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, acid rock, blues rock, hard rock
Years active	1966–1971, 1974–1985, 1987–present
Labels	Atco, MCA
Associated acts	Rhinoceros, Captain Beyond
Website	www.ironbutterfly.com
Members
Ron Bushy Lee Dorman Charlie Marinkovich Martin Gerschwitz
Past members
Former members

Iron Butterfly is an American 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.

History

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

The band formed in 1966 in San Diego. The original members were Doug Ingle (vocals, organ), Jack Pinney (drums), Greg Willis (bass), and Danny Weis (guitar). 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. 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. According to drummer, Ron Bushy, "We went down to the Port Authority three times and waited for the helicopter, but it never showed up."

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. Both albums were criticized for bearing little resemblance to the original tone of the group, and sold poorly compared to their earlier releases.

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

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

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

On July 25, 2003, Erik Brann died of heart failure at the age of 52.

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. The award is to be presented by San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders.

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

Band members

Iron Butterfly's lineup has changed regularly since its formation. Nobody has remained in Iron Butterfly throughout the band's entire existence, with drummer Ron Bushy having the longest tenure of any member past or present. This is a list of past and present Iron Butterfly band members.

Lineups

1966	1966	1966	1966–1967 (Line-up that recorded Heavy)
Doug Ingle – vocals, keyboards Danny Weis – guitar Greg Willis – bass Jack Pinney – drums	Doug Ingle – vocals, keyboards Danny Weis – guitar Greg Willis – bass guitar Jack Pinney – drums Darryl DeLoach – vocals, percussion	Doug Ingle – vocals, keyboards Danny Weis – guitar Jerry Penrod – bass, backing vocals Bruce Morris – drums Darryl DeLoach – vocals, percussion	Doug Ingle – vocals, keyboards Danny Weis – guitar Jerry Penrod – bass, backing vocals Darryl DeLoach – vocals, percussion Ron Bushy – drums, percussion, backing vocals
1967–1969 (Line-up that recorded In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, Ball, and Live)	1969–1971 (Line-up that recorded Metamorphosis; The group disbanded after a farewell show on May 23, 1971)	1971–1974	1974–1975 – reunion (Line-up that recorded Scorching Beauty)
Doug Ingle – vocals, keyboards Erik Braunn – guitar, vocals Lee Dorman – bass, vocals Ron Bushy – drums, percussion, backing vocals	Doug Ingle – vocals, keyboards Mike Pinera – guitar, vocals Larry "Rhino" Reinhardt – guitar Lee Dorman – bass, vocals Ron Bushy – drums, percussion, backing vocals (Manny Bertematti – drums, percussion; filled in for an injured Ron Bushy, 1971)	Group disbanded	Erik Braunn – vocals, guitar Philip Taylor Kramer – bass, keyboards, vocals Howard Reitzes – keyboards, vocals Ron Bushy – drums, percussion, backing vocals
1975–1977 (Line-up that recorded Sun and Steel)	1977–1978	1978	1978 (Keith Ellis died 12/12/78 in Darmstadt, Germany while on tour)
Erik Braunn – vocals, guitar Philip Taylor Kramer – bass, keyboards, vocals Bill DeMartines – keyboards, vocals Ron Bushy – drums, percussion, backing vocals	Jimi Henderson – vocals David Love – guitar Larry "Rhino" Reinhart – guitar Lee Dorman – bass, vocals Larry Kiernan – keyboards Kevin Karamitros – drums	Mike Pinera – vocals, guitar Lee Dorman – bass, vocals John Leimsider – keyboards Kevin Karamitros – drums	Mike Pinera – vocals, guitar Larry "Rhino" Reinhard – guitar Keith Ellis – bass Doug Ingle – keyboards, vocals Ron Bushy – drums
