Iron Butterfly: Concert & Documentary – Europe 1997

Can you name another Iron Butterfly song besides “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida”? Not that it matters: that one rock classic sustained this band in one form or another over the past 40 years, while the album of the same name has sold an estimated 25 million copies. The lineup that toured Europe in 1997 (exactly where in Europe this gig took place is a mystery) included longtime members Doug Ingle (keyboards and voice of doom), Ron Bushy (drums), and Lee Dorman (bass), supplemented by a couple of younger guys on guitar and keys. As it turns out, the other material isn't bad, serving up a combination of heavy riffs, prog-pomp rock, and psychedelia, including a couple of 10-minute-plus epics (the ponderous “Silent Screaming” and the bluesy “Butterfly Blue”) and one straight-ahead pop tune (“Flowers and Beads”). But let's be honest: all of this is treading musical water until we get to “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida,” which took up an entire side of the original vinyl LP and clocks in at about 17 minutes here. Actually, this version is both faster and livelier—amazingly, it even manages to swing a little—with the requisite lengthy solos and a superimposed light show straight out of the tie-dyed Age of Aquarius. DVD extras include a 40-minute composite interview (featuring, among others, guitarist Steve Howe of Yes, who discusses how much his band learned from Iron Butterfly while supporting them on tour). A strong optional purchase. Aud: P. (S. Graham)