# Ritchie Blackmore rejoins Deep Purple on stage after 33 years

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/ritchie-blackmore-performs-with-deep-purple-for-first-time-since-acrimonious-split-in-early-90s-after-warning-fans-i-have-not-played-rock-music-in-25-years/
- Published: 2026-08-13T07:32:53+00:00
- Updated: 2026-08-13T13:47:15+00:00
- Original publisher: Variety
- Original article: https://variety.com/2026/music/news/ritchie-blackmore-deep-purple-performs-smoke-on-the-water-1236833509/
- Topics: Americas, Entertainment, Music, Offbeat, Weird & Viral, World

## Key points

- Blackmore rejoined Deep Purple on stage after 33 years.
- They performed “Smoke on the Water” in New York.
- The cameo signals a thaw after decades of estrangement.

## Summary

Ritchie Blackmore has performed with Deep Purple for the first time in 33 years, joining the band on stage at Jones Beach in New York for “Smoke on the Water”. The appearance marked a significant reconciliation between the founding guitarist and his former bandmates after his acrimonious departure in 1993 and decades of public estrangement.

Blackmore, 81, disclosed the planned encore during a livestream the previous evening, saying he had not played rock music for 25 years and wanted long-waiting fans to have a chance to attend. Singer Ian Gillan praised Blackmore after the performance; the guitarist had missed Deep Purple’s 2016 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction after being told the current touring line-up would not reunite with him, even briefly.

## Coverage

- [Variety: Ritchie Blackmore rejoins Deep Purple on stage after 33 years](https://variety.com/2026/music/news/ritchie-blackmore-deep-purple-performs-smoke-on-the-water-1236833509/)
- [Louder: Watch "The Great Legend, the Immortal" Ritchie Blackmore return to the stage with Deep Purple for the first time in 33 years](https://www.loudersound.com/bands-artists/ritchie-blackmore-returns-to-the-stage-with-deep-purple)
- [Blabbermouth: Watch: RITCHIE BLACKMORE Performs With DEEP PURPLE For First Time In 33 Years](https://blabbermouth.net/news/watch-ritchie-blackmore-performs-with-deep-purple-for-first-time-in-33-years)

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.