“I Wasn’t There to Play Correct Notes”: Ritchie Blackmore Opens Up on His Emotional Deep Purple Reunion Performance

It was a historic moment of celebration for the entire rock community when legendary guitar icon Ritchie Blackmore stepped onto the stage alongside Deep Purple for the first time in over thirty years last week.

Ritchie Blackmore re-joined the pioneering band he co-founded back in 1968 to deliver their timeless anthem "Smoke on the Water" at the Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, New York, on August 12. This marked his very first public appearance with the iconic group since November 1993, when he famously departed mid-tour.

Despite the monumental nature of the event, a wave of cynical commentary emerged within the online guitar community regarding his performance that night in New York. A segment of listeners felt that the guitar solo delivered by the master fell short of their technical expectations.

However, the 81-year-old guitar legend, who is currently recovering from a heart attack, pulled no punches when reflecting on his playing during an exclusive sit-down interview with Guitar Player magazine.

"It was deeply moving because I walked out onto the stage very quickly and had to start playing instantly," he revealed. "I didn't have a chance to warm up, but I wasn't there to focus on hitting every correct note. I was there simply to see my old friends."

"I hadn't seen them in nearly four decades, and we're all growing older," he reflected. "I think every one of us realized that this might very well be the last time we ever see each other."

That candid statement may be difficult to digest for devoted fans who held out hope for a third major reunion between the legendary guitarist and his former band. Yet that remains the physical reality: significant health challenges severely restrict where the legendary musician can travel and perform. The New York concert venue happened to be within comfortable driving distance from his Long Island home, making it a rare opportunity that may serve as his final live performance with the group.

The entire reunion idea was orchestrated by the veteran guitarist himself. Upon discovering that his former bandmates were performing locally, he reached out to offer a guest appearance before teasing the upcoming surprise to fans online.

"I woke up one morning the day before their concert and thought to myself, 'You know, it would be wonderful for the fans if I just jumped on stage for a single track—probably Smoke—just to demonstrate that we aren't at each other's throats and that there's no hatred between us,'" he explained to Guitar Player.