Legendary guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, famous for his work with Deep Purple, Rainbow, and more recently Blackmore’s Night, has postponed the rest of his 2025 tour because of major health problems. The news has left fans worried, but Blackmore has shared an honest message explaining what happened.
A Scary Vertigo Attack
During the tour, Blackmore stayed in a hotel room that was cold and had damp sheets. He believes this triggered a severe migraine, which then led to a frightening vertigo attack. Vertigo makes the room feel like it’s spinning, and in his case, it was so bad that he couldn’t stand up or stop vomiting.
An ambulance was called, and after hospital tests, doctors confirmed he had severe vertigo. The symptoms lasted several days, making it impossible for him to continue performing.
Long-Term Health Problems
Blackmore also revealed that this vertigo episode was only part of a bigger picture. He has been dealing with:
Herniated discs in his neck and lower back
Chronic back pain
Debilitating migraines, including ocular migraines that affect his vision
Gout
And according to his wife, a heart attack in 2023, after which doctors advised him not to fly
At 80 years old, these ongoing issues make traveling and performing extremely difficult, even though he still loves making music.
Tour Dates Postponed
Blackmore’s Night had started their 2025 tour with shows on November 9 and November 13. But after the health scare, all remaining concerts for late 2025 were postponed. Blackmore explained that touring requires everyone to be healthy, and this time, he was the one who couldn’t continue.
Staying Positive
Even with all these challenges, Blackmore remains hopeful. He says he is working with several medical specialists to treat his vertigo and migraines. He thanked fans for their support and ended his message with a hopeful note:
“Hope to see you all one day again when I’m healthy.”
A Difficult but Necessary Decision
While it’s disappointing for fans, the decision to cancel the tour was clearly made for serious medical reasons. Health always comes first, and Blackmore is focusing on recovery so he can hopefully return to music when he feels better.