Ritchie Blackmore is reflecting on his recent reunion with Deep Purple.

Blackmore joined the band onstage at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, New York, on Aug. 12 for a performance of “Smoke on the Water," his first performance with the band in over 30 years.

“It was very moving because I went on very quickly and had to play immediately,” Blackmore told Guitar Player. “I couldn’t warm up, but I wasn’t there to be playing correct notes. I was there to see old friends [who] I hadn’t seen in 40 years and were all getting older.”

He added, “I think we realized it could be the last time we see each other, maybe.”

Blackmore co-founded Deep Purple in 1968, then left the group in 1975 to form his band Rainbow. He was part of Deep Purple's 1984 reunion and last played with them in 1993.

And while the reunion was an emotional one for Blackmore, he does say it wasn’t quite perfect.

“It was tricky; I didn’t play anything too technical, as I felt I should stick to the rudiments of being simple. I still lost my place at one point, but it’s not why I was there,” he said. “I was there to heal any wounds — but there weren’t any wounds. Everyone was like, we were in the army, all along the Western front and we were all getting together again. Very emotional moment.”

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