Founding guitarist Ritchie Blackmore surprised fans this week by joining Deep Purple on stage during their performance at Jones Beach in New York. This appearance marks the first time the musician has performed with the group since his departure over three decades ago. The reunion happened during the encore as the band played their signature track, Smoke on the Water.
Blackmore, now 81, had prepared for the set by reaching out to singer Ian Gillan. He mentioned in a recent conversation that he has focused primarily on acoustic guitar work for the past 25 years. To prepare for the electric performance, he replaced his guitar strings and received a medical steroid injection for back pain to help him stand on stage.
Deep Purple members Ian Gillan, Ian Paice, and Roger Glover welcomed the guitarist back for the one-off appearance. The atmosphere was positive, with Gillan acknowledging the history between the band members during his introduction on stage. This event comes after years of public estrangement that famously kept Blackmore from joining the band during their 2016 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction.
The announcement was made public by Blackmore just 24 hours before the show, allowing fans a brief window to travel to the venue. The guitarist noted he wanted to give followers who have waited for such a moment a chance to witness the event. Audience members and online observers described the brief reunion as a historic moment for the band.