Watch: Ritchie Blackmore Reunites With Deep Purple After 33 Years
Deep Purple’s Guitar Legend Ritchie Blackmore Returns to the Stage After 25 Years
The Big Surprise That Shocked Rock Fans
Imagine your favorite band breaking up because two members just couldn’t get along. Now imagine waiting 30 years for them to make up — and then suddenly, one night, they hug it out on stage in front of thousands of cheering fans. That’s exactly what happened when Ritchie Blackmore, the founding guitarist of Deep Purple, rejoined his old bandmates for one unforgettable song.
Who Is Ritchie Blackmore? (And Why Is This a Huge Deal?)
Important Point: Ritchie Blackmore isn’t just any guitarist — he co-founded Deep Purple in 1968 and wrote the iconic guitar riff for "Smoke on the Water," one of the most famous rock songs in history.
But in 1993, after a nasty fallout with the other members, Blackmore quit the band for good. The bad blood ran so deep that when Deep Purple was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2016, Blackmore refused to show up because the band said they would never perform with him again — not even for one song.
Fans thought this chapter was closed forever.
They were wrong.
How the Reunion Happened (Step by Step)
- A Secret Message — A few days before the show, singer Ian Gillan sent a friendly note to Blackmore (who was jokingly described as sending an "AI pigeon" to Gillan in Portugal) asking if he’d like to come up for one encore.
- The Band Said Yes — To everyone’s shock, the current lineup — Gillan, drummer Ian Paice, and bassist Roger Glover (all original or near-original members) — agreed.
- Blackmore Leaked It Himself — The night before the concert, 81-year-old Blackmore spilled the beans on a livestream with his wife, singer Candice Night. He wanted fans who’d dreamed of this moment for decades to have a chance to buy tickets and get to Jones Beach, New York in time.
- The Big Night — At the end of the show, Gillan introduced Blackmore as "the founding member, the great legend, the immortal Ritchie Blackmore." They tore through "Smoke on the Water" together, and the crowd went wild.
What Made This So Hard for Blackmore?
Important Point: This wasn’t just "pick up the guitar and play." Blackmore hadn’t played electric rock guitar in 25 years — he’s been doing gentle folk-rock with his band Blackmore’s Night.
| Challenge | What He Did About It |
|---|---|
| Hadn’t changed strings in 25+ years | Put fresh strings on his Fender Stratocaster right before the show |
| Four herniated discs in his back | Got a steroid injection the day before so he could stand |
| Trouble standing still while playing | Had a stool on stage just in case he needed to sit |
| Used to acoustic, not electric | Admitted it felt "frightening" and "uncomfortable" at first |
He joked: "I have four herniated discs, if anybody wants them."
Fan Reactions: "History Has Been Made"
Fans watching from home and in the audience lost their minds. The Metal Voice podcast team livestreamed the moment and shouted:
"History has been made… I feel like we just walked on the moon."
Social media lit up with videos, photos, and tearful messages from fans who never thought they’d see this day.
Why Did Blackmore Do It Now?
In his own words:
"I’m 81 now… It will be good to see the old guys again. I hope people enjoy it."
Sometimes, time heals even the deepest wounds — and music brings people back together.
Summary
- Ritchie Blackmore, Deep Purple’s founding guitarist, rejoined the band onstage at Jones Beach, NY after 30 years of silence.
- They played "Smoke on the Water" — the song he wrote the riff for.
- Blackmore is 81, hadn’t played rock in 25 years, and needed a back injection and a stool to pull it off.
- He announced it 24 hours early so fans could attend.
- The current members (Gillan, Paice, Glover) welcomed him back warmly.
- Fans called it historic, emotional, and unreal.
FAQ
Did Ritchie Blackmore rejoin Deep Purple permanently?
No. This was a one-time guest appearance for a single encore. He is not back in the band full-time.
Why didn’t he play at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2016?
The band told him they would not perform with him under any circumstances, even for a short reunion at the ceremony. So he stayed home.
What has Blackmore been doing since 1993?
He formed Blackmore’s Night with his wife Candice Night, playing renaissance-style folk-rock on acoustic guitar — a very different sound from Deep Purple.
How did the other band members react?
Singer Ian Gillan called it "an absolute pleasure" and said "I’ll see you in the bar" after the song. The band gave a clear "thumbs up" when Gillan asked them.
Where can I watch the performance?
Fan-filmed videos spread instantly on YouTube and social media. Search "Ritchie Blackmore Deep Purple Jones Beach 2024 Smoke on the Water" to see the historic moment.