Founding Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore says he would play one final show with his former bandmates.
“I think if they were interested, and our dates would not collide, I would be [interested], for a single show, because of the old times," Blackmore told RocknRoll Reporter. "But I don’t believe Deep Purple are interested in it. They have their niche. We are friends. I have been doing my music for 20 years, they’ve been doing it for 20 years. It’s probably not likely.”
The guitarist blames the band's management for obstructing any potential reunion.
They "would not like it, even if we were only interested in a single show," he said. "Their management would not allow it, I’m sure.”
Deep Purple was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last year, and Blackmore was not invited to perform. Ultimate Classic Rock notes that Blackmore at the time claimed Deep Purple's management prevented him from showing up at all.