If we were to play a rock and roll word association game, and I tossed out the name “Iron Butterfly,” odds are you would reply, “In a Gadda Da Vida.” Without argument, that is the song that somewhat defines Iron Butterfly, proving that the band did not receive the recognition they so deserved, aside from that one memorable song.
Formed in San Diego, California, in 1966, the band performed at The Bibo Lido in Hollywood before moving onto a month-long stint at the Whisky, and then finally the very popular (but now extinct) Galaxy for a three-month stint. It was here that the band started getting “watched” by other “curious” musicians, like, oh, Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton. They were observing Iron Butterfly for a reason — they hadn’t, at this point, heard anything quite so intense, and the influence showed in those respective artists’ music. Live At The Galaxy 1967 demonstrates that Iron Butterfly did it first.
With psychedelic artwork adorning the CD cover (what else would one expect), the disc includes a brief four-page (but informative) booklet. The story behind this recording is that a friend of the band, Mike Lipman, recorded Iron Butterfly’s set on July 4, 1967. The result is, sound quality-wise, nothing more than a bootleg. What is important, however, is the historical value. Here is a band delivering music that was very psychedelic, as was much of music of the time, but delivered it in such an intense manner that had just not happened yet.
The result of that recording is simply monstrous. This was the seed of anything heavy to follow, be it Iron Maiden, Motorhead, or even the most extreme form of speed metal. Live At The Galaxy 1967 is right there, at the birth of metal. The set opens with “Possession,” the perfect sound-track to some classic cult B-movie from the 60s. It’s depressing, but oddly, upbeat. “Fields Of Sun” begins softly majestic, with heavy classical overtones. Like every track, it finds its way back to the dark and gloomy. Don’t look for any high-value production, as you may have already guessed. Live At The Galaxy 1967 is stripped of any polish, and is a bare-bones recording, that adds to the mystique of Iron Butterfly’s sound.
~ Bruce Forrest
