Country Joe McDonald, the singer-songwriter best known for his influential Vietnam War protest song "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die Rag," has died at the age of 84.
According to a statement shared on the band's official social media page, the Country Joe and the Fish frontman passed away on March 7, 2026, in Berkeley, California, following complications from Parkinson's disease. He was reportedly surrounded by family at the time of his death.
Born Joseph Allen McDonald on January 1, 1942, in Washington, D.C., McDonald grew up in California and later served in the U.S. Navy before pursuing a career in music. In 1965, he co-founded the psychedelic folk-rock group Country Joe and the Fish with guitarist Barry "The Fish" Melton during the height of the San Francisco counterculture movement.
McDonald became widely known for writing "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die Rag," a darkly humorous protest song that criticized the Vietnam War. The track became one of the most recognizable anti-war songs of the era and helped define the voice of a generation questioning the conflict.
One of his most memorable performances came at the 1969 Woodstock Festival, where he led the massive crowd in the famous "Fish Cheer" before performing the protest anthem. The moment became one of the most talked-about scenes in the historic music festival and was later featured in the Woodstock documentary.
Beyond his work with the band, McDonald continued recording and performing for decades, releasing dozens of albums throughout a career that spanned more than 50 years. He also remained active in causes supporting Vietnam War veterans and environmental issues.
McDonald is survived by his wife, Kathy, and five children.
