Deep Purple

A historic reunion for Deep Purple took place last August 12th at the Northwell at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, New York. Joining his former bandmates onstage was guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, who hadn't played live with the band since 1993 and who surprised the group by joining them onstage to perform "Smoke On The Water", sealing a reconciliation that would have seemed almost unthinkable just a few years ago.

Interviewed by Joann Butler on the podcast "In Studio With…", singer Ian Gillan retraced the story behind the encounter, explaining that his relationship with Blackmore had actually been mended for some time: "It was beautiful. It was fantastic. Ritchie and I have been in touch for a few years now; a lot of water has passed under the bridge. I don't like using clichés, but in this case it really fits. Ritchie wrote me a lovely letter a few days before we arrived in New York, asking: 'Do you think it would be alright? What if I came up onstage for 'Smoke'?' I said: 'Of course, absolutely.' A smile immediately came to my face. I thought: 'Well, of course that would be wonderful. That would be fantastic.'"

Blackmore lives not far from Jones Beach, on Long Island, so arranging his appearance at the show was relatively straightforward. Far greater, however, was the symbolic weight of that return, after more than thirty years apart and a history also marked by deep personal rifts. "It was fantastic when he came onstage: a magical moment. It had been a long time. Once you've sorted out the problems between you, you tend to forget about everything else; although, obviously, not everyone is aware of that. It was a wonderful, warm feeling. After the show we had a drink together in the dressing room. I think he went home a bit tipsy. But it was fantastic: truly a magical moment," Gillan said.

The Deep Purple singer went on to reflect on the grudges and tensions that had strained relationships within the British band in the past, noting how, over the years, it had become natural to leave them behind: "Life goes through so many different phases, and you really can't let all these problems keep existing; they end up becoming destructive forces in their own right. We got past all that. Have you ever seen 'Spinal Tap'? Well, that's pretty much how it went for most of us, including the Beatles and everyone else. When you put together four or five lads barely out of their teens or in their early twenties, form a band and go on tour, a sense of camaraderie and unity develops that makes them almost inseparable, giving them great strength and identity. But when things get bigger, you come into contact with the real world and a much wider reality; a lot of outside influences come into play. And human chemistry is the most complex of all sciences, so we can't manage or predict it when we're young; then you find yourself facing unfamiliar situations, critical moments. Sure, things can go wrong, but that doesn't mean they have to stay that way. So, as the years go by, you leave it all behind."

A few days after the show, Blackmore had also told "Guitar Player" about the emotions he felt returning to the stage with Deep Purple: "It was very touching, because I went onstage quickly and had to play right away. I couldn't warm up, but I wasn't there to play perfect notes. I was there to see old friends I hadn't met in 40 years; we're all getting older. I think we realized this might have been the last time we'd see each other. It was a delicate situation; I didn't play anything too technical, because I felt I had to stick to simplicity. At one point I did lose my place, but that wasn't why I was there. I was there to heal any wounds… even though there weren't any. We were like fellow soldiers meeting again after fighting together on the Western Front. A truly moving moment."

The significance of the encounter had already been underlined by Gillan himself during the show. At the end of "Smoke On The Water", the singer addressed the crowd to pay tribute to his old bandmate: "I have to say something. A couple of days ago I got a message. A couple of days ago I got a message from a local guy. I received a letter from this man saying: 'I live right around the corner. Would you mind if I came and played a bit with you?' I can assure you it was a real pleasure to have back onstage the founding member, the great legend, the immortal Ritchie Blackmore. Thank you, Ritchie. I have to say it was a great pleasure. See you at the bar."

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11/09/2026