The Los Angeles music climate of the late sixties and seventies was characterized by the heavy sounds and sentiments that reflected the revolutionary attitudes of the generation. Bursting onto that scene was a new group whose sound not only epitomized the hard attitudes of the youth with its heavy drumming and bass lines, but also embraced more delicate aspirations through its intricate guitar and keyboard overlays.
Iron Butterfly was signed to ATCO records (a division of Atlantic Records) in the spring of 1967 and released their first album, aptly titled Heavy, the following winter. While the band was on the road with the likes of: The Doors, Jefferson Airplane, The Grateful Dead, Traffic, The Who, and Cream, their impressive debut stayed on Billboard's album charts for almost a year.
In July of 1968, Iron Butterfly released the monumental LP, In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, featuring the 17:05 minute side-long track that shook the entire music industry with its phenomenal reception. 'Vida outsold every record in the history of recorded music within the first year of its release (over eight million copies sold) and therefore outgrew and outsold the standard of the music industry's "Gold Album" award. For this achievment, Iron Butterfly was subsequently awarded: The Industry's Very First "Platinum Album"! This historic award was created and presented by then-president of ATCO Records Ahmet Ertegun, who went on to become the current CEO of the WEA Group. Most recently, 'Vida received the " Multi-Platinum" award.
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, stayed on the charts for 140 weeks, with 81 weeks in the Top Ten. To date the album has sold in excess of 25 million copies and remains an undisputed classic in the archives of rock with DJ's and audiophiles worldwide.
Within a year of releasing In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, Iron Butterfly had charted a third album, Ball, - which surpassed 'Vida (still in Billboard's Top 10) turning "Gold", and climbed to No. 1. Ball remained on the charts for 44 weeks, followed by two more album releases in 1970 - Live, and Metamorphosis, each charting respectably in the Top 20.
Iron Butterfly toured extensively, appearing throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe, where they appeared at London's world famous Royal Albert Hall. The band also appeared on stage with: Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Frank Zappa, Chicago, Janis Joplin, Steppenwolf, Canned Heat, Three Dog Night, Quicksilver, Yes, Creedence Clearwater, Rush, The Turtles, Buffalo Springfield, Crosby Stills & Nash, & The Byrds, just to name a few!
Past television performances have included: The Steve Allen Show, The David Frost Show, The Red Skelton Comedy Hour, Playboy's After Dark, The Dating Game, Somethin' Else, and numerous performances on American Band Stand, with Dick Clark. The Band also was invited by Atlantic Records to perform on May 14, 1988 at Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary Concert "It's Only Rock'n Roll" at Madison Square Garden, in New York City which HBO taped, and televised, world-wide via satellite.
Iron Butterfly's music has been featured in movies like: Savage Seven, Manhunter, Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, Night Mare On Elm Street, and Fatal Instinct, as well as the TV series Wonder Years, Hardcastle & McCormick, Roseanne, Home Improvement, The Simpsons, and Unsolved Mysteries. References to the band and their music are still frequently heard, in hit movies like Ford Fairlane, Sybling Rivalries, and several times on top TV shows: Cheers, Letterman, Dennis Miller Show, Howard Stern and numerous others. In November '95 Ron Bushy appeared on Phil Donahue, and Unsolved Mysteries. In 1996 the group will appear in: American Journal, America's Most Wanted, and People Magazine.
The Current Lineup of Iron Butterfly Includes
Ron Bushy, (drums) Writer; and legendary for his drum solo in In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, with his primal drum patterns, that set the standard for generations of rock drummers.
Lee Dorman, (bass guitar - vocals), Producer, writer, arranger, including: Captain Beyond; a major influence on bass players up to the present.
Eric Barnett, (lead guitar - vocals), Writer and producer; with extensive performing and recording experience.
Larry Rust, (keyboards, vocals) Larry has been playing keyboards since he was 8 years old. He has experience in Rock, Pop, Rap, R&B, Hip Hop, Jazz, Contemporary Gospel, and Country music where he has worked with some of the finest artists in the business including Chicago, REO Speedwagon, Stevie Wonder, Larry Carlton, George Howard, Bob Welch, Warren Zevon and Kansas. He's created sound libraries for Northstar Productions and has written soundtracks for motion pictures and industrial films, as well as having won 2nd place in the Billboard Songwriters'Contest.
Iron Butterfly is now working on a new album, touring and performing live, their classic hits, including their new and exciting material, to old and new fans alike, of all age groups. The bands reception is more than warm, It's Hot! The fans are truly turned on to the Butterfly's new sound and material; not to mention the step back in time, with their past hits!
Rhino Records has recently remastered and rereleased worldwide: Iron Butterfly's entire catalog on CD, along with Light & Heavy (a new compilation) CD. In November 1995 Rhino rereleased a brand NEW DELUXE CD of the classic album, In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, from newly discovered First-Generation master tapes, complete with bonus material and a lavish 36 page booklet containing many rare and unseen photos. Rhino went all out with this new CD, the cover is in 3-D and full motion, of the group live on stage with a huge Butterfly flapping its wings as it appears to fly right off the CD into your face! IT'S UNBELIEVABLE!
Rhino Records in November 1995 also joined forces with: Compton's New Media, Apple Computer, Jouissance Productions, and i-trax; to release a new CD-ROM entitled: "ROCK EXPEDITION: THE 1960'S". This new format has 10 different artists from the 60's, including Iron Butterfly performing In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida. The most amazing thing is you can actually play, "ROCK EXPEDITION: THE 1960'S" on your multimedia PC/WINDOWS or Macintosh computer, and watch vintage video clips, interviews, and interactive psychedelia as well as, on your Audio CD.
Rhino Home Video in January 1996, released the first, and only video of the group perfoming: Butterfly Blue, Easy Rider, and In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida.
