Ritchie Blackmore has offered insight into what spurred his recent onstage reunion with Deep Purple, the band he helped form in 1968 but hadn’t played with in 33 years. The reunion came on August 12th at the Northwell at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, New York, with Blackmore joining Deep Purple for a performance of the classic song “Smoke on the Water.”
The reunion was a significant moment for the band and their fans, and Blackmore has now shared his thoughts on the experience. In an interview with Guitar Player, Blackmore said of the performance, “It was very moving because I went on very quickly and had to play immediately. I couldn’t warm up, but I wasn’t there to be playing correct notes. I was there to see old friends I hadn’t seen in 40 years and we’re all getting older. I think we realized it could be the last time we see each other, maybe.”
The Reunion Performance
Blackmore also described the emotional moment on stage reuniting with fellow classic members Ian Gillan, Ian Paice, and Roger Glover. He told Guitar Player, “It was tricky; I didn’t play anything too technical, as I felt I should stick to the rudiments of being simple. I still lost my place at one point, but it’s not why I was there. I was there to heal any wounds — but there weren’t any wounds. Everyone was like, we were in the army, all along the Western front and we were all getting together again. Very emotional moment.”
The evening also saw the first performance Blackmore had with keyboardist Don Airey in 44 years, following the latter’s exit from Rainbow in 1982. Blackmore also described earlier clashes with Gillan that led him to exit the group in 1993, saying, “We’re two alpha guys. I’m used to running a band, and I think he’s used to running a band. So we clashed in the old days. But all that changed.”
Deep Purple’s Current Tour
Deep Purple are currently in the midst of a North American tour in support of their newest album, SPLAT!. Blackmore also described his choice of a yellow Stratocaster during the performance, saying it “was a Strat I used to play in the ’80s. I changed the strings and practiced a little bit. I haven’t played a Strat properly for 30 years; I’ve done the occasional solo but I usually play acoustics around the house. I use my right and for finger picking with long nails, but playing the Strat I have to play with a plectrum and have very short nails. A whole different technique.”
Tickets for Deep Purple’s tour are available, and fans can watch Blackmore’s reunion performance with Deep Purple online. The reunion was a special moment for the band and their fans, and it’s clear that Blackmore is grateful to have had the opportunity to reconnect with his former bandmates.
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