Iron Butterfly
Iron Butterfly is an American psychedelic rock band, well known for their 1… Read Full Bio ↴Iron Butterfly is an American psychedelic rock band, well known for their 1968 hit "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida". They are considered a very-early heavy metal band as a result of this song and others like it as well as the title of their debut album, 'Heavy'. Their heyday was the late-60s, but the band has been reincarnated several times with various members. Also known for being the first RIAA certified platinum group, VH1 ranks them as number 19 on their list of top 100 "one hit wonders".
The band was formed in 1966 in San Diego, and they released their aforementioned debut album, 'Heavy', in 1968, after signing a deal with an Atlantic Records subsidiary called ATCO. The original members were Doug Ingle (vocals, keyboards), Jack Pinney (drums), Greg Willis (bass), and Danny Weis (guitar). They were soon joined by singer-songwriter frontman Darryl DeLoach.
Jerry "The Bear" Penrod and Bruce Morris replaced Willis and Pinney after the band relocated to Los Angeles, California in 1966, and Ron Bushy then came aboard when Morris' tenure proved to be a short one. All but Ingle and Bushy left the band after recording the first album in late 1967; the remaining musicians, faced with the possibility of the record not being released, quickly found replacements in bassist Lee Dorman and guitarist Erik Brann (aka Erik Braunn) and resumed touring.
Weis and Penrod almost immediately went on to form the group Rhinoceros. Iron Butterfly focused on putting their energies into their second album. The 17-minute "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida", the title track of their second album, became a Top Thirty hit in the U.S. and also gained serious airplay internationally. Doug Ingle is reported to have said the title was an alcohol-slurred version of "In the Garden of Eden", although this is possibly apocryphal. The members when In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida was recorded were Doug Ingle (keyboards and vocals), Lee Dorman (bass guitar), Ron Bushy (drums) and 17-year-old Erik Brann, also Braunn (guitar). The song has been a radio staple for decades and also has prominently featured in several films.
The band had been booked to play at Woodstock, but got stuck at an airport. When their manager called the promoters of the concert, they explained the incredible situation they had been dealt and asked for patience. However, the manager demanded that the Butterfly be flown in by helicopter whereupon they would "immediately" take the stage. After their set they would be paid and flown back to the airport. The manager was told that this would be taken into consideration and he would be called back. In truth, his outrageous demands were never given a second thought. Dorman later expressed regret at this turn of events feeling the band's career may have gone further had they played the festival.
The next album, Ball, topped the charts but more lineup changes followed. In 1970 with Erik Braunn gone, Iron Butterfly released their fourth album, Metamorphosis with two new members, guitarist / vocalist / songwriter Mike Pinera (whose Blues Image had opened for the Butterfly's Vida tour and who later led Ramatam and played with Alice Cooper) and guitarist Larry "Rhino" Reinhardt. The album only managed to get into the top twenty. The band broke up after playing a final show on May 23, 1971. Dorman and Reinhardt later became members of the supergroup Captain Beyond.
The band re-formed in 1974 with Ron Bushy and Eric Braunn joined by bassist Philip Taylor Kramer and keyboardist Howard Reitzes. (Kramer later made news with his 1995 disappearance and the discovery of his bones and minivan at the bottom of Decker Canyon in 1999). The albums released during this lineup: Scorching Beauty in January 1975 with Reitzes and Sun and Steel in October 1975 with Bill DeMartines replacing Reitzes.
From 1977 on Dorman took over the IB moniker and has led several lineups since then(see below for a chronology of IB's lineups) with former members(including Bushy, Ingle, Braunn, etc., coming and going). Other than another brief break between late 1985 and early 1987, the group has continued to this day with Dorman & Bushy currently leading the charge.
The famous line-up of In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida got together for the Atlantic Recording Corporation's 40th anniversary concert and celebration, appearing on stage along with the surviving members of Led Zeppelin, and with Aretha Franklin among many other acts of the company's roster on May 14th, 1988. The reunited foursome also played a 30 city tour that same year.
On October 3, 2002, original guitarist/vocalist Darryl DeLoach died of liver cancer at the age of 56.
