Deep Purple is a pioneering British rock band known for classic hard rock anthems like "Smoke on the Water" and influential albums such as Machine Head. Formed in 1968, Deep Purple helped define the heavy metal and hard rock sound with virtuosic guitar, organ, and powerful vocals.
Their 1969 live performance of Jon Lord’s "Concerto for Group and Orchestra" was one of the first true collaborations between a hard-rock band and a full symphony orchestra, predating many later rock-classical hybrids.