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RITCHIE BLACKMORE Will NOT Be Rejoining DEEP PURPLE At MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL

June 12, 2006

Former DEEP PURPLE guitarist Ritchie Blackmore has shot down reports that he was approached by his former PURPLE bandmates about rejoining them for their appearance at the 40th-anniversary edition of the Montreux Jazz Festival this summer.

In an interview with Billboard.com conducted last month, Montreux Jazz Festival founder Claude Nobs said about DEEP PURPLE's performance at the Swiss festival 35 years after their classic "Smoke on the Water" was inspired by a fire at the The Montreux Casino, "It is going to be a special evening. I don't know who they are going to invite. I hope Ritchie Blackmore will join them. I know they are trying."

Responding to the rumors, Blackmore's management company has issued the following statement:

"Most ridiculous rumor of the month! Truth regarding the upcoming Montreaux show is: Ritchie and his representatives have never been approached by the members of DEEP PURPLE, their agents or the organizers of the Montreux concert. The only way that this office has heard of the show is through the fans who apparently are being misled by false rumors. As you all know, Ritchie left DEEP PURPLE in 1993 — 13 years ago. Ritchie will not be making an appearance at the Montreux show."

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