Ritchie Blackmore, the 81-year-old guitarist, made a surprise reunion with Deep Purple on 12 August 2026 at Jones Beach Theatre in Wantagh, New York, performing "Smoke on the Water" after 33 years away from the band. The spontaneous appearance was met with an overwhelmingly positive reception from the audience, with Blackmore describing the response as exceptionally enthusiastic and noting that ticket sales had increased following the announcement of his involvement.

Blackmore conceived the idea whilst in bed and, with his wife Candice's encouragement, contacted singer Ian Gillan via email to request joining for a single song. The performance presented minor challenges—Blackmore had no time for a soundcheck and part of the audience found themselves seated in water due to the venue's waterside location—but he reported that the band was welcoming and professional throughout. Having last performed with Deep Purple in 1993, Blackmore expressed appreciation that 35 years had not changed the band's character, and reflected that the four-minute performance felt like reuniting with old friends.