Country Joe McDonald, voice of 1960s protest music, dies at 84
Country Joe McDonald, the 1960s hippie rock star and protest singer, has died at 84. Known for his anti-Vietnam War anthem I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die Rag, he became a defining voice of the era. His music and activism left a lasting mark on American culture.
Born in Washington, D.C., McDonald grew up in El Monte, California, the son of former Communists. By the mid-1960s, he had moved to Berkeley and co-founded the underground magazine Rag Baby. He also helped launch local acts like the Instant Action Jug Band and the Berkeley String Quartet.
In 1965, he formed Country Joe and the Fish with guitarist Barry 'The Fish' Melton. Their 1967 debut album, Electric Music for the Mind and Body, included the minor hit Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine. But it was I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die Rag—a satirical protest song—that cemented his fame, especially after its rousing performance at Woodstock in 1969.
Over the decades, McDonald released more than 30 solo albums, blending folk, rock, and country. He wrote or co-wrote hundreds of songs while staying active in the Bay Area music scene. His political focus shifted from anti-war protests to supporting Vietnam veterans and environmental causes, including whale protection.
Married four times, he had five children and four grandchildren. His career spanned from the psychedelic 1960s into the 2010s, making him one of the longest-running figures of the counterculture movement.
McDonald's death marks the end of an era for protest music and 1960s activism. His songs, particularly I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die Rag, remain tied to the anti-war movement and Woodstock's legacy. His decades of music and advocacy ensured his influence extended far beyond the 1960s.
