Ron Bushy, the longtime drummer for psychedelic rock act Iron Butterfly, has died. He was 79.
The band said in a statement that Bushy “passed away peacefully Aug. 29, with his wife Nancy by his side. … He was a real fighter. … He will be deeply missed!”
Bushy played one of the rock world’s best-known drum solos, on the band’s epic “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida.” The album of the same name was omnipresent in the late 1960s, cracking the top 5. A radio edit of the title track sneaked into the top 30, giving the Southern California band its only hit single.
The odd title came from title Bushy’s mishearing of the title of singer Doug Ingle’s work in progress “In the Garden of Eden.” The song remains a cultural touchstone, heard on TV shows and in films, notably in the 1986 thriller “Manhunter.” It was one of the most-covered songs of the late 1960s, found in the setlist of virtually all rock bar bands of the day. The recording’s sidelong 17-minute length and extended drum soloing excited underground rock fans … and infuriated critics.
Iron Butterfly saw a series of personnel changes during its original run, which stretched from the mid-1960s through the mid-’70s, with Bushy the only original band member to go the distance. Iron Butterfly’s classic period stretched from 1968’s “Heavy” through 1970’s “Metamorphosis.” It was one of the most popular touring bands in the U.S. during the late ’60s.
Bushy later played with various reunion lineups. He also performed in the bands Magic and Gold.
He played with the classic lineup at the 1988 Atlantic Records 40th anniversary concert that also featured Led Zeppelin and Vanilla Fudge.
In 2010, Bushy joined Ingle and Dorman in suing Warner Music Group over profits from their recordings (Dorman v. Atlantic Recording Corp.). Late last year, Esoteric Recordings released a well-received seven-disc CD set of the band’s catalog on Atco Records.
Iron Butterfly called Bushy a “beloved legendary drummer.”
Bushy often told the story that Ringo Starr took him out to dinner when the band played London and confessed to stealing part of the drum solo from “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” for the Beatles’ “The End.” Bushy took it has a high compliment.
Guitarist Erik Brann and bassist Lee Dorman, who played with Ingle and Bushy on the group’s classic albums, including “Ball,” died earlier this century. Keyboardist Ingle survives his bandmates as last man standing from the late 1960s Iron Butterfly. (“Ball” ranks No. 45 on this web site’s list of classic psychedelic albums.)
Bushy had a long battle with esophageal cancer.
Ron Bushy is survived by his wife, three daughters and six grandchildren. He died at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles.
I will never forget the first time I heard Iron Butterfly. Me and a few buddies were hanging out at a local gas station when a friend rolled in driving his Cadillac convertible with the top down and his FM radio blasting. He waved us over and excitedly told us, “you gotta hear this! It’s been going on for like 15 minutes already.” I loved Iron Butterfly and bought all their albums. I grew up loving The Ventures from the first time I heard Walk Don’t Run. Iron Butterfly was the only band I was aware of that had a lead guitarist who played a Mosrite guitar, like the lead player in The Ventures.
I still listen to Iron Butterfly quite often. Too bad they didn’t make it to Woodstock like they were supposed to. because they were a very important piece of the 60s psychedelic explosion and certainly belonged there.