Oh boy, are you guys ready for some mind-blowing news? 🤯 I can barely contain my excitement… or not. So, it turns out that Ritchie Blackmore, the legendary guitarist and co-founder of Deep Purple, reunited with the band on stage for the first time in over three decades! I know, I know, it’s not like it’s a big deal or anything. I mean, who doesn’t love a good reunion, right? 🙄
So, what happened? Well, on August 12, Deep Purple was playing a headlining concert at the Northwell at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, New York, and Blackmore showed up to join them for a rendition of their classic song “Smoke On The Water”. Because, you know, that’s not a song they’ve played a million times before. According to Ian Gillan, the band’s singer, it was a lovely and fantastic moment, and they’ve been in touch with Blackmore for a few years now, and a lot of water has gone under the bridge. Yeah, because that’s exactly what I want to hear – a bunch of old guys talking about how they’ve put their differences aside.
The Reunion
Gillan said that Blackmore wrote him a nice letter a few days before the show, asking if it would be okay if he joined them on stage for a song, and Gillan was like, “Yeah, sure, why not?” Because, you know, it’s not like they have any better things to do. And then, Blackmore showed up, and they played “Smoke On The Water” together, and it was all very emotional and stuff. I bet the crowd was just totally thrilled to see a bunch of old guys playing a song they’ve heard a million times before.
But seriously, folks, it’s not like this reunion was a big surprise or anything. I mean, Blackmore has been talking about getting back together with Deep Purple for years, and Gillan has been saying that it’s not going to happen. So, yeah, this is a total shock. 🙄 Blackmore even told Guitar Player magazine that it was very moving, and he was there to see old friends and heal any wounds, but there weren’t any wounds to heal. Because, you know, everything is just peachy keen in the world of rock music.
Health Issues
But, you know, it’s not all good news. Blackmore has been dealing with some serious health issues, including a severe vertigo attack that forced him to cancel tour dates, and chronic health challenges like gout, arthritis, and heart issues. Yeah, because being an old rock star is all fun and games until you have to deal with the consequences of years of partying and playing loud music. But hey, at least he’s still rocking, right? 🤘
And, of course, the internet is just thrilled about this reunion. I mean, who doesn’t love a good nostalgia trip? 🎉 Simon McBride, the current guitarist for Deep Purple, even shared a photo with Blackmore backstage, and said it was an absolute pleasure to share the stage with him. Because, you know, it’s not like he’s just trying to ride Blackmore’s coattails or anything.
But, in all seriousness, it’s nice to see these old guys putting their differences aside and playing music together again. Even if it’s just for one song, it’s still a big moment in rock history, as Deep Purple’s social media account put it. And who knows, maybe this will lead to a full-on reunion tour, and we can all relive the glory days of rock music. Or, you know, maybe it’ll just be a one-off thing, and we’ll all forget about it in a week. Either way, it’s been fun to watch, and I’m sure the nostalgia train will keep on rolling. 🚂
Chord F. Discord, the Beethoven of Buffoonery, is a self-taught expert in music who once claimed he could “play the kazoo in four languages.”
Born in Crescendo, Indiana, Chord’s first brush with fame came when he accidentally entered a yodeling contest thinking it was a pie-eating competition—and won both categories.
Chord F. Discord: proving that laughter, much like a poorly tuned ukulele, is truly universal.
