Ritchie Blackmore back on stage with Deep Purple after 33 years

In a moment many thought impossible, legendary guitarist Ritchie Blackmore returned to the stage with his former band, Deep Purple, for a surprise performance. The iconic musician, who famously departed the rock band in 1993, joined his ex-bandmates for a rendition of their classic hit "Smoke on the Water" during a concert in New York.

The reunion marked a significant moment, as it was the first time Blackmore had played with singer Ian Gillan, bassist Roger Glover, and drummer Ian Paice in 33 years. While original keyboardist Jon Lord passed away in 2012, current keyboardist Don Airey and guitarist Simon McBride also performed alongside Blackmore.

Blackmore had hinted at the possibility of the appearance in a social media video, where he asked Ian Gillan if he could join them for a single song as an encore. He emphasized that he didn't want to impose and simply wished to play "for the old times' sake." The band agreed, leading to the unexpected and memorable performance that delighted fans who had long believed the rift between Blackmore and Deep Purple was irreparable.