This day in 1968, Iron Butterfly, Canned Heat and The Youngbloods played the first of two nights at New York's Fillmore East, tickets cost $3 - $5.
If there is one band that encapsulates the underground psychedelic era of the late 60's it would be Iron Butterfly.
The term 'heavy metal' was said to have been coined to describe their less than delicate sound (Slayer have paid their homage). Even the name 'Led Zeppelin' was a pun on the words.
Over the years their infamous track 'In A Gadda Da Vida' has been truly satorised (Simpsons) and mocked by comedians and writers a like. It's the piece of music every one loves to hate or loves to hear, but at the time a huge sucess in the USA and Europe. It also broke the mould for length of time a record being played by radio (LP version at 17 minutes) and performed live was even more epic and extensive.
And at the time as the songs main riff droned on through the distorted airways of nightime Radio Luxembourg or American Forces Radio's faint transmissions from Germany, the one thing it was part of the soundtrack to was, the war in Vietnam.
As one YouTuber commented..
"I was in 'nam when this song came out..We would stay up all night and make recordings of this and Janis and Hendrix...smokin some shit...and hoping the next one didn't have your name on it..."
And that's a good enough reason to hear "In A Gadda Da Vida" (edited version)