1978	1978–1979	1979	1979
Mike Pinera – vocals, guitar Larry "Rhino" Reinhard – guitar Lee Dorman – bass, vocals Doug Ingle – keyboards, vocals Ron Bushy – drums	Mike Pinera – vocals, guitar Larry "Rhino" Reinhard – guitar Erik Braunn – guitar, vocals Lee Dorman – bass, vocals Doug Ingle – keyboards, vocals Ron Bushy – drums	Mike Pinera – vocals, guitar Lee Dorman – bass, vocals Doug Ingle – keyboards, vocals John Leimsider – keyboards Bobby Caldwell – drums	Erik Braunn – guitar Lee Dorman – bass, vocals John Leimsider – keyboards Bobby Caldwell – drums Bobby Hasbrook – guitar, vocals
1979	1980	1981–1982	1982
Mike Pinera – guitar, vocals Erik Braunn – guitar Lee Dorman – bass, vocals Bobby Hasbrook guitar, vocals Nathan Pino – keyboards Bobby Caldwell – drums	Bobby Hasbrook – guitar, vocals Erik Brann – guitar Lee Dorman – bass, vocals Tim Kislan – keyboards Zam Johnson – drums Starz Vanderlocket – vocals, percussion	Lee Dorman – bass, vocals Larry "Rhino" Reinhardt – guitar Randy Skirvin – rhythm guitar John Leimsider – keyboards Jimmy Rock (?)– drums Luke (?) – vocals, percussion	Mike Pinera – guitar, vocals Lee Dorman – bass, vocals Larry "Rhino" Reinhardt – guitar Guy Babylon – keyboards Jan Uvena – drums
1982	1982	1982–1983	1983
Mike Pinera – guitar, vocals Erik Braunn – guitar Lee Dorman – bass, vocals Larry "Rhino" Reinhardt – guitar Guy Babylon – keyboards Ron Bushy – drums	Mike Pinera – guitar, vocals Erik Braunn – guitar Lee Dorman – bass, vocals Larry "Rhino" Reinhardt – guitar Doug Ingle – keyboards, vocals Guy Babylon – keyboards John Shearer – drums Luke – percussion (Ron Bushy – drums; partial performance for one gig, 1982)	Mike Pinera – guitar, vocals Lee Dorman – bass, vocals Larry "Rhino" Reinhardt – guitar Doug Ingle – keyboards, vocals Guy Babylon – keyboards John Shearer – drums Luke – percussion	Lee Dorman – bass, vocals Larry "Rhino" Reinhardt – guitar Doug Ingle – keyboards, vocals Guy Babylon – keyboards John Shearer – drums Luke – percussion
1983	1983–1984	1984	1984–1985
Lee Dorman – bass, vocals Larry "Rhino" Reinhardt – guitar Doug Ingle – keyboards, vocals Guy Babylon – keyboards John Shearer – drums Jerry Sommers – drums, percussion	Lee Dorman – bass, vocals Larry "Rhino" Reinhardt – guitar Doug Ingle – keyboards, vocals Rick Rotante – drums	Lee Dorman – bass, vocals Larry "Rhino" Reinhardt – guitar Doug Ingle – keyboards, vocals Lenny Campanero – drums	Lee Dorman – bass, vocals Steve Fister – guitar, backing vocals Doug Ingle – keyboards, vocals Lenny Campanero – drums
1985 (The band split up due to managerial problems after Kurtis Teal died on December 2 of a heart murmur)	1985–1987	1987	1987
Doug Ingle – vocals, keyboards Steve Fister – guitar, backing vocals Kurtis Teal – bass Lenny Campanero – drums	Group disbanded	Mike Pinera – vocals, guitar Kelly Reubens – bass Tim Von Hoffman – keyboards Ron Bushy – drums	Mike Pinera – vocals, guitar Glen Rappold – vocals, guitar, alternate bass Kelly Reubens – bass Tim Von Hoffman – keyboards Ron Bushy – drums
Mike Pinera – vocals, guitar Kelly Reubens – bass Ace Baker – keyboards Ron Bushy – drums (Donny Vosburgh - drums; substitute for Ron Bushy, 1987)	Erik Braunn – vocals, guitar Jim Von Buelow – guitar Sal Rodriguez – drums	Bill DeMartines – vocals, keyboards Doug Jackson – guitar Bob Birch – bass Lyle T. West – vocals Ron Bushy – drums	Doug Ingle – vocals, keyboards Erik Braunn – vocals, guitar Lee Dorman – bass, vocals Ron Bushy – drums
1988 (This lineup played no gigs)	1988–1989	1990	1990–1992
