Ritchie Blackmore reunites with Deep Purple for first time in 33 years

Ritchie Blackmore, the co-founder of Deep Purple, reunited with the band on stage for the first time in 33 years during a concert at the Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, New York, on August 12. The 81-year-old guitarist joined the group during an encore to perform their iconic track, “Smoke on the Water.”

Blackmore had not performed with the band since 1993, following a period of tension and his eventual departure from the group. He revealed his intention to join the band for a single song during an Instagram Live session prior to the show, noting that he had reached out to frontman Ian Gillan to ask if he could join for “old times’ sake.”

The performance featured several members of the band’s legendary Mark II lineup, including Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, and Ian Paice. The reunion was met with significant crowd enthusiasm as Blackmore performed his signature riffs on his Fender Stratocaster.