two days later, and it’s not something I recommend for anybody to have. Because I always thought when people talk about vertigo, they’re talking about, oh yeah, you feel a little bit dizzy. But it’s not that. You think your whole world is ending right there. Every day now, I’m looking to the left and right and straining my neck, because that’s where it’s all coming from. But it’s a bit of a mystery,” Blackmore explained.
He concluded with a concerning statement about his touring future.
“I’ve found that at my age, being 150, that you know, it’s time to kind of pull back on touring. I do not like traveling anymore. I love playing to anybody on any stage, But to get to that place, sometimes the traveling makes me sick,” he said.
The health issues led to the cancellation of the last four shows of Blackmore’s Night’s U.S. tour. This marks a significant shift in the guitarist’s approach to live performances.
The vertigo episode represents just the latest in a series of health challenges that have plagued the 81-year-old rock legend in recent years. These issues have forced him to reassess his commitment to extensive touring.
Parade reported that Blackmore’s wife Candice Night confirmed earlier in 2025 that the guitarist had suffered a heart attack in 2023. This resulted in six stents being implanted. The heart condition has added another layer of complexity to his health concerns. It makes travel and performing even more challenging for the veteran musician.
Beyond the cardiac issues and vertigo, Blabbermouth noted that Blackmore has been dealing with multiple ongoing medical problems. These include gout that particularly affects his feet, back problems with herniated discs, and migraines that make standing on stage and traveling increasingly difficult. These cumulative health issues have created a perfect storm that has forced the guitarist to reconsider his approach to live performance.
The impact on Blackmore’s Night’s touring schedule has been significant. Shows have been postponed and canceled as the couple prioritizes his recovery. Apple Podcasts confirmed that the legendary guitarist known for his work with Deep Purple and Rainbow is scaling back his touring schedule due to these mounting health issues. However, he has not announced a complete retirement from performing.
Despite the setbacks, Blackmore has expressed hope about returning to selective live performances in the future. However, extensive road work appears unlikely. His career spans decades as a founding member of Deep Purple. He later formed Rainbow and eventually transitioned to the medieval and folk-inspired music of Blackmore’s Night with his wife Candice. This makes his current health struggles particularly poignant for fans who have followed his musical evolution over the years.
