Rock history witnessed an improbable reconciliation when guitarist Ritchie Blackmore reunited with Deep Purple on stage for the first time in 33 years, performing their iconic anthem “Smoke on the Water” at the Jones Beach Theater in New York, according to reports from Novinky.cz and iReport.cz.
The surprise collaboration brought together four members of the band’s legendary MKII lineup—vocalist Ian Gillan, bassist Roger Glover, drummer Ian Paice, and returning guest guitarist Ritchie Blackmore—more than three decades after Blackmore’s departure from the group during a 1993 tour. According to Novinky.cz, Blackmore reached out directly to Gillan prior to the band’s North American tour to propose the guest appearance, citing his residence on Long Island and reluctance to fly to Europe as a prime window for a reunion.
Fans around the world and inside the New York venue watched as the man known as the “Black Knight” stepped out in his trademark black attire with a white Fender Stratocaster. Current Deep Purple guitarist Simon McBride gracefully stepped aside for the track, leaving Blackmore to deliver the immortal riff and two distinctive solos, as reported by Novinky.cz.
Decades of Tension Soften on Stage
Relations between Blackmore and his former bandmates had remained strained since his 1993 exit and subsequent friction surrounding the group’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. Yet those old grievances dissolved instantly when Gillan pulled the guitarist into a warm embrace at the onset of the performance, according to Novinky.cz.
“It was an absolute pleasure to have a founding member, a great legend, the immortal Ritchie Blackmore back on stage,” Gillan told the audience at the close of the song, before adding with a grin, “See you at the bar,” as noted by Novinky.cz. iReport.cz further noted that Blackmore had playfully hinted at the secret collaboration during a live stream with his wife and bandmate Candice Night just one day prior to the show, asking fans to keep the impending guest slot under wraps.
Health, Heritage, and Moving Forward
The guest spot carried added weight given Blackmore’s recent medical history involving his heart, joints, and spine, which has largely kept him off the rock touring circuit for years. Over the last two decades, Blackmore has focused primarily on Renaissance folk music with his wife Candice Night in Blackmore’s Night, alongside a 2018 tour with Rainbow, as detailed by Novinky.cz.
While Deep Purple continues its current North American and Canadian tour following the release of their album Splat!, local fans in Europe are anticipating the band’s upcoming stops. According to Novinky.cz, Deep Purple is scheduled to perform in Prague at the O2 arena on October 7, returning to the very venue where Blackmore’s Rainbow performed in 2018.
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