RITCHIE BLACKMORE Rules Out Performing In A Wheelchair: 'I Don't Think He Wants To Be Remembered Like That', Says His Wife

In a brand new interview with Eonmusic, Candice Night, who has been married to Ritchie Blackmore for 17 years but has been together with the legendary DEEP PURPLE and RAINBOW guitarist for 36, discussed her musical partner and husband’s health status, saying that he’d rather be remembered for how he was in his prime. During the chat, the elusive BLACKMORE’S NIGHT guitarist also chimed in to heap praise on his favorite band. The interaction took place while Night was talking to Eonmusic‘s Eamon O’Neill about her new album, “Sea Glass”.

Speaking about Blackmore‘s health, Night said: “Right now Ritchie is having a quite a few medical issues. Believe it or not, he’s going to be 80 in on April 14th, which is mind boggling, because he doesn’t look and he certainly doesn’t act it still. But you know at that age, some medical stuff starts catching up with you, and he actually had a heart attack about a year and a half ago, and he’s got six stents in his heart at this point. And we’re battling arthritis and some gout issues.”

Night confirmed that this, along with another issue, prevents Blackmore from travelling on planes for gigs. “He’s still got his back problem that he’s had, so travel is difficult for him because of all that sitting,” she explained. “And standing on stage, even standing with the guitar is tricky, although I do see a lot of people even younger than him at this point in the industry, showing up in wheelchairs. I don’t think he wants to be thought of like that or remembered like that. I think it’s great that people still get to see those people; I would still go hear them, just to be under the same roof and hear what they sound like, but we’ll see. Maybe if we can get some of these medical issues under control, maybe I can get him back on a plane, but as for right now, they actually warned him a couple days ago not to fly. So, who knows? You know, put positive energy, out there in the universe, and]hope that maybe we can get him back on there.”

During the chat, Ritchie chimed in to comment on his favorite band. “He’s wandering through with his boiled egg right now,” said Candice, “[Speaking to Ritchie] What? THE POGUES? Oh, he said, one of his favorite bands is THE POGUES, I should mention that”. The man in black then could be heard saying that the band’s perennial Christmas favorite, “Fairytale Of New York” is his favorite song from the crossover folk act.

Read the entire interview at Eonmusic.

Coronary stents are primarily used to treat coronary artery disease, a condition where plaque buildup narrows or blocks the arteries supplying blood to the heart. By inserting stents for the heart, doctors can effectively restore blood flow and alleviate symptoms.

BLACKMORE’S NIGHT plays “Renaissance music,” or “medieval music,” with most of the tunes featuring lyrics conjured by Night and melodies crafted by Blackmore.

Ritchie, Candice and their two children reside on Long Island, New York, near Port Jefferson.

Blackmore is a co-founder of DEEP PURPLE and wrote many of their most memorable riffs, including “Smoke On The Water”, but he has not played with the group since his 1993 departure.

DEEP PURPLE drummer Ian Paice said in a 2017 interview that there was “no point” for the band to consider a reunion with Blackmore, explaining that he wouldn’t be able to guarantee that every day with the notoriously moody guitarist would be fun.

Blackmore is a co-founder of DEEP PURPLE and wrote many of their most memorable riffs, including “Smoke On The Water”, but he has not played with the group since his 1993 departure.

During his time away from PURPLE, Blackmore established the neo-classical band called RAINBOW, which fused baroque music influences elements with hard rock before gradually progressing to catchy pop-style hard rock.

Blackmore stepped away from his Renaissance-inspired brand of music with BLACKMORE’S NIGHT in 2016 to perform a handful of shows with a brand-new lineup of RAINBOW.

In addition to Blackmore and Night (backing vocals),the most recent incarnation of RAINBOW included singer Ronnie Romero, STRATOVARIUS keyboardist Jens Johansson, BLACKMORE’S NIGHT drummer David Keith, bassist Bob Nouveau (a.k.a. Robert “Bob” Curiano, ex-BLACKMORE’S NIGHT) and backing singer Lady Lynn.

The two shows RAINBOW played in Germany in June 2016 were caught on camera to produce “Memories In Rock – Live In Germany”, which was released in November 2016 via Eagle Rock Entertainment on DVD+2CD, Blu-ray+2CD, and digital formats.

After Ritchie left DEEP PURPLE for the final time in 1993, he reformed RAINBOW for one album (1995’s “Stranger In Us All”) and one tour, ending things in Denmark in 1997.

Blackmore didn’t join his former DEEP PURPLE bandmates at the group’s 2016 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony.

Blackmore previously suggested that PURPLE‘s manager had blocked him from attending the Rock Hall induction ceremony, and he used that as an excuse for not attending the event.

Despite Blackmore being a no-show at Rock Hall, he was given several shoutouts during the induction speeches of the DEEP PURPLE members in attendance. In addition, METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich, who inducted DEEP PURPLE into the institution, praised “Ritchie fucking Blackmore” for one of the most memorable guitar riffs of all time on “Smoke On The Water”.