Iron Butterfly Lead Singer and Organist Doug Ingle Dies at 78

Doug Ingle, the lead singer and organist of the iconic band Iron Butterfly, passed away on May 24 at the age of 78. His son, Doug Ingle Jr, confirmed the news of his father's passing through a social media post. The post did not disclose the location or cause of his death.

Mr. Ingle was the last surviving member of the classic lineup of Iron Butterfly, a pioneering hard rock group that he co-founded in 1966. The band achieved significant success in a short period, releasing its first three albums within a year, starting with “Heavy” in early 1968. However, it was their second album, “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida,” released in July of the same year, that solidified their place in rock history.

Enduring Legacy of "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida"

The album spent an impressive 140 weeks on the Billboard chart, reaching a peak position of No. 4. It was reported to have sold approximately 30 million copies worldwide. Notably, a radio-friendly version of the title track, shortened to under three minutes, achieved significant success by reaching No. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100.