[Drew68]

Is Richie Blackmore with them (again)?

Not this year. Blackmore quit Purple for something like the 682nd time a few years back and now concentrates on his Renaissance themed Blackmore's Night

He has replaced his Stratocaster with a lute.

Purple's current axe-slinger is the incredibly talented Steve Morse.

[lormand]

Thanks, I knew all of that, but a new day brings new surprises when it comes to DB and Richie Blackmore.

I cannot stomach the "Blackmore's Night" stuff.

Smoke on the Water was the first song I learned. I was an eighth grader.