Ritchie Blackmore, the iconic guitarist and co-founder of Deep Purple, has recently expressed a willingness to reunite with his former bandmates for a one-off performance. However, members of the current Deep Purple lineup have firmly…
In a recent interview with Germany’s Rock N Roll Reporter, Blackmore stated, “I think if they would be interested, and our schedules aligned, I would be available for one show — for nostalgic reasons. But I don’t think Deep Purple have any interest in that.” (uDiscover Music)
Blackmore, who left Deep Purple in 1993, has since focused on his projects, including Blackmore’s Night and a reformed version of Rainbow. Despite his absence, he remains a significant figure in the band’s history, having penned many of their most memorable riffs, including “Smoke On The Water.”(El País, uDiscover Music)
The current members of Deep Purple have responded to Blackmore’s comments with a clear stance. Frontman Ian Gillan emphasized that a reunion would be “utterly disrespectful” to the band’s current formation. He elaborated, “The atmosphere would be terrible, it would be artificial — it would be only for money, nothing else.” (Guitar.com)
Bassist Roger Glover echoed similar sentiments, stating, “Not a chance. The rumors don’t come from us, that’s for sure. I mean, why on earth would we do that? I have the utmost regard for Ritchie as part of the band… But that’s moving backwards. We don’t move backwards; we move forwards.”
Drummer Ian Paice also weighed in, highlighting the band’s current harmony and the potential disruption a reunion could cause. He remarked, “We have a wonderful feeling within the band, everybody’s very friendly, and all we have to do is go on stage and make the music; there’s no other considerations to worry about.”
Blackmore’s departure from Deep Purple was marked by internal conflicts and creative differences. Since then, the band has continued to evolve, with guitarist Steve Morse joining in 1994 and contributing to the band’s modern sound until his departure in 2022, after which Simon McBride took over the role.
While Blackmore’s proposal for a reunion stems from a place of nostalgia, the current members of Deep Purple prioritize the band’s present chemistry and future trajectory. As Gillan succinctly put it, “It’s not gonna happen.” (BLABBERMOUTH.NET)
Fans of the iconic rock band may hold onto hope for a reunion, but for now, Deep Purple remains committed to their current lineup and musical direction.
