After 33 years of silence, Ritchie Blackmore joined his former bandmates in Deep Purple for a single song at their New York concert. The guitarist appeared on stage at Jones Beach to perform their signature hit Smoke on the Water, marking his first collaboration with the group since 1993.
Frontman Ian Gillan introduced the guitarist to the audience, noting that Blackmore reached out days prior to ask if he could join them for an encore. Despite a history of tension that once seemed permanent, the band members performed the track together while the crowd looked on. Gillan stood next to the guitarist for parts of the song, and both appeared to enjoy the moment.
Blackmore, who has been recovering from health issues and has not toured since late 2025, noted his respect for the current band lineup, including guitarist Simon McBride. While this appearance served as a singular event, it marks a shift for a group that once declared a reunion impossible. The performance provides a rare look at the original members sharing the stage again.
Candice Night, his wife and bandmate, confirmed the reunion shortly before the show through a photo of the group together backstage. While no future shows are scheduled, the performance indicates that even long-standing fractures in music history can see temporary repair.