Guitarist Ritchie Blackmore recently reunited with his former band Deep Purple for the first time in 33 years. It also may be the last time they ever perform together.
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It's the first time he has reunited with the band since he left in 1993. He reunited with the band on August 12 in Wantagh, New York.
"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," he told Guitar Player. "We're all getting older. I think we realized it could be the last time we see each other, maybe."
Blackmore left Deep Purple first in 1975 before rejoining in 1984 and leaving again in 1993 during a world tour. He allegedly clashed with frontman Ian Gillan. The guitarist described both as "alpha guys."
"But all that [has] changed," he said. "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."
Guitarist Reunites with Band for One Song
It was also the first time he has performed on stage since 2019. But he cared more about reuniting with his former bandmates. The guitarist had one last ride.
"I woke up one morning thinking, the day before their show, 'You know it would be good for the fans if I just got up for one song, probably 'Smoke,' and just show that we're not at each other's throats and don't hate each other,'" he told Guitar Player. "Candice, my wife, got me in touch with Ian Gillan and I said, 'What do you think about me getting up for 'Smoke'?' His exact words were, 'It made me smile.' He then put it to the band and it was thumbs-up all around."
Meanwhile, Gillan shared his own thoughts. "Thanks Ritchie, that meant a lot to many people; not least me," he wrote.
