Singer Doug Engle (Iron Butterfly), known for the song “In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida,” has died.

Singer Doug Engel, a member of the American rock band Iron Butterfly, has died at the age of 78, his family announced on social media. Engel is best known as the writer and singer of the 1968 hit “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida.”

The short version of that song was a hit all over the world, including the Netherlands, and the album of the same name was the best-selling record for the record label Atlantic for many years. It has now been sold more than 30 million times. The title is an alternative spelling of the term “In the Garden of Eden.” It has also been covered in recent years by bands as diverse as Slayer, The Incredible Bongo Band and Boney M.

The long version of the big hit:

Engel was the only remaining original member of Iron Butterfly. The band was formed in San Diego in 1966, but after two years the entire band consisted of new members, with the exception of Engel. After great success, the band split in 1971.

In recent decades, the long version of “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” has become a paradigmatic example of the regime’s excesses and pretensions. Classic rock musicwith a running time of 17 minutes and a stylized structure.

A famous Simpsons joke parodied the song in 1995: