Ritchie Blackmore reunites with Deep Purple for the first time in 33 years

Rock history was made this week. On 12 August 2026, at the Northwell at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, New York, Ritchie Blackmore stepped back on stage with Deep Purple for the first time in 33 years. The 81-year-old guitarist and co-founder of the band had reached out to Ian Gillan himself, asking to join the group for one encore, “for old times’ sake”. After roughly 100 minutes of concert, he walked out to play the song that carries his most famous riff: “Smoke on the Water”.

Ritchie Blackmore joins Deep Purple at Jones Beach to play “Smoke on the Water”. Photos: Andy Hawkes.

And of course, that riff was born right here. On 4 December 1971, a fan fired a flare during a Frank Zappa concert at the Casino de Montreux, setting the building on fire. Deep Purple were in town to record their next album and watched the smoke drift across Lake Geneva from their hotel window. A few days later, they had their song. More than half a century on, “Smoke on the Water” remains one of the most recognisable riffs in rock history — and its story starts right here on our shore.

So, somewhere in the emotion of Blackmore’s return, there’s a little piece of Montreux too. Every time those four notes ring out anywhere in the world, the lake is in them.