Body Of Iron Butterfly Member Found
Kramer Had Been Missing Since 1995
LOS ANGELES, Posted 7:44 p.m. June 3, 1999 -- The skeletal remains found this weekend in a Malibu canyon are those of former Iron Butterfly bassist Philip "Taylor" Kramer.
CBS 2 News reports Los Angeles County coroners used dental records to identify the musician, who was reported missing in 1995.
The cause of death has not been determined.
According to news reports, the 42-year-old musician disappeared while driving his 1993 Ford Aerostar van from Ventura to Los Angeles International Airport Feb. 12, 1995.
The van was found late Saturday by two amateur photographers in the vegetation-choked, 400-foot canyon below Decker Canyon Road. The remains were nearby, along with a wedding ring and wallet, said a wire service.
The photographers were taking pictures of several wrecked vehicles, including Kramer's van, where they stumbled upon the remains.
Kramer joined Iron Butterfly in 1974, about five years after release of the group's album, "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" which sold 4 million copies and was a top 10 record for 81 weeks.
In later years, Kramer started his own computer company, which had emerged from bankruptcy shortly before his disappearance.
