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Guitarist Ritchie Blackmore<\/a> has shared insight into his \u201cvery emotional\u201d reunion with Deep Purple<\/a>.<\/p>\n It was Aug. 12 when Blackmore, who hadn\u2019t appeared with the band he\u2019d helped co-found in over 30 years, got onstage with Deep Purple for a rendition of their iconic tune \u201cSmoke on the Water.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was an absolute pleasure to have back onstage, the founder member, the great legend, the immortal, Ritchie Blackmore!” frontman Ian Gillan<\/a> declared after the performance, earning thunderous cheers from the crowd. As you can see in the video from\u00a0@TheDeepPurplePodcast<\/a> below, Blackmore was moved by the moment and said very little from the stage. Now, several days removed, the guitarist has shared his own thoughts on the night.<\/p>\n “It was very moving because I went on very quickly and had to play immediately,” Blackmore explained to Guitar Player<\/em><\/a>, looking back on the reunion. “I couldn’t warm up, but I wasn’t there to be playing correct notes. I was there to see old friends I hadn’t seen in 40 years, and we’re all getting older. I think we realized it could be the last time we see each other, maybe.\u201d<\/p>\n\u2018We Realized It Could Be the Last Time We See Each Other\u2019<\/h3>\n