Ritchie Blackmore reunited with Deep Purple on Wednesday night at the Northwell at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, New York, stepping onstage with his former bandmates for the first time in 33 years to perform Smoke on the Water
at the climax of their 100-minute set.
An Unlikely Reconciliation After Decades Apart
Most rock fans had long since abandoned hope of ever seeing the guitarist share a stage with his old band again. Blackmore co-founded Deep Purple in 1968, but his history with the group was fractured by a tumultuous exit in November 1993 following a show in Helsinki, Finland. Tensions between the guitarist and frontman Ian Gillan remained frozen for decades, culminating in Blackmore’s conspicuous absence from the group’s 2016 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction after management drew a hard line against a reunion.
Yet the ice broke when Blackmore, now 81 and living on Long Island, decided to reach out directly. During an Instagram Live session with his wife Candice Night, Blackmore joked to fans about how he initiated the contact.
“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, and it looks like we might be doing that.”
Ritchie Blackmore, via Loudersound
Gillan brought the proposal to the touring lineup and received a unanimous green light.
Medical Hurdles and Preparation for the Stage
Stepping back into the hard rock spotlight required significant physical preparation for the guitarist. Blackmore has spent the last 25 years focused on acoustic, medieval folk music with Blackmore’s Night, and he candidly detailed the toll of aging and health challenges ahead of the appearance.
Beyond battling a debilitating vertigo attack in late 2025 that forced tour cancellations, Blackmore deals with chronic gout, arthritis in his fingers and feet, and previous heart issues.
“I did have my injection in my lumbar area yesterday. 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.”
Ritchie Blackmore, via BLABBERMOUTH.NET
Despite the physical hurdles, Blackmore changed the strings on his Stratocaster for the first time in a quarter-century and coordinated a soundcheck with his roadie. He admitted to feeling nervous about matching the volume of his modern counterpart, noting that Simon McBride had very big amplifiers behind him on the current tour.
An Intentional Leak to Tip Off Fans
Rather than letting the appearance unfold as a completely unannounced surprise, Blackmore intentionally spilled the secret during his Tuesday livestream conversation with Candice Night.
Fans quickly picked up on the hint, creating a palpable wave of anticipation inside the venue. As the concert neared its conclusion, shouts for the guitarist echoed through the crowd before he emerged to exchange smiles with his former bandmates and launch straight into the most famous riff in rock history.
From the Stage Back to the Bar
When the final notes of Smoke on the Water
faded, Gillan stepped up to the microphone to welcome his long-estranged colleague back into the fold with effusive praise, telling the audience it was an absolute pleasure to have back onstage the founder member.
“I’ve gotta say something. A couple of days ago, I got a message… 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 it was an absolute pleasure to have back onstage, the founder member, the great legend, the immortal, Ritchie Blackmore!”
Ian Gillan, via Ultimate Classic Rock
Gillan capped off the introduction with a lighthearted nod to their enduring dynamic, telling the cheering crowd, I’ll see you in the bar.
What Lies Ahead on the Splat! Tour
While the reunion satisfied decades of fan demand, it remains unclear whether the Jones Beach cameo will be a one-off event or part of a broader thaw in relations. Blackmore’s appearance served as a historic detour on an otherwise packed schedule.
Deep Purple’s Splat! tour continues immediately, with the next performance scheduled for August 13 at the Xfinity Center in Mansfield, Massachusetts, before heading north to Canada for shows in Halifax and Laval later in the week.
Worth a look
