Ritchie Blackmore reunited with Deep Purple on stage for the first time in 33 years, performing “Smoke on the Water” at the Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, New York. The appearance was significant because Blackmore co-founded the band and had not played with it since leaving in 1993, following years of strained relations with former bandmates.

Blackmore said beforehand that it was his first rock performance in roughly 25 years, apart from a brief Rainbow reunion in 2016, having focused on acoustic guitar instead. Singer Ian Gillan said Blackmore initiated the reunion, while the guitarist’s health issues mean the cameo is unlikely to lead to regular appearances on Deep Purple’s North American tour supporting SPLAT!.