Ritchie Blackmore has six stents and is unable to fly following heart attack
His wife Candice Night has confirmed
Last updated 3rd Apr 2025
Deep Purple and Rainbow legend Ritchie Blackmore suffered a heart attack 18 months ago, his wife and Blackmore’s Night bandmate Candice Night has confirmed.
Candice Night releases her first solo album in a decade, ‘Sea Glass’, on 25th April, and recent single ‘The Last Goodbye’ features guitar from 79-year-old Ritchie Blackmore.
In an interview with Total Rock to promote the record, Night was asked if she and Blackmore might return to Europe in the near future to tour with their eponymous Renaissance music band, Blackmore’s Night. The couple reside in Long Island, New York.
Ruling out the possibly at the moment, Night replied: "As far as flying anywhere right now, Ritchie has actually been told by his cardiologist not to get in a plane. He had a heart attack about a year-and-a half ago. He's got six stents.
“I can't believe he's going to be 80 on April 14th, which is crazy, but he doesn't look it, still doesn't act it, but eventually medical things wind up catching up with you so we've gotta make sure we keep him happy and healthy.”
Detailing his other health issues, Night continued: “He's dealing with gout and some arthritic things and, of course, his back has always been an issue for years. So it's getting harder for him, it's tricky, but, hey, I've seen people younger than him in wheelchairs on stage doing what they do. So I think he probably doesn't want people to see him that way.
“I see the other perspective. From a fan's perspective, I would think people would just be happy to be under the same roof with him and listen to him play whatever he comes up with.
“So, we kind of have this discussion, or argument… I'll say discussion, all the time. But he was just recently at his cardiologist, and they said, 'Let's put traveling by plane on hold.' So, hopefully we'll get that all straightened out and that'll change. But I'll let you guys know if it does."
Ritchie Blackmore revived Rainbow with a new line-up in late 2015, and the band kicked off with two shows in Germany and a sold-out concert at Birmingham Genting Arena in the summer of 2016.
With Ronnie Romero on lead vocals, Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow went on to play further UK shows in London, Birmingham and Glasgow in 2017, before calling it a day following a clutch of European concerts in June 2019.
You can watch the Candice Night interview here.
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