Ritchie Blackmore reveals how he felt playing with Deep Purple once again

For the first time in over thirty years, Ritchie Blackmore performed with Deep Purple on stage during the band’s main event on August 12 at the Northwell at Jones Beach Theatre in Wantagh, New York, as per Blabbermouth. The band’s iconic song “Smoke On The Water” was performed by the 81-year-old guitarist, who last performed with Deep Purple in 1993. This performance concluded Deep Purple’s normal set at the Wantagh gig.

It was very moving because I went on very quickly and had to play immediately, I couldn’t warm up, but I wasn’t there to be playing correct notes. I was there to see old friends I hadn’t seen in 40 years, and we’re all getting older. I think we realized it could be the last time we see each other, maybe.

It was tricky; I didn’t play anything too technical, as I felt I should stick to the rudiments of being simple, I still lost my place at one point, but it’s not why I was there. I was there to heal any wounds — but there weren’t any wounds. Everyone was like we were in the army all along the Western front and we were all getting together again. Very emotional moment.

Upcoming shows by Deep Purple:

• Monday, August 17, 2026 – Place Bell, Laval, QC, Canada
• Tuesday, August 18, 2026 – RBC Amphitheatre, Toronto, ON, Canada
• Wednesday, August 19, 2026 – Canadian Tire Center, Ottawa, ON, Canada
• Friday, August 21, 2026 – Pine Knob, Detroit, MI, US
• Saturday, August 22, 2026 – Seneca Allegany Casino, Salamanca, NY, US
• Monday, August 24, 2026 – Everwise Amphitheatre, Indianapolis, IN, US
• Tuesday, August 25, 2026 – Ravinia, Highland Park, IL, US
• Thursday, August 27, 2026 – Mystic Lake Casino, Prior Lake, MN, US
• Saturday, August 29, 2026 – Canada Life Centre, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
• Monday, August 31, 2026 – Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, AB, Canada
• Wednesday, September 02, 2026 – Abbotsford Centre, Abbotsford, BC, Canada
• Friday, September 04, 2026 – Thunder Valley, Lincoln, CA, US
• Saturday, September 05, 2026 – Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, CA, US
• Sunday, September 06, 2026 – Yaamava Theatre, Highland, CA, US
• Tuesday, September 08, 2026 – North Island Credit Union Amp, Chula Vista, CA, US
• Thursday, September 10, 2026 – Planet Hollywood, Las Vegas, NV, US
• Friday, September 11, 2026 – Long Beach Amphitheater, Long Beach, CA, US
• Saturday, September 12, 2026 – Nugget Event Center, Sparks, NV, US
• Tuesday, September 29, 2026 – 8888 Arena, Sofia, Bulgaria
• Thursday, October 01, 2026 – BT Arena, Cluj, Romania
• Friday, October 02, 2026 – Laszlo Papp Arena, Budapest, Hungary
• Sunday, October 04, 2026 – Tipos Arena, Bratislava, Slovakia
• Monday, October 05, 2026 – Stadthalle, Vienna, Austria
• Wednesday, October 07, 2026 – O2 Arena, Prague, Czechia
• Thursday, October 08, 2026 – Atlas Arena, Lodz, Poland
• Saturday, October 10, 2026 – Stark Arena, Belgrade, Serbia
• Sunday, October 11, 2026 – Boris Trajkovski Arena, Skopje, Macedonia
• Tuesday, October 13, 2026 – Telekom Centre Arena, Athens, Greece
• Friday, October 16, 2026 – Hallenstadion, Zurich, Switzerland
• Saturday, October 17, 2026 – Unipol Forum, Milan, Italy
• Monday, October 19, 2026 – Sant Jordi Club, Barcelona, Spain
• Tuesday, October 20, 2026 – Movistar Arena, Madrid, Spain
• Thursday, October 22, 2026 – Adidas Arena, Paris, France
• Friday, October 23, 2026 – Lotto Arena, Antwerp, Belgium
• Sunday, October 25, 2026 – Royal Arena, Copenhagen, Denmark
• Monday, October 26, 2026 – Avicii Arena, Stockholm, Sweden
• Wednesday, October 28, 2026 – Spektrum Arena, Oslo, Norway
• Thursday, October 29, 2026 – Scandinavium, Gothenburg, Sweden
• Saturday, October 31, 2026 – QI Arena, Leipzig, Germany
• Sunday, November 01, 2026 – Sporthalle, Hamburg, Germany
• Tuesday, November 03, 2026 – Westfalenhalle, Dortmund, Germany
• Wednesday, November 04, 2026 – Uber Arena, Berlin, Germany
• Friday, November 06, 2026 – Festhalle, Frankfurt, Germany
• Saturday, November 07, 2026 – Arena, Nuremberg, Germany
• Monday, November 09, 2026 – Ziggo Dome, Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Tuesday, November 10, 2026 – Zenith, Strasbourg, France
• Thursday, November 12, 2026 – Arkéa Arena, Bordeaux, France
• Friday, November 13, 2026 – Zenith, Nantes, France
• Sunday, November 15, 2026 – LDLC Arena, Lyon, France
• Wednesday, November 18, 2026 – Utilita Arena, Newcastle, UK
• Thursday, November 19, 2026 – OVO Hydro, Glasgow, UK
• Saturday, November 21, 2026 – BP Pulse Arena, Birmingham, UK
• Sunday, November 22, 2026 – AO Arena, Manchester, UK
• Tuesday, November 24, 2026 – Eventim Apollo, London, UK
• Wednesday, November 25, 2026 – Royal Albert Hall, London, UK
• Saturday, December 05, 2026 – Suhai Hall, Sao Paulo, Brazil
• Tuesday, December 08, 2026 – Movistar Arena, Santiago, Chile
• Thursday, December 10, 2026 – Movistar Arena, Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Sunday, December 13, 2026 – Arena Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico
• Wednesday, December 16, 2026 – Arena Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico
• Saturday, December 19, 2026 – Estadio Fray Nano, Mexico City, Mexico

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