Last year Blackmore’s Night, the Renaissance-inspired band formed by legendary Deep Purple and Rainbow guitarist Ritchie Blackmore and his wife Candice Night, announced the postponement of their 2025 tour due to Ritchie’s health issues. The 80 year-old musician explained that he suffered a series of migraines that prevented him from continuing to tour. In a new interview with Guitar Player, the musician talked about his recent health scares.
Ritchie Blackmore talks about recent health scares
“At the moment I’m taking a bit of a rest and seeing a lot of doctors about various ailments. I had a nasty vertigo attack on our last small tour that we did, and I had to cancel. Despite having heart and back problems, I have never had such a horrible experience as that vertigo attack on our tour. I don’t wish that on my worst enemy.”
“It started off with a virus which apparently went to my ears and upset the balance of the small crystals in the ear canals. After this, I have come to the conclusion I hate traveling. I’ve hated it ever since I was a child and I used to travel with my mother when we went to Bristol and Bath, where my relatives were. Every time we would leave in the coach I would throw up over the passenger in front of us. For some strange reason they didn’t like that. I have hated traveling ever since. I now seem to have a phobia about being confined in a car or a van or anything that travels.”
“Since we live on Long Island (New York), I’m hoping we can put some shows together in small theaters where people can come and see us. That way, I wouldn’t have to travel more than an hour,” he said.
The musician had a few health problems during the past years, including a heart attack in 2023. At the time, his wife talked about that with Total Rock: “Ritchie has actually been told by a cardiologist not to get in a plane. He’s got six stents. …I can’t believe he’s gonna be 80, he doesn’t look it, still doesn’t act it. But eventually medical things catch up with you.”