Ritchie Blackmore Reunites With Deep Purple for the First Time in 33 Years

Ritchie Blackmore, an 81-year-old guitarist who co-founded Deep Purple in 1968, reunited with the band for the first time in 33 years during a performance in Wantagh, New York on Wednesday, August 12. Blackmore joined the band for a rendition of their iconic song 'Smoke on the Water'. Prior to the performance, he teased fans on Instagram about an upcoming encore. The audience reacted with excitement, with many fans shouting his name upon his stage appearance. Blackmore exchanged smiles with former bandmates, including frontman Ian Gillan, before leading the performance. Gillan later revealed that Blackmore had approached him with a request to jam with the band, calling him a 'legend' and 'immortal'. Blackmore’s first stint with Deep Purple lasted from 1968 to 1975, followed by a hiatus until 1984, where he reformed the band until 1993. After leaving Deep Purple, Blackmore co-founded Blackmore’s Night with his wife, Candice Night, focusing on medieval folk music. In recent years, he has faced health issues, including vertigo, arthritis, a bad back, and a previous heart condition, which led to the cancellation of Blackmore’s Night’s 2025 tour.