Ritchie Blackmore reunites with Deep Purple on stage

Guitarist Ritchie Blackmore reunited with Deep Purple on stage at Jones Beach in New York on August 12. This performance marks his first time sharing the stage with the band in over 30 years, following his departure in the early 1990s.

Blackmore, 81, joined the group for a rendition of their signature song, “Smoke on the Water.” The reunion follows decades of tension between Blackmore and lead vocalist Ian Gillan, which previously prevented Blackmore from participating in the band’s 2016 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Ian Gillan praised the founding member during the concert, describing the appearance as a pleasure. Blackmore reportedly reached out to Gillan to propose the brief appearance for the encore, noting the desire to share “a bit of old times’ sake.”