Sometimes unexplainable and unimaginable things happen in the lives of rockers, and even though Iron Butterfly‘s Philip Taylor Kramer was only with the band for a short while, his disappearance back in 1995 became the only story anyone could talk about as his loved ones and fans were curious as to what happened to the former guitarist.
The bassist joined Iron Butterfly in 1974 and was involved in the recordings of ‘Scorching Beauty’ and ‘Sun and Steel,’ which were released the following year. After poor sales and heavy criticism, the band called it quits, but Kramer continued to play with founding member Ron Bushy in Magic and Gold between 1977 and 1980.
After his short tenure as a guitarist, the once-musician moved on with his life as an entrepreneur. He went back to school for a degree in aerospace engineering and then started working on the MX missile guidance system for a contractor of the U.S. Department of Defense. Shortly after, he founded his company, Total Multimedia Inc., which was a high-tech multimedia company that did pioneering work in video compression technology.
He was working tirelessly for his company and was on the brink of burnout. On the day of his disappearance, Kramer was on his way to pick up his business associate Greg Martini and Martini’s wife from the airport in L.A. and take them back home to relax and unwind. However, the day didn’t pan out as planned since Kramer called his wife on the way to the airport to tell her that plans had changed and that she should call the Martini’s and ask them to take a cab to their home and he would join them later with a big surprise for her.
Kramer did go to the airport and parked the car at the parking lot and called his former bandmate and friend Iron Butterfly drummer Ron Bushy to tell him that he loved him more than life itself and called his wife once again and said to her that whatever happens that he will always be with her. That night he called 911, reportedly telling the operator his name and that he was going to kill himself.
Philip Taylor Kramer’s call to the police on Maxim read:
“I’m going to kill myself. And I want everyone to know O. J. Simpson is innocent. They did it.”
Apparently, the message he left with the police was about video evidence in which Taylor was hired to analyze the authenticity of a videotape that the FBI and the DEA had on the O.J. Simpson murder trial. That message was the last anybody ever heard from him again.
His disappearance became national news, leading to many news reports and talk show segments. He was even featured in an episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show, ‘America’s Most Wanted.’ However, nobody could find what happened to Kramer until his remains were found in his 1993 Ford Aerostar van four years later, which was spotted at the bottom of a Malibu ravine by hikers in a canyon about 1.5 miles east of the Pacific Coast Highway.
The authorities ruled his death as ‘probable suicide’ especially being aware of his call to the police before his disappearance. However, his family still doubted that Kramer had killed himself as he was a devoted husband and father and loved his life. To his family, his work and the highly confidential footage under his supervision had caused him to be the target of very powerful people.
Although Kramer’s body was found and the case was closed, there were still question marks for his family as they couldn’t wrap their heads around how a trip to the airport turned into his decision to kill himself. It’s a highly suspicious case with many loopholes and possible reasons and outcomes, but the only thing that is certain is that the former bassist had a tragic end to his life that impacted many along the way. Rest in peace, Philip Taylor Kramer.
