Country Joe McDonald, Woodstock Protest Singer, Dies at 84

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Country Joe McDonald, the singer-songwriter whose Vietnam War protest song became a signature anthem of the 1960s counterculture, has died at the age of 84. McDonald, who helped form the band Country Joe and the Fish in Berkeley in 1965, was known for his politically charged folk-rock music that captured the anti-war sentiment of the era. His best-known song, "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die Rag," was famously performed by McDonald at the 1969 Woodstock festival, where he led the crowd in a call-and-response before launching into the anti-war anthem.

Why it matters

Country Joe McDonald was a prominent figure in the 1960s counterculture movement, using his music to voice opposition to the Vietnam War and challenge the political establishment. His performance of "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die Rag" at Woodstock became one of the defining moments of the iconic festival, cementing his legacy as a symbol of the anti-war movement.

The details

Born in 1942 in Washington, D.C., McDonald grew up in El Monte, California and served in the U.S. Navy before turning to music and political activism in the 1960s. He helped form the band Country Joe and the Fish in Berkeley, which became part of the emerging San Francisco psychedelic music scene. The band's politically charged folk-rock sound, with McDonald's sharply satirical lyrics, made them a fixture of the anti-war movement.

• Country Joe and the Fish formed the band in Berkeley in 1965.
• McDonald performed "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die Rag" at the 1969 Woodstock festival.
• McDonald died on Saturday, March 8, 2026, in Berkeley, California.