Guitarist with million-selling psychedelic rockers Iron Butterfly dies

Larry Reinhardt was 63

Larry Reinhardt, guitarist with classic psychedelic rockers Iron Butterfly, has died at the age of 63.

Larry Reinhardt, also known as ‘Rhino’, passed away yesterday (January 2) after being admitted to hospital with an infection last week. He was moved into intensive care on January 1 and then placed on life support.

Born in Florida in 1948, Reinhardt began his music career in the 1960s, performing with The Load and The Second Coming with Dickey Betts and Berry Oakley, both of whom went on the join The Allman Brothers Band.

He replaced Erik Brann in Iron Butterfly alongside Mike Pinera, working with the band on their fourth album, 1970’s ‘Metamorphosis’. He joined the band after the release of their biggest hit, 1968’s ‘In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida’, which was taken from the 25 million selling album of the same name.

After Iron Butterfly broke up, Reinhardt and Lee Dorman formed Captain Beyond with Rod Evans from Deep Purple and Bobby Caldwell from Johnny Winter, reports Sarasota Patch. The band split in 1977.

Reinhardt then formed his own band Rhino in 1979, who released their final album last year.