Legendary DEEP PURPLE and RAINBOW guitarist Ritchie Blackmore has opened up about his health issues, including a heart attack in 2023 that resulted in six stents being implanted.

In an interview with Guitar Player magazine, Blackmore discussed how touring had become increasingly challenging for him due to his medical conditions.

Blackmore explained that he suffers from heart problems, gout, and back issues, which make traveling difficult for him.

He also mentioned experiencing severe vertigo attacks and debilitating migraines.

Despite his health concerns, Blackmore expressed a desire to perform live again in the future, possibly with small shows in local theaters where he wouldn't have to travel far.

Blackmore's wife, Candice Night, was interviewed by Iron City Rocks podcast about her husband's health status and their plans for BLACKMORE'S NIGHT.

She mentioned that Ritchie has a history of lumbar and neck herniated discs, which causes him back pain.

She also stated that he hasn't taken any back injections since his heart attack in 2023.

Candice expressed concern about her husband's health, saying: "It's not so much the travel on a plane...

It's all the sitting of traveling.

So that'll affect his back and all the rest of it." She also mentioned the difficulties of navigating airports, customs lines, and security checkpoints.

The couple resides on Long Island, New York, near Port Jefferson, where they have been living for some time.

Blackmore is a co-founder of DEEP PURPLE and wrote many of their most memorable riffs, including "Smoke On The Water".

He has not played with the group since his 1993 departure.

In addition to BLACKMORE'S NIGHT, Blackmore has formed RAINBOW on several occasions, incorporating elements of baroque music into their hard rock sound.

His most recent live show was a handful of performances with a new lineup in Germany in June 2016.