# Ritchie Blackmore joins Deep Purple for Smoke on the Water

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/watch-ritchie-blackmore-reunite-with-deep-purple-for-smoke-on-the-water/
- Published: 2026-08-13T14:01:15+00:00
- Updated: 2026-08-13T20:12:39+00:00
- Original publisher: Rolling Stone
- Original article: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/ritchie-blackmore-reunite-deep-purple-smoke-on-the-water-1235607916/
- Topics: Entertainment, Music, Offbeat, Weird & Viral

## Key points

- Blackmore joined Deep Purple for one song after 33 years away.
- The reunion took place at Jones Beach in New York.
- No further Deep Purple appearances have been confirmed.

## Summary

Ritchie Blackmore reunited with Deep Purple onstage at Jones Beach in New York, joining the band for ‘Smoke on the Water’ during its encore. It was his first performance with the group since November 1993, ending a 33-year estrangement that had appeared unlikely to be resolved and delighting fans of the founding guitarist.

Singer Ian Gillan said Blackmore had asked a few days earlier whether he could sit in for one song, and the band agreed. Blackmore had signalled the possibility on Instagram and his wife, Candice Night, shared a backstage photo before the concert; he played only the one track, no further appearances have been announced, and he is recovering from a heart attack after last performing his own shows in November 2025.

## Coverage

- [Rolling Stone: Ritchie Blackmore joins Deep Purple for Smoke on the Water](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/ritchie-blackmore-reunite-deep-purple-smoke-on-the-water-1235607916/)
- [Stereogum: Deep Purple Reunite With Ritchie Blackmore For The First Time In 33 Years](https://stereogum.com/2508142/deep-purple-reunite-with-ritchie-blackmore-for-the-first-time-in-33-years/news/)

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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.