GUITAR maestro Ritchie Blackmore has reflected on his momentous reunion with Deep Purple at Jones Beach Ampitheater last week, saying: “We’re all getting older. I think we realized it could be the last time we see each other, maybe.”
Blackmore, 81, joined his hitherto estranged DP bandmates for an encore of “Smoke On The Water” at Wantagh, New York, last Wednesday evening.
He wrote an email to Guitar Player magazine about the experience, saying: “It was very moving because I went on very quickly and had to play immediately.
“I couldn’t warm up, but I wasn’t there to be playing correct notes. I was there to see old friends I hadn’t seen in 40 years and we’re all getting older. I think we realized it could be the last time we see each other, maybe.
“It was tricky; I didn’t play anything too technical, as I felt I should stick to the rudiments of being simple.
“I still lost my place at one point, but it’s not why I was there. I was there to heal any wounds — but there weren’t any wounds. Everyone was like we were in the army all along the Western front and we were all getting together again. Very emotional moment.”
Explaining the background of the event, Blackmore wrote: “I woke up one morning thinking, the day before their show, ‘You know it would be good for the fans if I just got up for one song, probably ‘Smoke’ and just show that were not at each other’s throats and don’t hate each other’
“Candice, my wife, got me in touch with Ian Gillan and I said, ‘What do you think about me getting up for ‘Smoke?’ His exact words were, ‘It made me smile.’ He then put it to the band and it was thumbs-up all around.”
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