Blackmore's Deep Purple Encore
Ritchie Blackmore Will Join Deep Purple Onstage for Single Encore After Three Decades
Key Points
Blackmore plans to join Deep Purple for a single encore song, with the exact number undisclosed and Highway Star not being used as the encore since the band intends to open with it.
He will perform with a small amplifier and has changed the strings on his Fender Stratocaster for the first time in more than 25 years.
Blackmore joked that he sent his A.I. pigeon to Ian Gillan in Portugal to pitch the idea of him coming up for one encore.
Kansas is listed as the special guest for the Jones Beach Theater show.
A roadie had already traveled ahead to Jones Beach to set up Blackmore’s gear before his brief appearance.
Ritchie Blackmore is set to share a stage with Deep Purple for the first time in 33 years. The 81-year-old guitar legend will join the band for a single encore at the Northwell at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, New York, on August 12, according to Guitar Player.
Blackmore revealed the plan during an Instagram Live with his wife Candice Night. He said the idea was his own, and Ian Gillan gave a thumbs-up after the two talked it over. Consequence noted that the appearance will be brief — just one song — with no pressure attached and a spirit of old times' sake.
One Song, One Guitar, One Night Only
Blackmore will not join Deep Purple for the full set. He plans to walk out for a single encore number, then walk off. The exact song has not been confirmed. CNY News reported that Highway Star will not be the encore pick — the band plans to open the show with it instead.
Kansas is listed as the special guest act for the Jones Beach show. Blackmore's appearance is expected to be separate from the main support slot — a surprise moment at the end of the night rather than a billed feature of the evening.
Blackmore Changed Guitar Strings for First Time in 25 Years
To get ready, Blackmore has made some notable preparations. He changed the strings on his Fender Stratocaster — something he had not done in more than 25 years, according to Guitar Player. He will also use a small amplifier rather than a full stage rig.
A roadie had already traveled ahead to Jones Beach to begin setting up Blackmore's gear before the show. Reports also indicate Blackmore may share the stage with current Deep Purple guitarist Simon McBride during his brief appearance, according to The Rock Revival.
An AI Pigeon, a Phone Call, and a Long-Awaited Yes
Blackmore joked that he sent an "A.I. pigeon" to Ian Gillan in Portugal to pitch the encore idea. In reality, the two talked it through, and Gillan agreed. Blackmore said there was no pressure from either side. Consequence described it as a casual, mutual decision between old bandmates.
Blackmore co-founded Deep Purple in 1968 and left for the final time in 1993. Since then, he has focused on Rainbow and his acoustic medieval project Blackmore's Night. This August will mark his first time on a Deep Purple stage in more than three decades.
Why This Moment Feels Bigger Than One Song
Deep Purple was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016. Blackmore was not part of the band by then, and his absence from that celebration added to years of speculation about a reunion. CNY News noted that several outlets have highlighted the secrecy and nostalgia surrounding the planned moment.
Blackmore kept the tone light in his announcement. "It'll be good to see the old guys again," he said, according to Guitar Player. For fans who have waited 33 years, one song may be more than enough.
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