Deep Purple’s Ian Gillan recently confirmed that his feud with Ritchie Blackmore is officially “water under the bridge,” discussing their recent on-stage reunion and addressing whether there are any plans to do more together in the future, in a statement shared on Louder.
The statement focused on his current relationship with Blackmore and how they reconnected during a recent show.
“I wasn’t really surprised it happened,” Gillan said. “I’ve been in touch with Ritchie for quite a long time now, and we’re on very good terms. All the nonsense from the past is now water under the bridge. We’re getting on great. So as we were in the area, I wasn’t that surprised [to see him], but I was very pleased.”
He then shared details about their meeting backstage at the venue.
“Well, I brought along a bottle of whisky and had a couple of drinks for the first time in years at the venue,” he continued. “We had about half an hour. But we’ve been in touch, as I said earlier, for some time now. Having said that, it was nice doing it face to face. And I’ll probably see Ritchie again next time I’m in the area.”
Gillan also addressed the possibility of future appearances together.
“I don’t know [if something similar could ever happen again],” he added. “The reason we did it there was because Ritchie only lives around the corner. So, I don’t know. If we play Jones Beach or New York again, possibly. Ritchie lives on Long Island but he’s always welcome.”
This comment came after their recent reunion. Further updates may follow.
The remarks highlight how far the two rock legends have come since their well-documented conflicts during Deep Purple’s classic years.
That renewed warmth came after decades of friction inside Deep Purple. Gillan and Blackmore clashed repeatedly over the band’s direction, with the guitarist later criticizing the group’s creative choices and control issues.
The tension eventually helped end Blackmore’s time in Deep Purple. He first left the band in 1975 because he wanted to avoid creative stalemates and disputes over touring and musical decisions.
Blackmore later rejoined for Deep Purple’s Mark II reunion, but the relationship remained strained. The final split came in November 1993 during the The Battle Rages On… tour, after which the two sides stayed estranged for years.
Blackmore once reflected on their dynamic, saying, “He was, as they say, an alpha guy. So was I.”
The recent reunion happened on Aug. 13, 2026, at Jones Beach in Wantagh, New York, where Blackmore joined Deep Purple onstage for “Smoke on the Water.” It was Blackmore’s first live performance with the band since 1993.
