A rock legend has canceled the rest of his tour dates due to health issues.
Ritchie Blackmore announced Tuesday that his band, Blackmore’s Night, has axed all remaining concerts “due to medical reasons. We are sorry for any inconvenience.”
Blackmore, the co-founding guitarist of Deep Purple and Rainbow, did not elaborate on which band members are affected or the nature of their health problems.
Blackmore, 80, previously suffered a heart attack in 2023, according to Ultimate Classic Rock.
Shows that were scuttled include performances scheduled for Nov. 15 in Newtown, N.J.; Nov. 20 in Wilmington, Delaware; Nov. 23 in Cohoes, N.Y.; and Nov. 29 in Tarrytown, N.Y. The dates are officially listed as “postponed,” but no new dates have been announced.
Blackmore is an English guitar player best known for his work with hard rock band Deep Purple (including on songs like “Smoke on the Water”) and heavy metal group Rainbow (with Cortland native Ronnie James Dio). He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Deep Purple in 2016 and has been named one of the greatest and most influential guitarists of all time by Rolling Stone and Guitar Player magazines.
Blackmore formed Blackmore’s Night in 1997 with his wife, Candice Night. The group plays medieval-themed folk music, though UCR reports Blackmore surprised the crowd at a Virginia concert last week with a cover of Deep Purple’s “Child in Time.”
“We’ve never done that before, and we’re never doing it again!” Blackmore said.
Blackmore left Deep Purple in 1975 to form Rainbow, but reunited with Deep Purple in 1993. The rock band, also known for songs like “Hush,” “Highway Star” and “Black Night, still performs under the Deep Purple name with singer Ian Gillan.
Former Deep Purple vocalist David Coverdale announced his own retirement last week.
“After 50 years-plus of an incredible journey with you — with Deep Purple, with Whitesnake, Jimmy Page — the last few years it has been very evident to me that it’s time really for me to hang up my rock ‘n’ roll platform shoes and my skintight jeans,“ Coverdale, 75, said.
“And as you can see, we’ve taken care of the lion’s wig,” he continued, touching his gray hair. “But it’s time for me to call it a day. I love you dearly. I thank everyone who’s assisted and supported me on this incredible journey: all the musicians, the crew, the fans, the family. It’s amazing. But it really is time for me to just enjoy my retirement, and I hope you can appreciate that. Once again, I love you with all my heart. Fare thee well.”
