Iron Butterfly’s Doug Ingle has died aged 78.
The co-founder of the heavy rock band was the singer and organist on songs including their 1968 hit In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida, which he also wrote.
Ingle’s family announced his death on social media this weekend.
‘It’s with a heavy heart & great sadness to announce the passing of my Father Doug Ingle,’ Doug Ingle Jr shared.
‘Dad passed away peacefully this evening in the presence of family.
‘Thank you Dad for being a father, teacher and friend. Cherished loving memories I will carry the rest of my days moving forward in this journey of life. Love you Dad.’
Most of the band’s success came with their 17-minute long song, which their 1968 second album was named after.
The single spent 81 weeks in the top 10 in the United States and for a time it was the bestselling album in Atlantic Records’ history, selling over 30 million copies.
Ingle was the last surviving member of the original lineup, which was formed in San Diego in 1966.
An edit of In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida which lasted only two minutes and 52 seconds landed at No. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100, however it’s cultural impact was far greater.
The song’s excessive length was turned to by late night FM DJ’s when needing a smoking or bathroom break.
On a 1995 episode of The Simpsons, titled Bart Sells His Soul, Bart also snuck a version of the organ-driven song into his church’s worship service under the de-slurred title In the Garden of Eden, credited to I. Ron Butterfly.
In the episode Homer whispered to his wife: ‘Hey, Marge, remember when we used to make out to this hymn?’
The song was also covered by Slayer (on the soundtrack for the film Less Than Zero), the Residents, Boney M and the Incredible Bongo Band, whose version was twice-sampled by the rapper Nas.
It also appearedin Michael Mann’s thriller Manhunter.
Ingle would go on to co-write other hits for the band such as Soul Experience, In The Time Of Our Lives, and Easy Rider.
After the release of the band’s fourth album Metamorphosis in 1970, which peaked at number 16 in the U.S., he left the band the following year.
After his departure, Iron Butterfly released two more albums: Scorching Beauty (1975) and Sun and Steel (1975).
Ingle took part in several reunions, however retired from performing altogether in 1999.
Among the other band members from In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida era of the band, guitarist Erik Brann died in 2003, bassist Lee Dornan in 2012 and drummer Ron Bushy in 2021.
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