Lee Dorman, 70, a bass guitarist for the psychedelic rock band Iron Butterfly, who played on one of the genre's most recognizable songs, "In-a-Gadda-da-Vida," died Friday in Laguna Niguel, Calif.
Mr. Dorman was found dead in his car outside his home, said Gail Krause, a spokeswoman for the Orange County Sheriff's Department. A coroner ruled the death was of natural causes, Krause said. Mr. Dorman had heart problems and was on a transplant list, Martin Gerschwitz, one of the current members of Iron Butterfly, said in an interview.
Iron Butterfly, a four-man group originating in San Diego, signed its first record contract with Atco in 1967, according to the band's website. "In-a-Gadda-da-Vida," with its thumping bass riff, was released in July 1968. It stayed on the national sales charts for two years and became a Top 40 radio hit.
