Iron Butterfly is a rock band that emerged from the United States during the 1960s, and is primarily known for their hit song "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida," which was released in 1968. The band has had a significant impact on the development of rock music, particularly in the psychedelic and heavy metal genres.
Iron Butterfly was formed in San Diego, California, in 1966. The original lineup consisted of Doug Ingle (vocals, keyboards), Jack Pinney (drums), Greg Willis (bass), and Danny Weis (guitar). Ingle had previously been a member of a local band called the Palace Pages, while Pinney had played with a group called the Fabs. The band played their first show at the Los Angeles Whisky a Go Go in 1966, and soon after signed a recording contract with ATCO Records.
The band's debut album, "Heavy," was released in 1968, and featured a blend of psychedelic and hard rock sounds. The album was well received by critics, and included the track "Possession," which became a minor hit. However, it was the band's second album, "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida," that propelled them to stardom. The title track was a 17-minute-long psychedelic epic that featured a hypnotic organ riff, a thundering drum solo, and a searing guitar solo. The song became an instant classic and went on to sell over 30 million copies.
"In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" is a song by Iron Butterfly, released in 1968. It is widely considered to be one of the most iconic and influential songs of the psychedelic and heavy metal eras.
The song is notable for its extended length, clocking in at just over 17 minutes. It features a repetitive, hypnotic organ riff played by Doug Ingle, which is then joined by Ron Bushy's thunderous drumming and a searing guitar solo by Erik Brann. The lyrics of the song are simple and repetitive, consisting of the title phrase repeated over and over.
The title of the song is often cited as an example of the psychedelic era's fascination with exotic and mystical-sounding words and phrases. The title is actually a mispronunciation of the phrase "In the Garden of Eden," which was originally the title of the song. According to legend, Ingle was drunk when he wrote the song's title, and when he tried to tell his bandmates what it was called, he slurred the words and they came out as "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida."
The song's lengthy instrumental sections and heavy use of distortion and feedback helped to establish Iron Butterfly as one of the pioneers of the heavy metal genre. It also helped to popularize the use of the Hammond organ in rock music, which would become a staple of many heavy metal and hard rock bands in the years to come.
"In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" became a massive hit for Iron Butterfly, reaching number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and selling over 30 million copies worldwide. It remains one of the most enduring and influential songs of the 1960s, and is often cited as a classic example of the psychedelic and heavy metal genres.
After the success of "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida," the band went through several lineup changes. Ingle, Pinney, and Willis all left the band, and were replaced by new members. The band continued to release albums throughout the 1970s, but never achieved the same level of success as they had with their early work. By the end of the decade, the band had disbanded.
Despite their relatively short career, Iron Butterfly had a significant impact on the development of rock music. "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" is considered a landmark recording, and is often cited as one of the first heavy metal songs. The band's use of distorted guitar riffs, thundering drums, and psychedelic textures influenced a generation of musicians, and helped pave the way for the emergence of heavy metal and hard rock in the 1970s.
