In a rare update shared via Instagram Live, legendary guitarist Ritchie Blackmore has opened up about his ongoing connections with former Deep Purple bandmates. The 80-year-old musician confirmed that he maintains contact with key figures from the band’s classic era. He remains distant from its current lineup.
“Yes. Ian Paice sends me regards now and again, and I talked to Ian Gillan and David Coverdale,” Blackmore said during the live session. “But I don’t know the new people in the band… Don is a brilliant keyboard player, but he has been in every band in the business.”
The comments reveal a selective approach to his Deep Purple legacy. He maintains bonds with the musicians who shaped the band’s most iconic period while keeping his distance from newer members. This measured stance reflects decades of complex history between Blackmore and the group he helped define.
Blackmore’s relationship with Deep Purple has been fraught with creative and personal disagreements that ultimately led to his departure. Guitar World reported that the guitarist first considered leaving the band when a bandmate rejected one of his song ideas based on writing credits. The bandmate stated, “If we didn’t write it, there’s no point in doing it.” This moment crystallized Blackmore’s frustration with what he perceived as the band’s focus on “high-finance interests” rather than genuine musical collaboration.
The tension that drove Blackmore away from Deep Purple contrasts sharply with his experience forming Rainbow with legendary vocalist Ronnie James Dio. Guitar Player featured interviews where Blackmore reflected on how Rainbow represented the creative freedom and camaraderie that Deep Purple lacked. He described it as “the band that remains his greatest creation.” Despite his grievances, Blackmore has maintained a selective nostalgia for certain bandmates. He notably kept drummer Cozy Powell in his memory for the simple gesture of bringing “stacks and stacks of English chocolates” on tour.
In recent years, Blackmore has largely retreated from the public eye due to serious health concerns. Farout Magazine documented that the guitarist suffered a heart attack in 2023 or 2024. More recently, he experienced severe vertigo that forced the cancellation of Blackmore’s Night’s entire autumn 2025 tour. In an official November 2025 statement, Blackmore detailed how intense vertigo developed following a hotel stay with inadequate heating and noisy conditions. He linked this to a severe migraine and his existing lumbar and neck herniations.
Despite these setbacks, Blackmore expressed hope for a return to touring once his health improves. His wife, Candace Knight, noted that doctors had advised against air travel following his heart attack. This underscores the seriousness of his medical situation. The guitarist’s current focus on recovery has limited his public statements. His recent comments about Deep Purple relationships are all the more significant as a rare glimpse into his current mindset.
