Iconic '70s Rocker Has Personal Update Amid Health Issues
Ritchie Blackmore, the former member of Deep Purple, shared a glimpse of his current reality decades after his departure from the British rock band.
The 81-year-old musician cemented his name in the music industry after being one of the founders of the now-iconic hard rock band.
The late 1960s were a pivotal moment for Jon Lord, Ian Paice, Ian Gillan, Rod Evans, Nick Simper and Blackmore after achieving commercial success in North America through their debut album Shades of Deep Purple.
The momentum carried into the 1970s, solidifying their status as one of the leading forces in the European and the U.K. music scene.
Decades later, after leaving Deep Purple and launching his new rock band Rainbow, Blackmore once again captured the public's attention, but this time, it wasn't for his music.
During his live session via Instagram, Blackmore revealed that he is now confronting a more personal battle.
Around 2023 or 2024, he suffered a heart attack, which forced him to withdraw from the public eye and focus on his health.
The update comes after he experienced another setback involving severe vertigo, which led to the cancellation of his Night 2025 Fall Tour, originally scheduled for the fourth quarter of the year.
The news was confirmed by his wife, Candice Night, who issued a statement expressing her apologies for the unforeseen incident.
"All Blackmores Night shows have been postponed at this point due to medical reasons. We are sorry for any inconvenience," she posted on her Instagram account.
Due to the seriousness of his health condition, the tour has yet to be rescheduled as of this year.
As of now, his wife has shared the doctor's advice to avoid traveling by air following his heart attack.
Despite his condition, Blackmore remains hopeful about returning to the spotlight and looks forward to resuming his postponed tour.
However, as of now, he is prioritizing a full recovery before getting back on the road.
Apart from his health update, Blackmore also spoke about his ongoing relationship with former bandmates, especially with Deep Purple.
He revealed that he is still in contact with some of the original members, including Paice, Gillan and Coverdale; however, he maintains a respectful distance from the band's current lineup.
"Yes, Ian Paice sends me regards now and again and I talked to Ian Gillan and David Coverdale," he said during his Instagram live, as transcribed by Metal Head Zone, adding, "But I don't know the new people in the band… Don is a brilliant keyboard player, but he has been in every band in the business."
Blackmore was referring to Don Airey, who joined Deep Purple in 2002 as keyboardist and a permanent replacement for Jon Lord, who retired from the band amicably.
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This story was originally published April 20, 2026 at 10:00 AM.