'Country' Joe McDonald, '60s rock star and protest icon, dies at 84

The 'I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die Rag' singer was a key figure in the counterculture movement.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Country Joe McDonald, a prominent musician and counterculture figure of the 1960s, has died at the age of 84 from complications related to Parkinson's disease. McDonald was known for his band Country Joe and the Fish and his iconic anti-war song "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die Rag," which became an anthem for Vietnam War protesters and was a highlight of the Woodstock music festival.

Why it matters

McDonald was a central figure in the 1960s counterculture and anti-war movements, using his music to voice dissent against the Vietnam War. His most famous song, "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die Rag," became a rallying cry for the anti-war movement and cemented his legacy as a proud protest icon of the era.

The details

McDonald wrote or co-wrote hundreds of songs during his career, from psychedelic jams to soul-influenced rock. But he was best known for "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die Rag," which he completed in less than an hour in 1965 as President Lyndon Johnson was escalating U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. The song featured McDonald's deadpan, Woody Guthrie-inspired delivery and a chorus that concertgoers would learn by heart.

  • McDonald died on Sunday, March 8, 2026.
  • He completed "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die Rag" in 1965, the same year President Johnson began sending ground forces to Vietnam.

The players

Country Joe McDonald

A hippie rock star of the 1960s, known for his band Country Joe and the Fish and his iconic anti-war song "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die Rag."

Kathy McDonald

Country Joe McDonald's wife of 43 years, who reported his death.

Woody Guthrie

A folk singer who was a major influence on Country Joe McDonald's deadpan, talking blues style.

Lyndon Johnson

The U.S. president who began sending ground forces to Vietnam in 1965, the same year McDonald wrote "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die Rag."

Chris Strachwitz

The founder of Arhoolie Records, where McDonald recorded "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die Rag" in Berkeley.

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The takeaway

Country Joe McDonald's legacy as a proud protest counterculture icon of the 1960s will endure through his iconic anti-war anthem "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die Rag," which became a rallying cry for the anti-Vietnam War movement and cemented his place as a key figure in the era's counterculture.