Ritchie Blackmore Reunites With Deep Purple for One Song — and Says It May Be the Last Time

Ritchie Blackmore walked on stage with Deep Purple at Jones Beach in Long Island, New York, on August 12, the first time he had played with the band since November 1993. He performed a single song: "Smoke on the Water," the guitar-driven track that has anchored the band's setlist for five decades. (Rolling Stone)

The appearance had been announced the day before, on August 11, via Blackmore's Instagram account. Behind the scenes, the reconnection was brokered by Blackmore's wife, Candice, who reached out to Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan to propose the one-song performance. Gillan's response, as reported by Rolling Stone, was: "It made me smile." (Rolling Stone)

The smile was a long way from 2014, when Gillan told the same publication that reuniting the old lineup with Blackmore would be "unconscionable." Blackmore left Deep Purple acrimoniously in 1993, and the two men had not shared a stage in the 32 years since.

Blackmore had also been dealing with serious health problems. He suffered a heart attack the year before the reunion that left him unable to play guitar for several months, according to Rolling Stone. (Rolling Stone)

In an exclusive interview with Guitar Player published on August 15, Blackmore said he believes he and his former bandmates understood the weight of the moment. "I think we realized it could be the last time we see each other," he told the magazine. (Guitar Player)

One song, one night, and a 32-year silence broken — with no guarantee of an encore.