RITCHIE BLACKMORE On Onstage Reunion With DEEP PURPLE: It Was A 'Very Moving' And 'Emotional Moment'

Ritchie Blackmore joined DEEP PURPLE on stage for the first time in more than three decades during the band's headlining concert on August 12 at the Northwell at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, New York.

The 81-year-old guitarist, who last played with DEEP PURPLE in 1993, came up for a rendition of the band's classic song "Smoke On The Water", which closed DEEP PURPLE's regular set at the Wantagh show.

"It was very moving because I went on very quickly and had to play immediately," Blackmore told Guitar Player via e-mail afterward. "I couldn't warm up, but I wasn't there to be playing correct notes. I was there to see old friends I hadn't seen in 40 years, and we're all getting older. I think we realized it could be the last time we see each other, maybe.

"It was tricky; I didn't play anything too technical, as I felt I should stick to the rudiments of being simple," he added. "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."

After the "Smoke On The Water" performance, DEEP PURPLE singer Ian Gillan told the crowd: "I've gotta say something. A couple of days ago, I got a message. A couple of days ago, I got a message from a local lad. I got a letter from this man saying, 'I only live around the corner. Do you mind if I come and jam with you?' And I tell you, it was an absolute pleasure to have back on stage the founder member, the great legend, the immortal Ritchie Blackmore."

Ian added: "Thanks, Ritchie. I have to say it was a great pleasure. I'll see you in the bar."

Blackmore later wrote on social media about the Wantagh show: "Good night had by all, I hope. I know I had a great time. Thanks a lot lads. Carry on and have a good tour."

A post on DEEP PURPLE's social media called the band's onstage reunion with Blackmore "a big moment in rock history", while Gillan wrote the following day: "What a pleasure it was to welcome Ritchie Blackmore on stage with us to play 'Smoke' last night... Thanks Ritchie, that meant a lot to many people; not least me."

Current DEEP PURPLE guitarist Simon McBride shared a photo of him with Blackmore backstage, and wrote in an accompanying message: "My absolute pleasure to share the stage with this legend, such a great guy and an inspiration to all."

Ritchie revealed his guest appearance for the Wantagh gig during an August 11 Instagram Live with his wife Candice Night. Blackmore said in part:  "I sent my A.I. pigeon to Ian Gillan in Portugal, where he lives at the moment. And I said, 'How would you feel about if I got up just for an encore? Just one of the songs. I don't want to intrude.' And I said, 'No pressure — just kind of [for] old times' sake.' I'm 81 now. So he seemed to love the idea, put it to the band, got a thumbs up."

Blackmore also addressed some of the physical issues he is currently facing, including a severe, debilitating vertigo attack he suffered in late 2025 that forced him to cancel tour dates, as well as his chronic health challenges that include severe gout, arthritis affecting his fingers and feet, and previous heart issues.

"I did have my injection in my lumbar area yesterday," Ritchie said. "It's a special injection I have that enables me to stand in one spot, because if I'm playing a Strat on stage, I have a hard time with the shoulders and the lumbar area. I've got four herniated discs, if anybody wants them. And I had my injection yesterday of a steroid which helps me get through standing up on stage. But I do have a kind of a stool there just in case I start toppling over or something. But I know that Ian Gillan has his maladies too with his eyesight, I think. And so as you get older, you collect all these things… And fusion is out of the question. That's too big a job. But the stem cell stuff looks interesting. So I'm kind of recovering from that at the moment. I'm on steroid. And it's very hard to sleep when you're on steroids, but I'm on one steroid. And thanks to the doctors at Stony Brook [University Hospital]; they were excellent. I didn't feel hardly any pain. But I think we've all got something to complain about. I just have more things to complain about than usual. And if don't complain, I'll find something to complain about."

Ritchie, Candice and their two children reside on Long Island, New York, near Port Jefferson.

Blackmore is a co-founder of DEEP PURPLE and wrote many of their most memorable riffs, including "Smoke On The Water", but he had not played with the group since his 1993 departure.

During his time away from PURPLE, Blackmore established the neo-classical band called RAINBOW, which fused baroque music influences elements with hard rock before gradually progressing to catchy pop-style hard rock.

Blackmore stepped away from his Renaissance-inspired brand of music with BLACKMORE'S NIGHT in 2016 to perform a handful of shows with a brand-new lineup of RAINBOW.

After Ritchie left DEEP PURPLE for the final time in 1993, he reformed RAINBOW for one album (1995's "Stranger In Us All") and one tour, ending things in Denmark in 1997.

Blackmore didn't join his former DEEP PURPLE bandmates at the group's 2016 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony.

Blackmore previously suggested that PURPLE's manager had blocked him from attending the Rock Hall induction ceremony, and he used that as an excuse for not attending the event.

Despite Blackmore being a no-show at Rock Hall, he was given several shoutouts during the induction speeches of the DEEP PURPLE members in attendance. In addition, METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich, who inducted DEEP PURPLE into the institution, praised "Ritchie fucking Blackmore" for one of the most memorable guitar riffs of all time on "Smoke On The Water".

Back in 2014, Gillan told Rolling Stone about the prospect of a DEEP PURPLE reunion with Blackmore: "It would be unconscionable to think about bringing Ritchie in. I don't have an issue with Ritchie, nor does anyone. I've been in touch with Ritchie recently and everything's cool, so there's no bitter, personal problem. We're too old for that and everything's in the past, but no. That would be out of the question."