Ritchie Blackmore plans Deep Purple New York encore reunion
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Ritchie Blackmore said he intended to rejoin Deep Purple on stage at their Wantagh, New York concert, potentially ending more than three decades away from the band. The proposed encore appearance would have been a notable reunion with the group’s founding guitarist and an important figure in hard rock history.
Blackmore last performed with Deep Purple on 17 November 1993 in Helsinki during the tour for The Battle Rages On…. He said he had asked singer Ian Gillan about playing one song “for old time’s sake”, and that the rest of the band had approved the idea; Blackmore is 81. The available account described the appearance as planned, rather than confirming that it took place.
- Blackmore planned a one-song Deep Purple encore in New York.
- It would follow a 33-year absence from the band.
- The reported reunion was not confirmed as completed.
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Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in 1968, best known for songs including Smoke on the Water and Highway Star. Along with bands such as Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are often seen as an important influence on the development of hard rock and heavy metal.
Ritchie Blackmore was Deep Purple’s original guitarist and helped shape the band’s sound with prominent riffs and fast, classically influenced playing. He was part of the group during several of its best-known periods, but left after disputes during a tour in 1993.
Ian Gillan is Deep Purple’s long-serving lead singer, while the current line-up has continued to record and tour without Blackmore for decades. A guest appearance by a former member can be significant for fans because it brings together musicians associated with the band’s most famous era.
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Originally published by Far Out as “Ritchie Blackmore to reunite with Deep Purple on stage for first time in 33 years: “For old time’s sake””.