Iron Butterfly is an American rock band originally formed in 1966 by keyboardist Doug Ingle and drummer Ron Bushy. The band underwent a number of personnel changes around Ingle and Bushy until the band recorded that album they are most associated with in 1968. That album was In A Gadda Da Vida. The album’s title coming from the song that took up one whole side of the album is a derivative of In The Garden Of Eden. The original version of the song was seventeen minutes plus and included a two-minute drum solo, and keyboard and guitar solos, which was unheard of at the time. The album would go on to sell four million copies in America alone and worldwide it is believed the album tops twenty five million. An edited version of the title track would also become a big hit for the band on the singles chart, briefly widening the bands appeal.
Iron Butterfly were considered to be an early heavy metal band although in truth the band were more a cross between the Blues and Psychedelic bands of the times. What the term heavy metal probably meant in those far off days was not the same as Heavy Metal of the seventies and eighties. In this case it was possibly meant to describe the band as being 'Far Out' and heavy as in having depth and meaning.
Whilst the band's heyday was the late sixties they did enjoy reasonable success until 1971 when the band split for the first time, although over the years the band has re-formed to varying degrees of success. The band also appeared at the concert to celebrate Atlantic Records fortieth Birthday Concert in 1988 where they were in the esteemed company of Yes, Genesis and Led Zeppelin.
This DVD features the band performing during their European tour in 1997. The band features three original members: vocalist and keyboardist Doug Ingle, Drummer Ron Bushy and bassist Lee Dorman. The band run through a well received set, which includes In A Gadda Da Vida as a highlight and proving it to be as potent as it was when it was first unleashed on the public in 1968. The DVD also includes a bonus interview and includes contributions from Doug Ingle, Lee Dorman, Ron Bushy and also Steve Howe, who talks about the time Yes supported Iron Butterfly at London’s Albert Hall.
Monster rock anthems don't come much more monolithic or indestructible
than Iron Butterfly's In-A Gadda-Da-Vida. Shot on tour in Germany in
1997, although very much post vintage Iron Butterly this in concert
DVD showcases the then reformed band which at this point counted
original members lead voclist / keyboard player Doug Ingle, drummer
Ron Bushy and bass player Lee Dorman among its ranks. With the set
list for the most part drawn from the Butterfly's back catalogue up to
and including 1970's Metamorphosis album the show inevitably climaxes
with with a suitably gargantuan rendition of In-A Gadda-Da-Vida. Bonus
features include entertaining interviews with Doug Ingle who among
other things recounts the cirrcumstances surrounding the composition
and naming of In-a Gadda-Da-Vida while Ron Bushy's reminiscences
include the tale of how the band never got to appear at Woodstock
despite being on the bill due to finding themselves marooned at a New
York heliport thanks to the colossal traffic jams around the festival
site. Additionally Steve Howe of Yes unexpectedly pops up to recall
their 1969 support slot with Iron Butterfly at the Albert Hall.
Grahame Bent (Record Collector Magazine)