Erik Braunn – vocals, guitar Larry "Rhino" Reinhardt – guitar Lee Dorman – bass, vocals Sal Rodriguez – drums	Steve Feldman – lead vocals Erik Braunn – vocals, guitar Larry "Rhino" Reinhardt – guitar Lee Dorman – bass, vocals Derek Hilland – keyboards, backing vocals Kenny Suarez – drums, percussion (Joanne Montana – backing vocals; a few gigs in 1989) (Cecelia Noel – backing vocals; a few gigs in 1989)	Steve Feldman – lead vocals Larry "Rhino" Reinhardt – guitar Lee Dorman – bass, vocals Derek Hilland – keyboards, backing vocals Kenny Suarez – drums, percussion	Robert Tepper – vocals Larry "Rhino" Reinhardt – guitar Lee Dorman – bass, vocals Derek Hilland – keyboards, backing vocals Kenny Suarez – drums, percussion
1993	1993	1993	1993–1994
Lee Dorman – vocals, bass Larry "Rhino" Reinhardt – guitar Burt Diaz – keyboards Ron Bushy – drums, percussion	Lee Dorman – vocals, bass Mike Pinera – vocals, guitar Derek Hilland – keyboards, backing vocals Ron Bushy – drums, percussion	Lee Dorman – vocals, bass Denny Artache – vocals, guitar Derek Hilland – keyboards, backing vocals Ron Bushy – drums, percussion	Lee Dorman – vocals, bass Mike Pinera – vocals, guitar Derek Hilland – keyboards, backing vocals Ron Bushy – drums, percussion
1994	1994–1995	1995–1997	1997–1999
Lee Dorman – vocals, bass Doug Bossey – guitar Derek Hilland – keyboards, backing vocals Ron Bushy – drums, percussion	Doug Ingle – vocals, keyboards Lee Dorman – vocals, bass Doug Bossey – guitar Derek Hilland – keyboards, backing vocals Ron Bushy – drums, percussion	Doug Ingle – vocals, keyboards Lee Dorman – vocals, bass Erik Barnett – vocals, guitar Derek Hilland – keyboards, backing vocals Ron Bushy – drums, percussion	Doug Ingle – vocals, keyboards Lee Dorman – vocals, bass Erik Barnett – vocals, guitar Ron Bushy – drums, percussion
1999	1999–2002	2002–2005	2005–2006
Lee Dorman – vocals, bass Erik Barnett – vocals, guitar Damian Bujanda – vocals, keyboards Ron Bushy – drums, percussion	Lee Dorman – vocals, bass Erik Barnett – vocals, guitar Larry Rust – vocals, keyboards Ron Bushy – drums, percussion (Oly - bass; substitute for Dorman whilst he was suffering with a heart ailment, 2001)	Lee Dorman – vocals, bass Charlie Marinkovich – vocals, guitar Larry Rust – vocals, keyboards Ron Bushy – drums, percussion (Derek Hillard - keyboards, backing vocals; substitute for Larry Rust for one show, 2003)	Lee Dorman – vocals, bass Charlie Marinkovich – vocals, guitar Martin Gerschwitz – vocals, keyboards Ron Bushy – drums, percussion
2006	2006	2006–present
Ken Chalupnik – bass Charlie Marinkovich – vocals, guitar Martin Gerschwitz – vocals, keyboards Ron Bushy – drums, percussion	Dave Meros – bass Charlie Marinkovich – vocals, guitar Martin Gerschwitz – vocals, keyboards Ron Bushy – drums, percussion	Lee Dorman – vocals, bass Charlie Marinkovich – vocals, guitar Martin Gerschwitz – vocals, keyboards Ron Bushy – drums, percussion (Ray Weston - drums, percussion; substitute for Ron Bushy, 2010)

Discography

Studio albums

Year	Album	US
1968	Heavy	78
1968	In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida	4
1969	Ball	3
1970	Metamorphosis	16
1975	Scorching Beauty	138
1976	Sun and Steel	-

Live albums

• Live (1970)
• Fillmore East 1968 (2011)

Compilation albums

• Evolution: The Best of Iron Butterfly (1971)
• Star Collection (1973)
• Rare Flight (1988)
• Light & Heavy: The Best of Iron Butterfly (1993)

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"

Singles

Year	Name	US
1968	Don't Look Down on Me	-
1968	Unconscious Power	-
1968	In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida	30
1969	Soul Experience	75
1969	In the Time Of Our Lives	96
1969	Little Girl	118
1970	Possession	-
1970	Easy Rider	66
1971	Silly Sally	-
1975	Pearly Gates	-
1975	High On The Mountain Top	-
1975	Beyond The Milky Way	108
1975	High On The Mountain Top	-
1975	I'm Right, I'm Wrong	-

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. 

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