Ritchie Blackmore thinks his recent Deep Purple reunion could be the "last time" he sees his bandmates.
The 81-year-old guitarist, who co-founded the group in 1968 and hadn't performed with them for 33 year, rejoined the rock legends to play Smoke On The Water at a show on August 12 in Wantagh, New York.
He told Guitar Player magazine: “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 were all getting older. I think we realised it could be the last time we see each other, maybe.”
Ritchie first left the band in 1975 as he went onto form Since You've Been Gone rockers Rainbow.
He later reunited with Deep Purple from 1984 to 1993, when he left for the second time in the middle of a world tour.
His appearance with the band a week ago marked his first reunion with them since that departure.
Ritchie explained: "I woke up one morning thinking, the day before their show, ‘You know it would be good for the fans if I just got up for one song, probably Smoke and just show that were not at each other’s throats and don’t hate each other'.
“Candice, my wife, got me in touch with Ian Gillan and I said, ‘What do you think about me getting up for Smoke?’
"His exact words were, ‘It made me smile.’ He then put it to the band and it was thumbs-up all around.”
Ritchie hadn't played live in a full-on rock environment since 2019 with Rainbow, and while he was nervous, he was more focused on rebuilding bridges than making things perfect.
he said: "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.”
Frontman Ian gushed over his bandmate after the performance.
He told the crowd: “A couple of days ago, I got a message from a local lad, saying ‘I only live around the corner, do you mind if I come and jam with you?’
"It was an absolute pleasure to have back on stage the founding member, the great legend, the immortal Ritchie Blackmore.”
Before the show, Ritchie had tipped off fans via social media, while he also spoke candidly about his health.
He opened up about a severe vertigo attack in late 2025 that forced him to cancel shows, along with ongoing issues including gout, arthritis in his fingers and feet, and past heart problems. Despite the challenges, he said he was eager to see his former bandmates again.
He said: “I have not played rock music in 25 years… it’ll be good to see the old guys again.”
