Iron Butterfly

For other uses, see Iron Butterfly (disambiguation).

Iron Butterfly
Iron Butterfly in the booklet for In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida. From left to right: Doug Ingle, Ron Bushy, Lee Dorman, Erik Brann
Background information
Origin	San Diego, California, United States
Genres	Psychedelic rock, heavy metal[1] acid rock, hard rock, blues-rock
Years active	1966–1971, 1974–1985, 1987–present
Labels	Atco, MCA
Associated acts	Rhinoceros, Captain Beyond
Website	ironbutterfly.com
Members
Ron Bushy Lee Dorman Charlie Marinkovich Martin Gerschwitz
Past members
Former members

Iron Butterfly is a US psychedelic rock band best known for the 1968 hit "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida".

Their heyday was the late 1960s, but the band has been reincarnated with various members. In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida is the 31st best-selling album in the world, selling more than 25 million copies.^[2]

History

Ron Bushy, Iron Butterfly performing "In a Gadda da Vida", Germany, May 2005

The band formed in 1966 in San Diego.^[3] The original members were Doug Ingle (vocals, organ), Jack Pinney (drums), Greg Willis (bass), and Danny Weis (guitar).^[4] They were soon joined by tambourine player Darryl DeLoach. DeLoach's parents' garage on Luna Avenue served as the site for their almost nightly rehearsals.

Jerry Penrod and Bruce Morris replaced Willis and Pinney after the band relocated to Los Angeles 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 their 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 Erik Braun) and resumed touring. In early 1968, their debut album Heavy was released after signing a deal with ATCO, an Atlantic Records subsidiary.

DeLoach subsequently recorded with Two Guitars, Piano, Drum and Darryl, while Weis and Penrod went on to form the group Rhinoceros. In 1970 DeLoach formed Flintwhistle along with Erik Braunn; the band performed live for about a year before breaking up.

The 17-minute "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida", the title track of Iron Butterfly's second album, became a Top Thirty hit in the US and made the number 9 spot on the Dutch Top 40. The members when In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida was recorded were Doug Ingle (organ and vocals), Lee Dorman (bass guitar), Ron Bushy (drums), and 17-year-old Erik Keith Brann (guitar). The album sold over three million copies by the end of 1970, and was awarded a gold disc by the R.I.A.A. in December 1968.^[5] It ultimately sold over 20 million copies, went platinum, and stayed on the Billboard magazine charts for over a year.

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 situation 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. Dorman later expressed regret at this turn of events, feeling the band's career may have gone further had they played the festival.^{[citation needed]} According to drummer, Ron Bushy, "We went down to the Port Authority three times and waited for the helicopter, but it never showed up." ^[6]

The next album, Ball, reached #3 on the charts, but more lineup changes followed. In 1970, with Erik Brann gone, Iron Butterfly released their fourth studio album, Metamorphosis with two new members, guitarist/vocalist Mike Pinera (whose Blues Image had opened for the Butterfly's Vida tour) and guitarist Larry "Rhino" Reinhardt. The album managed to get into the top twenty, but Doug Ingle quit the group shortly after its release. Without an organist for the first time in their history, the remaining four members cut a single, Silly Sally. It failed to chart and proved to be their last recording. The band broke up after playing a final show on May 23, 1971. Dorman and Reinhardt would subsequently found Captain Beyond.

The band reformed in 1974 with Ron Bushy and Eric Brann 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 album Scorching Beauty was released in January 1975 with Reitzes and Sun and Steel in October 1975 with Bill DeMartines replacing Reitzes.^{[citation needed]}

From 1977 on Dorman took over the Iron Butterfly moniker and led several lineups (see below for a chronology of IB's lineups) with former members (Bushy, Ingle, Brann, 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.^{[citation needed]}

Guitarist and Vocalist Charlie Marinkovich joined the band in 2002. Originally from Seattle, Washington played with Randy Hansen and others.^[7]

German violinist, keyboardist and composer Martin Gerschwitz, formerly of The Works and Walter Trout,^[8] joined the band in 2005.

Iron Butterfly's In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida line-up of Ingle/Brann/Bushy/Dorman reunited for the Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary concert and celebration, appearing on stage along with the surviving members of Led Zeppelin, and with Aretha Franklin and Yes among many other acts of the company's roster on May 14, 1988. The reunited foursome also played a 30 city tour that same year.^{[citation needed]}

On October 3, 2002, original tambourine player/vocalist Darryl DeLoach died of liver cancer at the age of 55.^[9]

On July 25, 2003, Erik Brann died of heart failure at the age of 52.^[10] A Boston, Massachusetts native and a violinist, Braunn had been accepted as a child into the prodigy program at the Boston Symphony Orchestra, but was soon lured away to become a rock guitarist, joining Iron Butterfly at 16. 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 Braunn are working on releasing the album.^{[citation needed]}

In early 2010, an announcement was made that Iron Butterfly would receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 20th Annual San Diego Music Awards, which took place on September 12, 2010.^[11] The award is to be presented by San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders.^[12]

This same year, Ray Weston (formerly of Wishbone Ash) came into to sub on drums for Ron Bushy after he was sidelined due to health issues.

Iron Butterfly lineups

Main article: List of Iron Butterfly band members (Based on information supplied by Rick Gagnon & Jim Mullen, taken from various IB articles and interviews over the years)

Discography

Singles

Here is a full listing of singles released by the band in the US and overseas.

