Joe Lynn Turner Responds To Rumors That Blackmore Will Return To Deep Purple

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JAKARTA - Joe Lynn Turner doesn't believe knowledge of Blackmore will return to Deep Purple.

Turner, who played with Blackmore on Rainbow and Deep Purple, discussed rumors of the guitarist's return to Deep Purple in an appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" episode last Wednesday.

After host Eddie Trunk told Turner he heard rumors from a trusted source that there was talk that Blackmore might be returning to Deep Purple, Turner said.

"Okay, I'll tell you I don't know how. They're fine with [Current Purple guitarist] Simon [McBride], and I think, let's say, [tuise] friction between [Ritchie] and [ Purple singer] Gillan is not improving," Turner said.

"But do you know? God bless," continued the singer. "I think this is more of an imagination of people, the wishes of the people they want. If that [it happens], happy days. I will be the first to buy the album," he continued.

"But at the same time, rumors are just rumors. It looks like it won't be like that. I think Steve Morse - God bless him - being in the band longer than him, and now Simon is in the band. And I don't see where [Ritchie] will match again."

Blackmore, who celebrated his 78th birthday on April 14th was co-founder of Deep Purple and wrote a lot of iconic guitar riffs, including Smoke On The Water, but he hasn't played with the group since his 1993 departure.

Morse effectively took over from Blackmore in 1994 - after Joe Satriani was previously tasked with completing the tour - and was in the group for 28 years longer thanUS before being officially replaced by McBride in July 2022.