Ritchie Blackmore Plays With Deep Purple Onstage for First Time in 33 Years

Ritchie Blackmore joined Deep Purple onstage at the Northwell at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, New York on August 12, 2026, performing “Smoke on the Water” with the band. It was the guitarist’s first live appearance with Deep Purple since 1993, ending a 33-year estrangement between him and his former bandmates.

• Ritchie Blackmore, 81, performed “Smoke on the Water” with Deep Purple at Jones Beach Theater on August 12, 2026.
• The appearance marked Blackmore’s first live performance with the band since 1993.
• Blackmore revealed the plan a day earlier, on August 11, 2026, during an Instagram Live with his wife, Candice Night.
• He said he reached out to singer Ian Gillan in Portugal to ask about joining the band for an encore.
• Current Deep Purple members onstage included Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Ian Paice, Don Airey, and Simon McBride.

How Did Ritchie Blackmore Announce the Deep Purple Reunion?

Blackmore revealed the surprise plan on August 11, 2026, during an Instagram Live with his wife, Candice Night. “Well, it is a secret and I don’t want anybody to know, but I’m probably get up and do an encore with the band Deep Purple,” he said, adding, “But you can’t tell anybody, and I know that this is gonna be kept a secret. And will it? I suppose so.”

Blackmore explained that he had reached out to Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan, who lives in Portugal, describing the outreach as sending his “A.I. pigeon” to ask if he could join for one song. “How would you feel about if I got up just for an encore? Just one of the songs. I don’t want to intrude,” he recalled telling Gillan, adding it would be “no pressure” and simply for “old times’ sake.” Gillan reportedly liked the idea, put it to the rest of the band, and got a “thumbs up.”

What Happened When Ritchie Blackmore Took the Stage With Deep Purple

Blackmore joined the current Deep Purple lineup, singer Ian Gillan, bassist Roger Glover, drummer Ian Paice, keyboardist Don Airey, and guitarist Simon McBride, to close the band’s regular set with “Smoke on the Water.” After the song, Gillan addressed the crowd and told them he had received a message from “a local lad” asking to jam. He called Blackmore “the founder member, the great legend, the immortal Ritchie Blackmore,” before adding, “I’ll see you in the bar.”

Blackmore co-founded Deep Purple in 1968 and led the original band until 1975, before rejoining in 1984. He remained with the group until 1993, when tensions boiled over during a European tour, including erratic behavior at a filmed show at Birmingham’s NEC Arena. He officially parted with the band following a November 17, 1993 show in Helsinki, Finland.

The rift ran deep enough that Blackmore skipped Deep Purple’s 2016 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction after band management, led by Bruce Payne, refused to let him perform alongside the current lineup that night.

Why the Deep Purple Reunion Was Physically Difficult for Ritchie Blackmore

Blackmore has dealt with a string of health issues in recent years. A bout of vertigo forced the cancellation of 2025 Blackmore’s Night tour dates, and he has also managed chronic arthritis, gout, a bad back with four herniated discs, and a previous heart condition.

To prepare for standing onstage during “Smoke on the Water,” Blackmore said he received a lumbar steroid injection at Stony Brook University Hospital the day before the show. He also changed the strings on his Fender Stratocaster for the first time in more than 25 years and had a roadie set up his amp rig in advance of the concert.

FAQ

When did Ritchie Blackmore last play with Deep Purple before 2026?

Ritchie Blackmore last performed live with Deep Purple in 1993, before officially departing the band after a show in Helsinki, Finland on November 17 of that year.

What song did Ritchie Blackmore play with Deep Purple in 2026?

Blackmore performed “Smoke on the Water,” the 1972 classic he co-wrote, closing out Deep Purple’s regular set at Jones Beach Theater on August 12, 2026.

Why didn’t Ritchie Blackmore attend Deep Purple’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction?

Blackmore skipped the 2016 induction ceremony after Deep Purple’s management, Bruce Payne, told the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame that the band would not perform with him that night.

More Info

1. Ritchie Blackmore’s Surprise Decision to Reunite With Deep Purple (Loudwire)
2. Watch Ritchie Blackmore perform with Deep Purple for first time in 33 years (NME)
3. Watch: RITCHIE BLACKMORE Performs With DEEP PURPLE For First Time In 33 Years (Blabbermouth)
4. Ritchie Blackmore Set to Play With Deep Purple After 33 Year-Estrangement (Rolling Stone)
5. Watch Ritchie Blackmore perform Smoke on the Water with Deep Purple for the first time since 1993 (Far Out Magazine)
6. Watch “The Great Legend, the Immortal” Ritchie Blackmore return to the stage with Deep Purple for the first time in 33 years (Louder / Classic Rock)
7. Watch Ritchie Blackmore perform onstage with Deep Purple for the first time in more than 30 years (MusicRadar)
8. Ritchie Blackmore performed with Deep Purple tonight, the first time since 1993 (Classic Rock subreddit)