# Ron Bushy > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ron_Bushy > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ron_Bushy.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Bushy > Source revision: 1340608995 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American drummer (1941–2021)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2015}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Ron Bushy | image = Ron Bushy (2005).jpg | caption = Bushy performing in 2005 | image_size = | background = non_vocal_instrumentalist | birth_name = | alias = | birth_date = {{birth date|1941|12|23}} | birth_place = [Washington, D.C.](/source/Washington%2C_D.C.), U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2021|8|29|1941|12|23}} | death_place = [Santa Monica](/source/Santa_Monica%2C_California), [California](/source/California), U.S. | instrument = Drums | genre = {{hlist|[Psychedelic rock](/source/Psychedelic_rock)|[acid rock](/source/acid_rock)|[hard rock](/source/hard_rock)|[instrumental](/source/instrumental)}} | occupation = {{hlist|Musician|[graphic artist](/source/Graphic_designer)}} | years_active = 1966–2021 | label = Atlantic ATCO | past_member_of = [Iron Butterfly](/source/Iron_Butterfly) | website = }} '''Ron Bushy''' (December 23, 1941 – August 29, 2021) was an American drummer best known as a member of the rock band [Iron Butterfly](/source/Iron_Butterfly) and as the drum soloist on the band's iconic song "[In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida](/source/In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida)", released in 1968 although performed in the band's earlier appearances. Bushy was the only member of the group to appear on all six of its studio albums. ==Career== ===Iron Butterfly=== Previously playing in a band called the Voxmen, Bushy joined Iron Butterfly in 1966, following the band's relocation from [San Diego](/source/San_Diego%2C_California) to [Los Angeles](/source/Los_Angeles%2C_California), replacing previous drummer Bruce Morse when he left due to a family emergency. Bushy became part of the group's classic lineup, along with vocalist and keyboardist [Doug Ingle](/source/Doug_Ingle), guitarist [Erik Brann](/source/Erik_Brann), and bassist [Lee Dorman](/source/Lee_Dorman). They are best known for the 1968 hit "[In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida](/source/In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida)", providing a dramatic sound that led the way towards the development of [hard rock](/source/hard_rock) and [heavy metal](/source/Heavy_metal_music) music. The song, originally written by Ingle as "In the [Garden of Eden](/source/Garden_of_Eden)" but as a result of singing the first draft whilst intoxicated was misheard by Bushy as "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida", went to number thirty on the [Billboard Hot 100](/source/Billboard_Hot_100), and charted highest in the [Netherlands](/source/Netherlands), where it went to number seven.{{Cite magazine |title=Iron Butterfly {{!}} Biography, Music & News |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/iron-butterfly/ |access-date=2024-05-25 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Hung |first=Steffen |title=Iron Butterfly - In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida |url=http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Iron+Butterfly&titel=In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida&cat=s |access-date=2024-05-25 |website=hitparade.ch}} After drumming on Iron Butterfly's first album ''[Heavy](/source/Heavy_(Iron_Butterfly_album))'' in 1968, the band experienced substantial success with their song "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" from its [second album, which shared the name](/source/In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida_(album)), in which he played a lengthy and critically acclaimed drum solo. The internationally popular drummer [Ringo Starr](/source/Ringo_Starr) was inspired by this solo.{{cite web | url=https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/ringo-starr-copied-only-beatles-drum-solo.html/ | title=Ringo Starr Copied a Famous 1960s Song for His Only Beatles Drum Solo | date=December 4, 2022 }} Bushy continued to play with Iron Butterfly on its third and fourth albums, 1969's ''[Ball](/source/Ball_(Iron_Butterfly_album))'' and 1970's ''[Metamorphosis](/source/Metamorphosis_(Iron_Butterfly_album))'', until its break-up in 1971. He rejoined the group when the band reformed in 1974, playing on its fifth and sixth albums, ''[Scorching Beauty](/source/Scorching_Beauty)'' and ''[Sun and Steel](/source/Sun_and_Steel_(album))'', both released in 1975. He departed the group in 1977, and rejoined the next year. [[File:Iron Butterfly (1969).png|thumb|Bushy (second from left) with [Iron Butterfly](/source/Iron_Butterfly) in 1969]] Their music has found a significant impact on the international rock scenes, influencing numerous acts such as [Black Sabbath](/source/Black_Sabbath), [AC/DC](/source/AC%2FDC), [Rush](/source/Rush_(band)), [Alice Cooper](/source/Alice_Cooper), [Mountain](/source/Mountain_(band)), [Uriah Heep](/source/Uriah_Heep_(band)), [Soundgarden](/source/Soundgarden), [Stone Temple Pilots](/source/Stone_Temple_Pilots), [Slayer](/source/Slayer), [King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard](/source/King_Gizzard_%26_the_Lizard_Wizard), and [Queens of the Stone Age](/source/Queens_of_the_Stone_Age).