Iron Butterfly Former Members Sue to Obtain `In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida' Royalties

Former members of Iron Butterfly, the psychedelic rock band that recorded the 1960s classic “In- A-Gadda-Da-Vida,” sued Warner Music Group Corp. units to recover royalty payments they say they’re owed.

The three ex-band members and a former lawyer for the group claim that Atlantic Recording Corp., Elektra Entertainment Group Inc. and Warner/Chappell Music Inc. owe them at least $236,549, according to a complaint filed yesterday in New York state Supreme Court in Manhattan.

“In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida,” released in 1968, is a 17-minute track that took up one full side of a long-playing record and helped characterize the music of the late 1960s and early 1970s. The album has sold more than 30 million copies, according to the band’s website.

Will Tanous, a Warner Music Group Corp. spokesman, didn’t immediately comment.

The case is Dorman v. Atlantic Recording Corp., 652261- 2010, New York State Supreme Court (Manhattan).

To contact the reporter on this story: David McLaughlin in New York at dmclaughlin9@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editor responsible for this story: David E. Rovella at drovella@bloomberg.net.