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

Ritchie Blackmore joined Deep Purple onstage at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, New York, on August 12, 2026. The appearance marked the first time Blackmore had performed with the band since 1993, ending a separation of more than three decades.

• Ritchie Blackmore appeared with Deep Purple at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, New York, on August 12, 2026.
• It was Blackmore’s first performance with the band since 1993, more than 30 years earlier.
• Blackmore joined the group for an encore performance of “Smoke on the Water.”
• Blackmore is Deep Purple’s founding guitarist and has long been described as estranged from the band.
• Blackmore reportedly said, “I have not played rock music in 25 years.”

What Happened When Ritchie Blackmore Joined Deep Purple Onstage

Deep Purple’s set at Jones Beach Theater on August 12, 2026, closed with an encore of “Smoke on the Water,” the band’s signature song, and Ritchie Blackmore came out to play it alongside the current lineup. The moment brought Blackmore back into the fold of a band he co-founded in 1968 and helped define with his guitar work through the 1970s and again in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Blackmore’s last performance with Deep Purple prior to this reunion came in 1993, meaning fans and the band itself had gone 33 years without seeing him share a stage with his former bandmates. He has been repeatedly characterized as the group’s estranged founding guitarist in the years since his departure, a label that underscores how significant the Jones Beach appearance was for longtime followers of the band.

Ritchie Blackmore’s Comments After the Deep Purple Reunion

Following the reunion, Blackmore shared a message that was described as his first statement after rejoining Deep Purple onstage. He reportedly said, “I have not played rock music in 25 years,” a comment that speaks to how far he had stepped away from the genre he helped shape with Deep Purple and later with Rainbow and Blackmore’s Night.

Blackmore’s remark places his August 12 appearance in a broader context. While he departed Deep Purple in 1993, his comment suggests an even longer gap from rock performance specifically, making the Jones Beach encore notable both as a band reunion and as a return to a musical style he had largely set aside.

Deep Purple’s Recent Touring History Without Blackmore

Deep Purple has continued to tour extensively in the decades since Blackmore’s exit, with guitarist Steve Morse and later Simon McBride filling the role on record and onstage. One fan account recalled seeing the band perform without Blackmore during a co-headlining tour with Judas Priest at PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey, on September 6, 2018, a show that predates the Jones Beach reunion by eight years.

That earlier show illustrates just how long Deep Purple operated without any onstage involvement from its original guitarist, making the August 2026 appearance at Jones Beach Theater a rare and closely watched exception to decades of separation between Blackmore and the band.

FAQ

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

Blackmore’s previous performance with Deep Purple was in 1993, making his August 12, 2026, appearance at Jones Beach Theater his first with the band in 33 years.

What song did Ritchie Blackmore play with Deep Purple at Jones Beach?

Blackmore joined Deep Purple for an encore performance of “Smoke on the Water” during the band’s show in Wantagh, New York.

Is Ritchie Blackmore rejoining Deep Purple permanently?

The available reporting describes only a one-off onstage appearance and does not indicate any announcement of Blackmore rejoining Deep Purple as a full-time member.