Ritchie Blackmore has suggested he may make a brief encore appearance with Deep Purple, marking a possible reunion with the band after years away. The prospect contrasts with the long-running creative tensions within the group, including disagreements that contributed to changing line-ups and Blackmore’s eventual departure.

One notable dispute arose during the recording of Deep Purple’s 1974 album Stormbringer, over Blackmore and David Coverdale’s ballad ‘Soldier of Fortune’. Blackmore regarded it as one of his favourites, but said Glenn Hughes disliked it intensely and Ian Paice stopped after two takes because he felt the song offered too little for him to play; Blackmore ultimately agreed to perform the group’s funkier material in exchange for recording it.