Dec 14

Iron Butterfly

IRON BUTTERFLY
 
 
Iron Butterfly  is an American psychedelic rock band best known for the 1968 hit “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida”, providing a dramatic sound that led the way towards the development of hard rock music.  The band’s seminal 1968 album In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida is among the world’s 40 best-selling albums, selling more than 30 million copies.  Iron Butterfly is also notable for being the first group to receive an RIAA platinum award.  (More from Wikipedia)
 
 
Among the many 1960’s psychedelic bands are the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Big Brother and the Holding Company, 13th Floor Elevators, the Chocolate Watchband, the Strawberry Alarm Clock, Iron Butterfly, and Tomorrow.  Our local newspaper, the Sun Herald reported over the weekend about a previously unreleased album by Arthur Lee’s band Love that is supposed to hit the stores shortly; I didn’t expect such hip news from them frankly.
 
(March 2011)
 
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There are two other medleys that were released in the wake of the hit song “Stars on 45 Medley” (Beatles medley).  On what is probably his biggest hit album, In 3-D, “Weird Al” Yankovic put together a hilarious medley called “Polkas on 45” where he performed a wildly wide-ranging medley (all while frantically playing the accordion) that ranged from Deep Purple, to Devo, to the Doors, to Foreigner, to Iron Butterfly, and even to Lawrence Welk. 
 
(September 2012)
 
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The Los Angeles music scene was moving quickly during the late 1960’s, and Music Emporium went to see several of the new bands, with Iron Butterfly being a particular favorite and an obvious influence.  Their song set early on included their classic “In-a-Gadda-da-Vida” – the song title is basically a slurred “In the Garden of Eden” – plus two Doors songs, “Light My Fire” and “Back Door Man”.  Music Emporium started out trying to be as loud as possible but were more mellow by the time they hit the studio to record their album.  Unaccountably, Music Emporium played a lot of weddings and bar mitzvahs. 

 

(October 2013)

 

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A review of the Human Zoo album by It’s Psychedelic Baby has this glowing tribute:  “Parked in a musical zone owing a nudge and a wink to Vanilla Fudge, Jimi Hendrix, and Iron Butterfly, the Human Zoo perused and embodied the acid rock sounds of the day with insight and intent.  Bold and booming guitars interact with crunchy keyboards and potent drum fills, while the soul-informed vocals and harmonies occasionally echo those of the heavier side of Crazy Elephant or Pacific, Gas and Electric.” 

 

(July 2015)

 

Last edited: March 22, 2021