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.
Are You Happy
Iron Butterfly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I met a pretty girl on a date last night,
And let me tell you now, she was groovy.
And i kissed the pretty girl, and i held her tight,
Let me tell you now, she was groovy.
And now, no matter what i try to do
My mind's drifting back to you.
Are you happy?
And now, no matter what i try to do
My mind's drifting back to you.
Are you happy?
To you.
Are you happy?
Oh, i love you.
Please, tell me now that you're happy,
Please, tell me now that you're mine.
Please, tell me now that you're happy,
Please, tell me now that you're mine.
I want to tell you i love you.
Are you happy?
The lyrics to Iron Butterfly's "Are You Happy" convey the story of a man who has gone on a date with a pretty girl and had an enjoyable time. Despite this, his thoughts keep returning to someone else, asking them if they are happy. He is clearly struggling with his feelings, perhaps torn between the two women, unsure of his own emotions and desires.
The repetition of the question, "Are you happy?" suggests a deeper feeling of insecurity and uncertainty in the singer. He is searching for affirmation, not only from the woman he is thinking of, but also from himself. The love he has for his significant other is palpable as he begs for confirmation of her happiness and for her to tell him that she is his.
Overall, the lyrics speak to the complexities of romantic relationships and the push and pull of emotions. Despite being with someone new and seemingly happy, the singer is unable to move on completely from his past love and is seeking reassurance and closure.
Line by Line Meaning
Are you happy?
Asking if the listener is happy
I met a pretty girl on a date last night,
The singer went on a date and met an attractive girl
And let me tell you now, she was groovy.
The girl was cool and interesting
And i kissed the pretty girl, and i held her tight,
The artist kissed and embraced the girl
Let me tell you now, she was groovy.
Reinforces the girl's coolness
And now, no matter what i try to do
Despite the singer's efforts
My mind's drifting back to you.
The singer can't stop thinking about someone else
Are you happy?
Repeating the initial question
To you.
Referring to the person the artist is addressing
Oh, i love you.
The artist is expressing their love
Please, tell me now that you're happy,
Asking the person to confirm their happiness
Please, tell me now that you're mine.
Asking the person to confirm their commitment to the artist
I want to tell you i love you.
Reiterating the singer's love for the person
Are you happy?
Final repetition of the initial question
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DOUGLAS INGLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind