Deep Purple fans witnessed a historic moment on Wednesday night at Jones Beach in New York, as founding guitarist Ritchie Blackmore joined the band on stage for the first time since his acrimonious split in the early 1990s.
The reunion was unexpected, given the decades-long estrangement between Blackmore and the rest of the band. Many fans had lost hope of ever seeing them share a stage again.
Just prior to the performance, Blackmore had warned fans that he had not played rock music in 25 years, setting a cautious tone for his return to the genre.
Despite this, Blackmore took to the stage with Deep Purple, putting aside their past differences for a night of music. The exact circumstances of the reunion are not clear, but the fact that it happened at all is a significant development for the band and its fans.
The performance at Jones Beach marked a rare moment of reconciliation between Blackmore and his former bandmates, and fans in attendance were treated to a unique experience.
While it is unclear if this performance will lead to further collaborations or a more permanent reunion, the fact that Blackmore and Deep Purple were able to put their differences aside, even if only for a night, is a notable event in the world of rock music.
<small>Source: Variety — read the original story there.</small>
