Ritchie Blackmore Would Reunite With Deep Purple For Final Concert “For Nostalgic Reasons”
Ritchie Blackmore has stated that he would consider reuniting with for one Deep Purple show “for nostalgic reasons.”
In a brand new interview with Germany’s Rock N Roll Reporter, Blackmore was questioned about sharing the stage with Purple again and replied: “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. They have their niche and are not into doing things like that. We are friends and I’ve doing my music for twenty years, and they’re doing their stuff for twenty years. It’s probably not likely [to happen]. Also, their management wouldn’t like it, even if it was for just one show. Their management wouldn’t allow it, I’m sure.”
Ritchie Blackmore is one of the co-founders of Deep Purple and wrote many of their most memorable riffs including the famous ‘Smoke On The Water’, but he has not played with the group since his departure in 1993.
Deep Purple drummer Ian Paice recently told The Rock Brigade podcast that there was “no point” for the band to consider a reunion with Blackmore, explaining that “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. I think Ritchie’s life doesn’t work like that. I think it’s a little more complex. And at this stage of my life, I don’t need cloudy areas. I like it to be clear and crystal and know that it’s gonna be fun. I love Ritchie to death, but I can’t guarantee every day with him is gonna be fun.”
Blackmore was absent from Deep Purple’s induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame last year. He later posted a statement on his Facebook page in which he said: “I have my reason for not attending the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony, although I appreciate the award.”
Despite Blackmore’s absence at last year’s Rock Hall, he was given several shout-outs during the induction speeches of the Deep Purple members in attendance. In addition, Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich, who inducted Deep Purple into the institution, praised him for one of the most memorable guitar riffs of all time with ‘Smoke On The Water’.
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