Douglas Lloyd Ingle (born September 9, 1945) is an American musician, best known as the founder and former organist, primary composer, and lead vocalist for the band Iron Butterfly.[1] Ingle wrote the band's iconic song "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida", which was first released in 1968. He is the last surviving member of the classic 1967–1969 lineup.

Doug Ingle
Doug Ingle as part of Iron Butterfly in 1969
Doug Ingle as part of Iron Butterfly in 1969
Background information
Birth nameDouglas Lloyd Ingle
Born (1945-09-09) September 9, 1945 (age 78)
Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
OriginSan Diego, California
GenresPsychedelic rock, acid rock, hard rock, instrumental
Occupation(s)Musician, singer
Instrument(s)Organ, vocals
Years active1966–1971, 1978–1999
LabelsAtco, Warner/Chappell Music
Websitewww.myspace.com/dougingle

Ingle had a short stint with the pop group Stark Naked and the Car Thieves in the early 1970s after he left Iron Butterfly.[2]

Early life and career edit

Ingle was born in Omaha, Nebraska. His father Lloyd, a church organist, introduced him to music at an early age. Ingle moved from his native Nebraska within three months of his birth to the Rocky Mountains and later the family moved to San Diego.

Ingle founded Iron Butterfly in San Diego in 1966, remaining with the group when they relocated to Los Angeles later that year, and became part of the group's classic lineup, featuring Ingle, drummer Ron Bushy, guitarist Erik Brann and bassist Lee Dorman. His work is featured on the Iron Butterfly albums Heavy (1968), In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida (1968), Ball (1969) and Metamorphosis (1970). He also authored the band's biggest hit, also called "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida". Though it was not recorded until their second album, "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" was written during Iron Butterfly's early days. According to drummer Ron Bushy, organist-vocalist Doug Ingle wrote the song one evening while drinking an entire gallon of Red Mountain wine. When the inebriated Ingle then played the song for Bushy, who wrote down the lyrics for him, he was slurring his words so badly that what was supposed to be "in the Garden of Eden" was interpreted by Bushy as "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida". He co-authored their remaining three hits ("Soul Experience", "In the Time of Our Lives", and "Easy Rider") with other members of the group.

When Iron Butterfly broke up in 1971, Ingle toured occasionally with his former band members, but was not involved with either of Iron Butterfly's later two albums, Scorching Beauty and Sun and Steel, both from 1975. With the deaths of Brann, Dorman and Bushy in 2003, 2012 and 2021, respectively, Ingle is the last surviving member of the 1968–1969 lineup of Iron Butterfly.

Between 1974 and 1978, Ingle managed a recreational vehicle park in the Los Angeles National Forest. He spent time painting houses in Oregon, Washington and California.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ Huey, Steve. "Biography: Iron Butterfly". AMG. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
  2. ^ "Biography: Stark Naked and the Car Thieves". Archived from the original on July 30, 2020.
  3. ^ Matsumoto, Jon (April 21, 1995). "Iron Will : Doug Ingle Re-Emerges, Hoping Reunited Butterfly Takes Off Again". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 1, 2021.