HELL has indeed frozen over in the world of Deep Purple with legendary guitarist Ritchie Blackmore to join them on stage for the first time in more than three decades.
The band has issued a statement saying Blackmore, 81, would join them on stage tonight (August 12) at Wantagh, New York for an encore. He last performed with the band in 1993.
Speaking in an Instagram Live Stream, Blackmore said:  ”There is something we wanted to mention about tomorrow night…
“Well, it is a secret and I don’t want anybody to know,but I’m probably (going to) get up and do an encore with the band, Deep Purple.
“But you can’t tell anybody and I know that this is gonna be kept a secret. And will it? I suppose so.”
“I actually called up … I didn’t call him up, I sent my A.I. pigeon to (singer) Ian Gillan in Portugal, where he lives at the moment.
“And I said ‘how would you feel about if I got up just for an encore? Just one of the songs. I don’t want to intrude.’
“And I said ‘no pressure — just kind of [for] old times’ sake.’ I’m 81 now.
“So he seemed to love the idea, put it to the band, got a thumbs up, and it looks like we might be doing that.”
Gillan is 80 and is down to 30 percent eyesight, reading lyrics out of the corner of his eyes.