Full Breakdown
Ritchie Blackmore to Rejoin Deep Purple for One-Song Encore at Jones Beach
8/12/2026, 8:14:15 PM
Core Event: Surprise Encore Appearance
Legendary guitarist Ritchie Blackmore announced he will step onstage with his former band Deep Purple for an encore during their concert on Wednesday, August 12 at the Northwell at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, New York. The 81-year-old revealed the plan during an Instagram Live broadcast with his wife Candice Night on August 11. Blackmore said the appearance will be a single song, keeping the moment a secret until the show.
Background & Context
Blackmore co-founded Deep Purple in 1968 and contributed iconic riffs to tracks such as “Smoke on the Water” and “Highway Star.” He left the group in 1975, returned for the 1984 “Perfect Strangers” reunion, and departed again in 1993. His final Deep Purple performance occurred on November 17, 1993 in Helsinki, Finland.
Since then he has focused on the folk project Blackmore’s Night and the hard-rock outfit Rainbow, which he re-formed for a brief tour in 2016-2019. Health challenges—including vertigo, chronic gout, arthritis, and four herniated lumbar discs—have limited his live rock appearances.
Timeline
- November 17, 1993 – Blackmore’s last Deep Purple concert (Helsinki).
- August 11 – Announces the upcoming encore via Instagram Live.
- August 12 – Scheduled encore with Deep Purple at Jones Beach.
Data & Statistics
- 33 years since Blackmore last performed with Deep Purple.
- 81 years old at the time of the appearance.
- 25 years playing primarily acoustic guitar; strings on his Fender Stratocaster changed for the first time in over 25 years.
- Four herniated discs treated with a lumbar steroid injection the day before the show.
Official Statements & Responses
Blackmore described the appearance as a “secret” he hoped would remain undisclosed until the concert. He said he contacted vocalist Ian Gillan—who resides in Portugal—by sending an “A.I. pigeon,” proposing a single-song encore for “old times’ sake.” Gillan reportedly approved the idea, and the band gave a “thumbs up.”
He noted his roadie had arrived to set up a compact, high-output amplifier, the same model he uses for recording, and expressed modest confidence, noting that current guitarist Simon McBride employs larger equipment.
He also detailed his medical preparation: a lumbar steroid injection to enable standing, a stool on standby, and a cautious approach given his vertigo and other ailments.
Why It Matters
The encore marks the first time Blackmore has shared a stage with Deep Purple in over three decades, offering a rare live moment for fans of the classic lineup and highlighting his willingness to revisit rock performance despite health constraints.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Blackmore repeatedly claimed he has not played rock music in 25 years, yet sources note his participation in Rainbow’s 2016-2019 reunion concerts, which featured rock material. No official clarification has been provided regarding this discrepancy.
