All but the most blindly optimistic Deep Purple fans had given up hope of the band ever reuniting with former guitarist Ritchie Blackmore. But it looks like that’s exactly what is going to happen after Blackmore took to Instagram to drop the bombshell that he was planning on joining Deep Purple onstage at the hard rock veterans’ gig in Wantagh, New York tonight (August 12),
"I sent my A.I. pigeon to [Purple singer] Ian Gillan in Portugal, where he lives at the moment,” Blackmore said. “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.
