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.
So-Lo
Iron Butterfly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's going round
Have you heard about the girl
Who put me down
Well, she became aware of the fact
That I was running round
And consequently
my behavior put me down
That's going round
Have you heard about the girl
Who put me down
Well, she became aware of the fact
That I was running round
And consequently
my behavior put me down
The lyrics to Iron Butterfly's song So-Lo are about a man who is experiencing the fallout from his own actions. He has been running around with other women, and the news has spread to the woman he cares about, who has subsequently put him down. He is feeling the consequences of his own behavior and is questioning whether others have heard about his mistakes as well.
The song's repeated verses emphasize the weight of the rumor mill and the embarrassment of being roundly judged. The lyrics themselves are simple, with only one verse repeated twice, but the repetition of the words 'have you heard about the word' and 'have you heard about the girl' makes clear that the man's mistakes are not only well-known, but also make him a social outcast. The song suggests the man is at a loss for what to do, and that his only option may be to go it alone.
Overall, So-Lo is a relatable look at the impact of gossip and consequences of one's actions. The repetition in the lyrics highlights the urgency and the sense of isolation felt by the man experiencing the consequences.
Line by Line Meaning
Have you heard about the word
Have you been made aware of the current gossip or rumors spreading?
That's going round
The rumors or gossip that are spreading amongst people
Have you heard about the girl
Have you heard about the specific girl involved in the rumors?
Who put me down
Who caused me emotional distress or embarrassment
Well, she became aware of the fact
The girl in question became informed about a certain information
That I was running round
About my promiscuity
And consequently
As a result of my actions
my behavior put me down
I was the cause of my own emotional distress or embarrassment
Have you heard about the word
Reiteration of previous line
That's going round
Reiteration of previous line
Have you heard about the girl
Reiteration of previous line
Who put me down
Reiteration of previous line
Well, she became aware of the fact
Reiteration of previous line
That I was running round
Reiteration of previous line
And consequently
Reiteration of previous line
my behavior put me down
Reiteration of previous line
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DARRYL DELOACH, DOUGLAS INGLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kidwaryod Production
Love the medieval-influenced sound especially Organ and Darryl innocent voice with Doug baritone voice that get along very well. Like they're in Knights in the round table and chatting.
Very imaginative songs that remind me of Beach Boys in the era of Brian Wilson creative years :)
Maribeth Hobson
I really love the guitar and the other instruments just everything in this song. Always have since 1968!!!!
Richard Calvert
The Iron Butterfly came to Mark Keppel High School in Alhambra, California twice in 1968'. They became my favourite band and made our High School famous! I saw them live 4 times and I will always remember them as consummate professionals, talented & extremely gifted. They were a landmark group! Thank you always from my heart!
Tracy Bauer
Lucky
Tracy Bauer
What songs did they play
bob meoff
Then you'd have seen a young Eric Braun, IB's incredible guitarist.
Anthony Ezzo
Much envy..saw Ohio Express in 67... But closest I could come to these guys was buying Ball..in 68.. I think..Just Amazing
PDD 60 Absorbed
What a unique sound. Makes me yearn for a time I never knew.
bedfordforrest
Great song, so unerrated, great album also!
AP
So relaxing and dreamlike. Love it.