Country Joe McDonald, Woodstock Protest Singer, Dies at 84
Country Joe McDonald, the iconic Woodstock performer and frontman of the psychedelic band Country Joe and the Fish, passed away at 84. He died on March 7 in Berkeley, California, due to complications from Parkinson's disease, as confirmed by his family and band.
Widely seen as a defining voice of 1960s counterculture, McDonald blended folk, rock, and sharp political commentary in his music. He co-founded the band in Berkeley during the mid-1960s, and they became central to San Francisco's psychedelic scene. His most famous song, "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die Rag," served as a satirical anti-Vietnam War anthem. Its memorable performance at Woodstock in 1969âincluding a provocative crowd chantâcemented his legacy, though he later noted the radio bans it caused.
After the band disbanded, McDonald continued touring and recording as a solo artist, consistently addressing social and environmental issues. In recent years, he had stepped back from public life to focus on family. He is survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren.
In lieu of a public service, his family suggests donations to Swords to Ploughshares or the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
