Doug Ingle Jr., his son, posted the announcement on Facebook with a fond memory of the band. The cause of death remains undisclosed.
“With a heavy heart and immense sorrow, I announce the passing of my father, Doug Ingle,” he shared in the caption. “On Friday evening (May 24), Dad peacefully passed away in the company of family. Thank you, Dad, for being a father, teacher, and friend. The loving memories we shared will stay with me forever as I continue this life’s journey. I love you, Dad.”
Although Ingle was born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1945, he relocated to San Diego when he was very young. His father, Lloyd, played the organ at church, therefore the musical heritage ran in the family.
Ingle co-founded Iron Butterfly in 1966 in San Diego, later relocating to Los Angeles in 1967. The band’s debut album, “Heavy,” was released in January 1968, and they gained substantial attention six months later with their next album.
Their second album, “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida,” launched in June 1968, achieved multi-platinum status, spending 81 weeks in the U.S. Top 10 chart, according to Ultimate Classic Rock. Originally over 17 minutes long, its title track was edited down to three minutes for radio play. The song became a Top hit and remains a significant piece in psychedelic rock history, with covers by artists ranging from Slayer to the TV show “The Simpsons.”
After gaining widespread success, Iron Butterfly toured with prominent bands like The Doors, Cream, the Who, Buffalo Springfield, and Janis Joplin. They were scheduled to perform at Woodstock in 1969 but could not make it due to being stuck at LaGuardia Airport in New York.
The band released two more studio albums featuring Ingle, “Ball” in 1969 and “Metamorphosis” in 1970, but neither matched the success of “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida.”
Iron Butterfly disbanded in 1971 but reunited three years later, though Ingle did not participate in the reunion or the subsequent albums. Financial troubles resulting from mismanagement and unpaid taxes forced Ingle into debt, necessitating the sale of his home and assets. He spent several years working at a recreational vehicle park in the Los Angeles National Forest.
The classic era of Iron Butterfly produced three more albums before splitting in 1971. Ingle sporadically rejoined the band members for tours and live shows, excluding participation in later albums under the Iron Butterfly name. He was also part of a group called Stark Naked and the Car Thieves, which did not succeed significantly.
By 24, Ingle was a millionaire but soon faced financial hardships due to unpaid taxes and poor business management.
“I was dealing with competent people but not necessarily acting in my best interest,” said 48-year-old Ingle in a 1995 interview with the Los Angeles Times. I decided to put business out of my mind. The thought “Isn’t life great?” crossed my mind while I performed. Then it all came apart.
In the mid-70s, Ingle managed an RV park in the Los Angeles National Forest and took up house painting. In his ’95 L.A. Times interview, Ingle reflected on life, “Life is what happens while you’re making other plans.”
In 1978, Ingle returned to Iron Butterfly, touring with the band throughout the ’80s and ’90s until his official retirement in 1999.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who sang in A Gadda da Vida?
Doug Ingle, who co-founded the heavy rock band Iron Butterfly and sang and played organ on songs such as their hallmark smash “In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida,” he was the only remaining member of the iconic lineup from the late 1960s.
Who died from the iron butterfly?
Doug Ingle, the leader and organist of the US rock band Iron Butterfly, who created the band’s biggest song In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida, died at age 78. His son, Doug Ingle Jr., shared the news on social media, saying, “Thank you, Dad, for being a parent, teacher, and friend.
