Iron Butterfly bassist Lee Dorman dies at age 70; authorities say no foul play suspected

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This April 9, 1969 photo shows members of Iron Butterfly, from left, Erik Brann, Ron Bushy, Lee Dorman, and Doug Ingle. Dorman, the bassist for psychedelic rock band, has died at age 70. (Copyright Bettmann/Corbis/AP Images)

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Authorities say Lee Dorman, the bassist of psychedelic rock band Iron Butterfly, has died at age 70.

Orange County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Gail Krause says Dorman was found dead in a vehicle Friday morning. A coroner’s investigation is under way, but foul play is not suspected.

Dorman was also a founding member of the rock group Captain Beyond.

Iron Butterfly rose to prominence in the late 1960s. According to the band’s website, its second album, “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida,” sold more than 30 million copies. Portions of the song have been featured in numerous films and TV shows.

Douglas Lee Dorman was born in September 1942 and had been living in Laguna Nigel, a coastal city in Southern California, when he died.

A message sent through the band’s website was not immediately returned.

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