Doug Ingle, a founding member and lead singer of the psychedelic rock band Iron Butterfly, has died at the age of 78.
Ingle Passes Away
Fox News has confirmed that Ingle, who sang the hit song “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida,” died last Friday night.
“It’s a huge loss and a crack in our family’s universe which will be a challenge navigating through this new reality,” said his son Doug Ingle Jr. “Dad was a truly wonderful person to know and be around.”
Ingle Jr. went on to praise his father for his “comical wit.”
“He will be missed,” he concluded.
Ingle Jr. later issued a statement addressing his father directly, saying, “Thank You Dad for being a father, teacher and friend.”
Ingle Jr. has not revealed any cause of death for his father.
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Ingle’s History
Born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1945 as the son of a church organist, Ingle was the last surviving member of the rock band Iron Butterfly. Erik Brann, the band’s guitarist, died in 2003 at 52. Bassist Lee Dorman then died in 2012 at age 70, and drummer Ron Bushy passed away in 2021 at 79. The four of them formed the band together in San Diego, California in 1966.
The band’s most famous hit was 1967’s “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida,” which was a mix of psychedelia, blues and hard-rock. AL.com reported that Ingle is rumored to have wrote the song after drinking a gallon of wine. As he drunkenly sang the lyrics to the song, drummer Bushy allegedly transcribed them.
The song is 17 minutes long and spent 81 weeks in the top 10 in the U.S., according to Variety. For many years, it was the bestselling album in Atlantic Records’ history, and the LP went on to be certified quadruple-platinum.
Daily Mail reported that the album managed to stay on the Billboard charts for a staggering 140 weeks. It ultimately sold over 30 million copies. The television show The Simpsons featured “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” in an iconic 1995 episode. Check out that clip below.
Iron Butterfly recorded three more albums before the band fractured in 1971. While Ingle would occasionally reunite with his former band members for tours and performances over the years, he never took part in another under the Iron Butterfly moniker. Ingle retired from performing completely in 1999.
Check out an old interview with Ingle in the video below.
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Ingle’s Financial Struggles
Though he was a millionaire by 24, unpaid taxes and mismanaged business left Ingle struggling with money at times.
“I was dealing with people who were competent but not necessarily (working) in my interest. I took the luxury of playing ostrich,” Ingle told the Los Angeles Times in 1995. “I didn’t involve myself at the business level at all.”
“I just went out and performed,” he added. “It was, ‘Isn’t life great?’ Then everything crashed down.”
In the late 1970s, Ingle managed an RV park in the Los Angeles National Forest. He also found work painting houses.
Ingle was a true rock ‘n roll legend. While he will be dearly missed, he will always live on through his music!
Please join us in saying a prayer for Ingle’s family and friends during this tragic time.
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