Doug Ingle, the voice and visionary behind legendary rock band Iron Butterfly, passed away peacefully on Friday, May 24, at age 78, surrounded by family. His death was confirmed by his son, Doug Ingle Jr., via Facebook.


As a founding member of Iron Butterfly in 1966, Ingle helped shape the band's distinctive sound as lead singer and keyboardist. He co-wrote their most famous hit "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida," which has an interesting origin story - according to drummer Ron Bushy, Ingle composed it after drinking a gallon of Red Mountain wine. The song's title was a drunken slurring of "In the Garden of Eden," which Bushy transcribed phonetically.

Ingle's songwriting credits include other notable hits like "Soul Experience," "In the Time of Our Lives," and "Easy Rider." He remained with Iron Butterfly until their breakup in 1971, after which he occasionally reunited with former bandmates for tours. Following his music career, Ingle managed an RV Park in the Los Angeles National Forest from 1974 to 1978.

The original Iron Butterfly lineup included Ingle, Jack Pinney, Greg Willis, and Danny Weis. After signing their record deal, the band evolved to feature Ingle alongside Ron Bushy, Lee Dorman, and Erik Brann - the lineup that would create their most successful works.

Ingle's legacy lives on through his monumental contributions to psychedelic rock and the enduring influence of "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" on rock music history.

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