Lee Dorman (Iron Butterfly) Interview -2000 

2000 Willow Grove,PA Vet Rock, What a SHOW !

One of the strangest performances I’ve ever experienced by any band was in Saint Louis, circa 1980. It was essentially in a gigantic circus tent. On one side were women in bikinis mud wrestling and on the other side, Iron Butterfly. It was SRO and the band played the long version of “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” as an encore along with the songs from the same album as the main playlist. Doug Ingle sang lead, and all the core members were there; including bassist Dorman and drummer Bushy. I don’t think Erik Brann was there. The stage was just a 2’ riser. There were no other bands, opening acts. We stood approximately 15’ feet away. There was maybe 500 people at most. The whole performance was 90 minutes or less. It was just sad how far Iron Butterfly had fallen; considering the “venue.”

Lee Dorman also played in the band Captain Beyond, great band!..RIP Lee!

I have to commend Lee for not sprinkling his works with profanity. That is so rare these days. Thank you, Lee. RIP.

One of the strangest performances I’ve ever experienced by any band was in Saint Louis, circa 1980. It was essentially in a gigantic circus tent. On one side were women in bikinis mud wrestling and on the other side, Iron Butterfly. It was SRO and the band played the long version of “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” as an encore along with the songs from the same album as the main playlist. Doug Ingle sang lead, and all the core members were there; including bassist Dorman and drummer Bushy. It was just sad how far Iron Butterfly had fallen; considering the “venue.”

I am a life-long fan of Hendrix...have read many books on his life and times...but Lee blew me away, when he casually mentioned that he rode motorcycles with Jimi when in LA!!!!....none of those bios have ever mentioned that fact...but Jimi did write a lyric to a tune of his called "My friend", in which he sings that "I just rode through LA, on a bicycle built for a fool.."...So I guess Lee Dorman is not making this situation up...I am still finding these little nuggets of information about Jimi Hendrix...also, it was a very young guitarist, named Eric Brann on the album, who played the interesting long solo on Inna Gadda Da Vida...Supposedly he was only 17 or 18 when he did that!...I saw the group in summer of 1969, in Seattle...they sounded tight...the girl I had invited to go with me, had never even been to a Rock concert before, let alone witnessed such a psychedelic sound!...She was stunned by the whole experience...but not so much by me!...Sadly, I think that now, in 2022, all original members are dead and gone...it appears that these guys fell on hard times for quite a few years after their fall from fame, in the mid-70s...back then, the record companies/managers, etc...kept most of the money, while the young dudes making that money were mostly partying too hard!

Lee Dorman comes across as a humble and down-to-earth guy. Maybe someone who went to school with him in St. Louis can share some insights on his youth, family, where he went to school, etc. This information is virtually unknown to IB fans worldwide. As I recall, at the time of Lee's passing in 2012, he had no living family members left.

I met Lee in 72 at a gig In Glendora ca. I let him use my amp for the show. He was a very nice guy. We met again in 05 at a gig in Dana Point. That time, he let me use his amp.

Unfortunately the australian Tour never happened. Bless Lee & Ron.

They toured w Vanilla Fudge