Ritchie Blackmore opened up about his historic, surprise reunion with Deep Purple at Jones Beach. He explained that he initiated the guest appearance to prove to fans that there is no longer any bad blood between him and frontman Ian Gillan. He emphasized that the highly emotional performance of “Smoke on the Water” was entirely about reconnecting with old friends while they still had the chance.
Ritchie Blackmore told Guitar Player: “It was very moving because I went on very quickly and had to play immediately. I couldn’t warm up, but I wasn’t there to be playing correct notes. I was there to see old friends. I hadn’t seen in 40 years and were all getting older. I think we realized it could be the last time we see each other, maybe.”
“I woke up one morning thinking, the day before their show, ‘You know it would be good for the fans if I just got up for one song, probably ‘Smoke’ and just show that were not at each other’s throats and don’t hate each other. Candice, my wife, got me in touch with Ian Gillan and I said, ‘What do you think about me getting up for ‘Smoke?’ His exact words were, ‘It made me smile.’ He then put it to the band and it was thumbs-up all around.”
“We’re two alpha guys. I’m used to running a band, and I think he’s used to running a band. So we clashed in the old days. But all that [has] changed.”
The historic reunion carried immense weight. Blackmore’s relationship with Deep Purple had been defined by decades of absence, lineup changes, and public tension.
Blackmore co-founded Deep Purple in 1968 and helped shape its signature sound. He first left the band in 1975. He returned in 1984 for a highly anticipated reunion. His final departure occurred in November 1993 during the tour for the album The Battle Rages On….
Serious musical and personal tensions had boiled over during that 1993 tour. A backstage argument after a show in Helsinki became deeply personal. Gillan later stated that Blackmore believed the band’s success belonged to him alone. This belief underscored how strained their relationship had become.
The surprise reunion took place on August 12, 2026, at the Northwell at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, New York. Blackmore joined the band onstage to perform “Smoke on the Water.” This performance marked his first live appearance with Deep Purple in over three decades. It ended a 33-year separation.
Blackmore had not shared a stage with Deep Purple since his exit in 1993. He even skipped the band’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in 2016. The group had refused to share the stage with him that night. During his decades away, he focused on his own musical projects, including Rainbow and Blackmore’s Night.
The guitarist brought back his iconic yellow Stratocaster for the powerful rendition of “Smoke on the Water.” He had received a steroid injection in his back the day before just to be able to stand onstage. A stool was placed nearby in case he could not remain standing. When the song ended, Gillan put his arm around Blackmore. He presented him to the crowd as the legendary co-founder.
