Doug Ingle, Founding Member of Iron Butterfly, Dead at 78

He wrote the band’s best-known hit, “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida.”

Doug Ingle, the singer and organist for Iron Butterfly, has died. He was 78. His son, Doug Ingle Jr., broke the news on social media. “It’s with a heavy heart & great sadness to announce the passing of my Father Doug Ingle. Dad passed away peacefully this evening in the presence of family,” he wrote. “Thank You Dad for being a father, teacher and friend. Cherished loving memories I will carry the rest of my days moving forward in this journey of life. Love you Dad.” No cause of death was given.

Ingle was the last suriving member of the band’s original lineup. He founded Iron Butterfly with drummer Ron Bushy, bassist Lee Dornan, and guitarist Erik Brann. Ingle wrote the band’s most famous song, “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida.” The song was written by Ingle while drinking a gallon of wine, according to Bushy. His slurred saying of “In the Garden of Eden” became the song’s title. The album version of “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” was 17-minutes long and took up the record’s entire B-Side. A shortened radio version reached number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song is considered foundational to what eventually became heavy metal, and was featured in Manhunter and on The Simpsons in the episode “Bart Sells His Soul.”