{{cite web |title=Iron Butterfly - Similar Artists |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/iron-butterfly-mn0000772567/related |access-date=August 30, 2021 |publisher=[AllMusic](/source/AllMusic)}} Bushy continued to drum for Iron Butterfly on-and-off until its second break-up, in 1985. From Iron Butterfly's second reunion in 1987, he continued to drum with the group on-and-off as the most consistent member throughout various other member changes and break-ups. Bushy left Iron Butterfly permanently in 2012, but made occasional guest appearances from 2015 until his death. ===Other bands=== Magic (1977–1978): Bushy (drums) and Walter Kibbey (drums), Ron "Rocket" Ritchotte (guitar, vocals), former Iron Butterfly members [Philip Taylor Kramer](/source/Philip_Taylor_Kramer) (bass, vocals) and Bill DeMartines (keyboards, vocals). Gold (1978–1980): Bushy (drums), Ritchotte (guitar, vocals), whose spot was later filled by Stuart Young (guitar, vocals), John Koehring (guitar, lead vocals), and Kramer (bass, vocals). They recorded one album in the spring of 1979 that was never released. ==Death== On August 29, 2021, Iron Butterfly issued a statement that Bushy had died that morning at the [UCLA Medical Center](/source/UCLA_Medical_Center%2C_Santa_Monica) in [Santa Monica](/source/Santa_Monica%2C_California) following a battle with [esophageal cancer](/source/esophageal_cancer), at the age of 79.{{cite web|url=https://www.tmz.com/2021/08/29/iron-butterfly-drummer-ron-bushy-dead-dies/ |title=Iron Butterfly Drummer Ron Bushy Dead at 79 |website=[TMZ.com](/source/TMZ) |date=August 29, 2021 |access-date=August 29, 2021}}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/iron-butterfly-ron-bushy-dead-obit-1218422/ |title=Iron Butterfly Drummer Ron Bushy Dead at 79 |last=Newman |first=Jason |date=2021-08-29 |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=2021-08-29 |quote="Ron Bushy, our beloved legendary drummer of Iron Butterfly, has passed away peacefully, with his wife Nancy by his side, at 12:05am on August 29th at UCLA Santa Monica Hospital," the band said in a statement.}} He was the third member of the ''[In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida](/source/In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida_(album))'' lineup to have died, being preceded by [Erik Brann](/source/Erik_Brann) in 2003, [Lee Dorman](/source/Lee_Dorman) in 2012, and followed by [Doug Ingle](/source/Doug_Ingle) in 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/iron-butterfly-drummer-ron-bushy-dead-at-79/ |title=Iron Butterfly Drummer Ron Bushy Dead At 79 |website=[Blabbermouth.net](/source/Blabbermouth.net) |date=August 29, 2021 |access-date=August 29, 2021}} == Iron Butterfly discography == (See full discography at [Iron Butterfly](/source/Iron_Butterfly)) * ''[In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida](/source/In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida_(album))'' (1968) * ''[Ball](/source/Ball_(Iron_Butterfly_album))'' (1969) * ''[Live](/source/Live_(Iron_Butterfly_album))'' (1970) * ''[Scorching Beauty](/source/Scorching_Beauty)'' (1975) * ''[Sun and Steel](/source/Sun_and_Steel_(album))'' (1976) ==References== {{Commons category|Ron Bushy}} {{Reflist}} ==External links== * {{IMDb name|id=2661414|name=Ron Bushy}} * {{Discogs artist|Ron Bushy}} * [http://www.ironbutterfly.com/ Iron Butterfly official website] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20160611155304/http://www.drumheadmag.com/web/feature.php?id=14 Drumhead interview] * [http://everything2.com/title/Ron+Bushy Everything 2] * [http://www.classicbands.com/ironbutterfly.html Classic Bands] * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6SDGADJRYE Drum solo In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida 2012] * [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/231433284/ron-bushy Ron Bushy] at [Find a Grave](/source/Find_a_Grave) {{Iron Butterfly}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Bushy, Ron}} Category:1941 births Category:2021 deaths Category:American rock drummers Category:Musicians from Washington, D.C. Category:Iron Butterfly members Category:Burials at Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ron Bushy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Bushy) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Bushy?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.