On July 25, 2003 Erik Brann died of cardiac failure at the age of 52. He was working on a new solo album at the time of his death. The album to date remains unreleased, although friends and family of Brann are working on seeing its release.
Iron Butterfly is now working on a new album.
The band was formed in 1966 in San Diego, and they released their aforementioned debut album, 'Heavy', in 1968, after signing a deal with an Atlantic Records subsidiary called ATCO. The original members were Doug Ingle (vocals, keyboards), Jack Pinney (drums), Greg Willis (bass), and Danny Weis (guitar). They were soon joined by singer-songwriter frontman Darryl DeLoach.
Jerry "The Bear" Penrod and Bruce Morris replaced Willis and Pinney after the band relocated to Los Angeles, California in 1966, and Ron Bushy then came aboard when Morris' tenure proved to be a short one. All but Ingle and Bushy left the band after recording the first album in late 1967; the remaining musicians, faced with the possibility of the record not being released, quickly found replacements in bassist Lee Dorman and guitarist Erik Brann (aka Erik Braunn) and resumed touring.
Weis and Penrod almost immediately went on to form the group Rhinoceros. Iron Butterfly focused on putting their energies into their second album. The 17-minute "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida", the title track of their second album, became a Top Thirty hit in the U.S. and also gained serious airplay internationally. Doug Ingle is reported to have said the title was an alcohol-slurred version of "In the Garden of Eden", although this is possibly apocryphal. The members when In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida was recorded were Doug Ingle (keyboards and vocals), Lee Dorman (bass guitar), Ron Bushy (drums) and 17-year-old Erik Brann, also Braunn (guitar). The song has been a radio staple for decades and also has prominently featured in several films.
The band had been booked to play at Woodstock, but got stuck at an airport. When their manager called the promoters of the concert, they explained the incredible situation they had been dealt and asked for patience. However, the manager demanded that the Butterfly be flown in by helicopter whereupon they would "immediately" take the stage. After their set they would be paid and flown back to the airport. The manager was told that this would be taken into consideration and he would be called back. In truth, his outrageous demands were never given a second thought. Dorman later expressed regret at this turn of events feeling the band's career may have gone further had they played the festival.
The next album, Ball, topped the charts but more lineup changes followed. In 1970 with Erik Braunn gone, Iron Butterfly released their fourth album, Metamorphosis with two new members, guitarist / vocalist / songwriter Mike Pinera (whose Blues Image had opened for the Butterfly's Vida tour and who later led Ramatam and played with Alice Cooper) and guitarist Larry "Rhino" Reinhardt. The album only managed to get into the top twenty. The band broke up after playing a final show on May 23, 1971. Dorman and Reinhardt later became members of the supergroup Captain Beyond.
The band re-formed in 1974 with Ron Bushy and Eric Braunn joined by bassist Philip Taylor Kramer and keyboardist Howard Reitzes. (Kramer later made news with his 1995 disappearance and the discovery of his bones and minivan at the bottom of Decker Canyon in 1999). The albums released during this lineup: Scorching Beauty in January 1975 with Reitzes and Sun and Steel in October 1975 with Bill DeMartines replacing Reitzes.
From 1977 on Dorman took over the IB moniker and has led several lineups since then(see below for a chronology of IB's lineups) with former members(including Bushy, Ingle, Braunn, etc., coming and going). Other than another brief break between late 1985 and early 1987, the group has continued to this day with Dorman & Bushy currently leading the charge.
The famous line-up of In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida got together for the Atlantic Recording Corporation's 40th anniversary concert and celebration, appearing on stage along with the surviving members of Led Zeppelin, and with Aretha Franklin among many other acts of the company's roster on May 14th, 1988. The reunited foursome also played a 30 city tour that same year.
On October 3, 2002, original guitarist/vocalist Darryl DeLoach died of liver cancer at the age of 56.
On July 25, 2003 Erik Brann died of cardiac failure at the age of 52. He was working on a new solo album at the time of his death. The album to date remains unreleased, although friends and family of Brann are working on seeing its release.
Iron Butterfly is now working on a new album.
