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Ritchie Blackmore Returns to Deep Purple for Jones Beach Encore

8/12/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Ritchie Blackmore will join Deep Purple for an encore at the August 12 Jones Beach Theater show, his first appearance with the band since 1993.
He announced the surprise on August 11 after asking Ian Gillan in Portugal for permission.
He will play one song with current guitarist Simon McBride, whom he praised as a good player.
He said he hasn’t played rock in 25 years because of vertigo and back problems.

History

Historical Context

Deep Purple’s first UK appearance after reuniting came at the Knebworth Festival in August 1985, a venue that had already drawn crowds of around 200,000 for acts such as the Rolling Stones in 1976 and Led Zeppelin in 1979. The historic open-air stage, long used for massive rock shows, frames Blackmore’s surprise return at Jones Beach in 2024, echoing past large-scale revivals.

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Story summary

Ritchie Blackmore will join Deep Purple for an encore at the August 12 Jones Beach Theater show, his first appearance with the band since 1993.
He announced the surprise on August 11 after asking Ian Gillan in Portugal for permission.
He will play one song with current guitarist Simon McBride, whom he praised as a good player.
He said he hasn’t played rock in 25 years because of vertigo and back problems.

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