Iron Butterfly was a U.S. hard rock and psychedelic band, mostly known for their sole hit "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida". Their heyday was the late 1960s, but the band has reincarnated several times with various members.
The band was formed in 1966 in San Diego and released their debut album, Heavy , in 1968. The original members were Doug Ingle, Ron Bushy, Jerry Penrod, Darryl DeLoach and Danny Weis. All but Ingle and Bushy left the band after the first album.
The 17-minute "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida", the title track of their second album, became a huge hit that spent over a year in the Top Ten. (Doug Ingle is reported to have said the title was an alcohol-slurred version of "In the Garden of Eden".) The members when In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida was recorded were Doug Ingle (keyboards and vocals), Lee Dorman (bass guitar), Ron Bushy (drums) and Erik Brann, also Braunn (guitar). The next album, Ball, was less successful, and more lineup changes followed. The band broke up in 1971.
The band re-formed in 1975 with Ron Bushy and Eric Brann joined by bassist Philip Taylor Kramer and Howard Reitzes. Kramer later made news with his 1995 disappearance and the discovery of his bones in 1999 .
As of 2004, the group is once again re-formed, and is touring with early members Ron Bushy and Lee Dorman.
On July 31, 2003 Erik Brann died of cardiac faillure at the age of 52.
