Ritchie Blackmore, the guitar virtuoso who forever changed rock music with his baroque-inspired riffs and lightning-fast technique, is facing a new challenge — time itself. At 80 years old, the former Deep Purple and Rainbow legend is dealing with multiple health issues that have kept him off the road with his current folk-rock band, Blackmore’s Night, the group he formed with his wife, singer Candice Night, in 1997.
In a recent interview with the Iron City Rocks podcast, Night shared an honest update.
“There’s three main issues with him,” she explained. “He has a heart problem — he had a heart attack a couple of years ago, so we stay on top of that. He’s got gout, which is affecting his feet really badly and starting in his forefinger, so it’s hurting mobility. And then there’s his back, which has always been an issue.”
These struggles have slowed down one of rock’s most innovative guitarists. Known for pioneering sweep-picking in the ’70s and blending classical melodies with hard rock fury, Blackmore stepped away from Deep Purple for good in 1993, later focusing entirely on the medieval-flavored sound of Blackmore’s Night. His last full-scale rock venture came in 2016, when he briefly reunited Rainbow for a handful of European shows.
Now, touring presents serious challenges. Long flights are off the table — “jet lag stresses your heart,” Night notes — so any future performances would need to be within driving distance of their home on Long Island. “We don’t have a tour bus, we don’t have private planes. If we go somewhere, I’m driving. It’s like a mini road trip.”
Still, there’s a flicker of hope. Blackmore has hinted at the possibility of autumn shows. “With Ritchie, if you pressure him, he instantly says no,” Night laughed. “But he did say, ‘What about doing some Blackmore’s Night dates in the fall?’”
For now, fans are left with memories, music, and the guitarist’s occasional appearances online. In 2024, he launched Tales from the Tavern on YouTube, sharing short, often humorous stories from his decades in music — from accidentally keeping Eric Clapton awake with a 3 a.m. amp protest, to being pranked by Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan.
Blackmore’s career has been nothing short of legendary. And while his health may slow his pace, his story isn’t over — it’s simply moving to a gentler rhythm.
