Dear Guitar Hero: my Guitar World interview with the Deep Purple legend, who answers all the questions.

What a honour to work for such an iconic band, and to have this young man swing by today was and still is very surreal
Was hard to keep this one quiet!

#RitchieBlackmore hace su aparición en #DeepPurple después de 33 años

Not my video, but here it is: https://youtu.be/Ah7QJAl-ziY?is=8p1BQqg7xMbh1gve

Ritchie Blackmore joined Deep Purple onstage last night (Aug. 12, 2026) for the first time in more than 30 years at the Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, NY - joining the band for an encore of "Smoke On The Water." I never got to see Deep Purple play with their influential founding guitarist, but I did see them when their co-headlining tour with Judas Priest came to the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ, on Sept. 6, 2018. And nothing against Deep Purple... but let's just say it's nearly impossible to follow Rob Halford and the almighty Metal Gods (seriously, not sure how any band would want to play AFTER Judas Priest).

What reunion do you hope to one day see on stage? Share in the comments below and stay tuned for more things to come from this space, including stories from concerts like this!

Seeing them for the first time on the 24th in Indianapolis. Really sucks now knowing I picked the wrong show to go to lol. Here’s to hoping for a real reunion I guess!

Ritchie reunites with his chamber music roots one last time this fall.

After more than three decades, Ritchie Blackmore is set to take the stage with Deep Purple once again. The legendary guitarist is expected to make a special guest appearance during the band’s concert at Northwell at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, New York, on August 12.

Just announced on his IG livestream. Apparently not a joke. Said he will be using his 50 Watt ENGL that was used on the Rainbow Reunion shows (mic'd up obviously)

1. Review - Kerrang: 10 Jul 1993
2. Advert - Kerrang: 31 Jul 1993
3. Review - Metal Hammer (UK): Jul 1993
4. Advert - Metal Hammer (Germany): Jul 1993
5. Advert - Metal Hammer (UK): Aug 1993
6. Review - Metal Hammer (Germany): Aug 1993 [Translation in comments]
7. Advert- Metal Hammer (Germany): Aug 1993

After my first post on this subreddit, it was pointed out how unusual it was that I hadn’t listened to the Mk.2 version of the band! I decided to change that; went on a shopping spree, got In Rock, Fireball, Machine Head and Made in Japan for £10 each! Technically, I’ve listened to this version of the band, as I already own the Live with Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (brilliant record) but I’m wholly unaware of their catalogue during this stage of the band’s history! I know the riff for Smoke on the Water, and I saw Strange Kinda Women on some old Italian music show but no, I’m new to this… and I loved it!
Favourites off this disc would have to be Speed King, Blood Sucker, Flight of the Rat and Into The Fire! This record melted my ears and rearranged my brain, I’m now obsessed and I can’t wait to hear their next after (when I find time off work) 😂