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Iron Butterfly Lyrics
Are You Happy Are you happy? I met a pretty girl on a date…
Belda Beast Size is decreasing under transparent purple skies; The life …
Best Years of Our Life It was the best years of our life When we were…
Beyond the Milky Way I loved you yesterday I loved you today My love tomorrow w…
Butterfly Bleu I found me a little butterfly As blue as the…
Easy Rider Pegs of people line the street A ball and chain around…
Easy Rider Let The Wind Pay The Way 192S Pegs of people line the street A ball and chain around…
Fields of Sun Fields of sun-blossomed flowers Ever so gently movin' about …
Filled With Fear Know that the end of my mind is so near, My…
Flowers And Beads Girl, I just know I love ya now. Flowers and beads…
Free Heat on my back, you know I'm busy makin' tracks,…
Gentle as It May Seem Gentle as it may seem You lose her in a dream You…
Get It Out Woman, woman, you stole my love, I've been had Talkin' tras…
Get Out of My Life You don't love me no more Get out my life woman You…
Her Favorite Style Exciting were her eyes And refreshing was her smile. So lov…
High on a Mountain Top Never knowing the world without you Never knowing though ill…
I Can't Help But Deceive You Little Girl Ooh-ooh Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh I cannot help but deceive you, litt…
In In a gadda da vida, honey Don't you know that I'm…
In The Crowds I look for the sun In dire need of someone, somewhere, I…
In The Time Of Our Lives Listen to the clock beat as it ticks out time…
In-A-Gadd-Da-Vida In a gadda da vida Iron Butterfly In a gadda da vida,…
In-A-Gadda Da-Vida In a gadda da vida, honey Don't you know that I'm…
in-a-gadda-da In a gadda da vida Iron Butterfly In a gadda da vida,…
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida In a gadda da vida, honey Don't you know that I'm…
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida %28Live Versi In a gadda da vida Iron Butterfly In a gadda da vida,…
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida (Full Extended Album Version) In a gadda da vida, baby (In the Garden of Eden) In…
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida (Live Versi In a gadda da vida Iron Butterfly In a gadda da vida,…
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida (Remastered 2006) In a gadda da vida, honey Don't you know that I…
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida (single version) In a gadda da vida, baby (In the Garden of Eden) In…
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida - Remastered 2006 In a gadda da vida, honey Don't you know that I…
In-A-Gaddi-Da-Vida In a gadda da vida Iron Butterfly In a gadda da vida,…
It Must Be Love Ah, nothing on earth could be so fine I think I…
Lightnin' Kramer-DeMartines Monday leads to Tuesday Tuesday brings…
Lonely Boy I'm such a lonely boy when I'm not in your…
Look for the Sun DeLoach-Ingle-Weis Sunshine keeps light time from bringin…
Most Anything You Want Most anything that you want girl Is alright by me Most anyth…
My Mirage In my mind I see a mirage on the wall, But…
New Day Come and have a new day, yeah Hey, we all know…
Posession When a man has a woman And he doesn't really love…
Real Fright Real fright's the story of a maddening darkness, It leaves y…
Scion Braunn See your cities so destructed Nightmares swing in…
Scorching Beauty Scorching beauty, your sun has risen Leaving at all to see …
Shady Lady She stayed time's queen in a darkened scene She's a bad…
Slower Than Guns Can you feel the manmade mist As it starts to twist…
So-Lo Have you heard about the word That's going round Have you he…
Soldier There's a soldier here today But she don't bear steel in…
Soul Experience Be yourself and live a little, Don't bother painting your fa…
Stamped Ideas Stay away from people made from plastic in a mold, And…
Stone Believer I've been walking a long long long time Came back to…
Sun and Steel I get up when I feel too weak And the words…
Termination Fly blue sky, voices keep calling, Bidding me welcome. why m…
Unconscious Power We all want to prepare you The unbelievable is going to…
Watch The World Goin' By Do I feel like I should? Is there more? Can I steel and…
Watch the World Going By Do I feel like I should? Is there more? Can I steel and…
You Can't Win What the man says is always right He'll cuff your hands…