“That Was My Cue to Do a Ten-Minute Keyboard Solo”: Deep Purple’s Don Airey Recalls the Night Ritchie Blackmore Fell Onstage

Legendary Deep Purple keyboardist Don Airey has shared an unforgettable behind-the-scenes story from his decades-long career, involving none other than the band’s enigmatic and unpredictable guitarist, Ritchie Blackmore.

In a recent interview on the Classic Rock Vault podcast, Airey vividly recalled a chaotic and hilarious moment during a Deep Purple concert in the mid-1980s, when Blackmore—known as much for his fiery stage antics as his groundbreaking guitar work—fell over mid-solo, leaving the band momentarily stunned and the audience baffled.

“I looked across the stage and all I saw was a black hat and boots sticking up,” Airey laughed. “He’d gone down like a sack of potatoes right in the middle of his big moment. And everyone’s looking around like, ‘What now?’”

The Unexpected Fall of a Guitar God

The incident, which took place during a live performance of “Highway Star” in Munich, Germany, was as spontaneous as it was surreal. As Blackmore launched into a particularly energetic solo, moving erratically around his half of the stage, something—or someone—got in his way.

“There was a cable or maybe a monitor wedge, we’re still not sure,” said Airey. “Ritchie was spinning around, doing that thing he does when he’s channeling the spirits or whatever, and suddenly—bam! He’s on the floor.”

Blackmore didn’t immediately get back up. According to Airey, there was a moment of confusion as the rest of the band tried to keep playing while processing what had just happened.

“We didn’t know if he was hurt, passed out, or just being dramatic,” said Airey. “And the crowd went dead silent for a second. Then Ian Paice gave me this look like, ‘Do something!’”

“Ten Minutes of Improvised Chaos”

With the song at a standstill and Blackmore temporarily out of action, Airey did what any seasoned pro would do—he filled the gap with an extended keyboard solo.

“I just thought, ‘Right, this is my cue,’” Airey said. “I jumped into this mad, ten-minute Hammond organ solo—throwing in everything from Bach to boogie-woogie, trying to keep the audience engaged while Ritchie sorted himself out.”

According to fans who were at the concert, Airey’s impromptu performance turned into one of the highlights of the night. He shifted styles effortlessly, pulling in classical motifs, jazz runs, and snippets of Deep Purple melodies, all while keeping an eye on the still-grounded Blackmore.

“It was the most fun I’ve ever had panicking onstage,” Airey joked. “Every second I kept thinking, ‘Where the hell is he?’”

Eventually, Blackmore rose to his feet, dusted himself off, and—true to form—picked up the solo as if nothing had happened, launching back into his guitar work mid-note.

“The man had flair, no doubt about it,” said Airey. “He could fall flat on his back and still make it look like part of the show.”

The Mystique of Blackmore

Ritchie Blackmore’s reputation as one of rock’s most mercurial figures has long been cemented in music history. From smashing guitars to disappearing between encores, he has always kept audiences—and sometimes even his own bandmates—guessing.

Airey, who joined Deep Purple in 2002 but has worked with various members of the band for decades, spoke fondly of Blackmore despite his unpredictable nature.

“Ritchie could be difficult, no question, but he was also a genius,” Airey said. “When he was on, there was no one like him. And when he wasn’t… well, you learned to be ready for anything.”

He added with a chuckle, “That night in Munich taught me never to take a break—even during someone else’s solo.”

Fans Still Talk About It

Decades later, footage of the concert has become something of a cult favorite among Deep Purple fans. Though the full fall wasn’t captured on the official VHS release, bootlegs and fan accounts have kept the story alive in rock folklore.

“It’s funny—people come up to me at shows and say, ‘Do the fall solo!’” Airey said. “I guess it’s become a thing.”

As Deep Purple continues to tour and record well into their sixth decade, stories like this highlight not just the band’s incredible resilience, but also the human side of legendary performers.

“When things go wrong, that’s when the magic often happens,” Airey concluded. “That ten-minute solo? It was never planned. But in the end, it brought the house down.”