• "Don't Look Down on Me" b/w "Possession"
• "Possession" b/w "Evil Temptation"
• "Unconscious Power" b/w "Possession"
• "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" (2:52 edit) b/w "Iron Butterfly Theme" (3:25 edit)
• "Soul Experience" b/w "In the Crowds"
• "In the Time of Our Lives" b/w "It Must Be Love" (Some have the full 4:47 album version of the A-side, others the 3:15 edit)
• "Easy Rider" b/w "Soldier In Our Town"
• "New Day" b/w "Soldier in Our Town" (European release)
• "Silly Sally" b/w "Stone Believer"
• "Silly Sally" b/w "Talkbox Solo from Butterfly Bleu" (B-side is the talkbox section from the song) (European release)
• "Shady Lady" b/w "Best Years of Our Lives" (European release)
• "Pearly Gates" b/w "Searchin' Circles" (Both songs heavily edited)
• "High on a Mountain Top" b/w "Before You Go" (Promo only)
• "Beyond the Milky Way" b/w "Get It Out"
• "I'm Right I'm Wrong" (3:00 edit) b/w "Scion" (3:51 Edit) (Promo only)
• "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" (2:52 edit) b/w "Soul Experience" (Atlantic Oldies re-release)
• Thai EP: "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" (The song plays from the beginning and fades just before the drum solo) b/w "Get Ready" (Rare Earth)

EPs

• "Iron Butterfly Theme" b/w "Look for the Sun", "Possession"
• RADIO EP: "Iron Butterfly Theme", "Possession" b/w "Get Out of My Life Woman", "Unconscious Power"
• "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida", "Flowers and Beads" b/w "My Mirage"

Albums

• Heavy (1968) US #78, Certified Gold
• In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida (1968) US #4, Certified 4x Platinum
• Soundtrack to The Savage 7 (1968; contributors with Cream)
• Ball (1969) US #3, Certified Gold
• Live (1970) US #20
• Metamorphosis (1970) US#16
• Evolution: The Best of Iron Butterfly (1971)
• Star Collection (1973)
• Scorching Beauty (1975) US #138
• Sun and Steel (1976) US #207
• Rare Flight (1988)
• Light & Heavy: The Best of Iron Butterfly (1993)
• In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida Deluxe Edition (1995)
• Fillmore East 1968 (2011)^[13]

Bootlegs

• Live At The Galaxy Club 1967 (1967)
• Live 11/27/1968 (1968)
• Stone Believer: Live in Copenhagen, Denmark (Jan. 25, 1971)
• Live in Germany: 4/18/1997 (1997)
• Live in Cortland NY 8/19/2000 (2000)
• Live at the Firwood in Fife, WA (2001)
• Live in Butler, PA – 2/4/2006 (2006)

Videography

• In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida (Rhino Home Video, R3-2215) 1995

(Contained video performances of "Easy Rider" (3:21), "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" (17:03) and "Butterfly Blue" (19:51))

• Rock 'N' Roll Greats In Concert! (Passport Video) 2004

(Contained video performances of the full concert at Itchycoo Park in 1999)

Bibliography

• Buckley, Peter (2003). The Rough Guide to Rock. London: Rough Guides. ISBN 1-84353-105-4. 

References

1. ^ Buckley 2003, p. 523 "It is widely believed that the term 'heavy metal' was coined to describe the less than delicate sound of Iron Butterfly, a band vilified when they first emerged and still not accorded the respect they deserve."
2. ^ Stetz, Michael (2006-04-02). "Iron Butterfly's in an IRA ad? Bummer | The San Diego Union-Tribune". Signonsandiego.com. http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060402/news_1m2iron.html. Retrieved 2011-07-07. 
3. ^ Joynson, Vernon (1995). Fuzz, Acid, & Flowers. London: Borderline Books.
4. ^ Iron Butterfly San Diego Reader Entry sandiegoreader.com. Retrieved on 2010-07-12.
5. ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 242. ISBN 0-214-20512-6. 
6. ^ Mover, Johnathan. Iron Butterfly's Ron Bushy Making History drumheadmag.com. Retrieved on 2009-08-31.
7. ^ "Official Website". chasmo.com. http://www.chasmo.com/bio.php. Retrieved 7 October 2011. 
8. ^ "About". Martingerschwitz.com. https://martingerschwitz.com/About.html. Retrieved 2011-07-07. 
9. ^ Rock Artists who Died in 2000-2005, The Death of Rock: The Chronology.
10. ^ Perrone, Pierre. Erik Braunn Obituary in The Independent UK Newspaper independent.co.uk. 2003-08-07. Retrieved on 2010-07-12.
11. ^ San Diego Music Awards Website
12. ^ Varga, George.Rock 'n' Roll Mayor loves Iron Butterfly San Diego Union Tribune Weekly Insert, Night & Day. 2010-09-03. Retrieved on 2010-09-04.
13. ^ Sanford, Jay Allen. Iron Butterfly Archive Releasing 1968 Fillmore East Show sandiegoreader.com. 2011-09-20. Retrieved on 2011-10-22.

External links

• Official website
• Iron Butterfly Performances
• Doug Ingle official website
• Erik Braunn official website
• Iron Butterfly All Music Guide Entry
• Iron Butterfly Worldwide Discography at Discogs
• Doug Ingle interview at Classic Bands
• Charlie Marinkovich Official website
• Martin Gerschwitz Official Site
• Critical comment on In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida
• Erik Brann at Find-A-Grave