Country Joe McDonald, Anti-War Singer, Dies

Country Joe McDonald, the American folk and psychedelic rock musician known for his anti-Vietnam War anthem "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die Rag," died on Sunday in Berkeley, California, at the age of 84. His wife, Kathy McDonald, confirmed his death was due to complications from Parkinson's disease. McDonald gained prominence at the 1969 Woodstock festival, where his performance of the protest song became iconic.

Born in 1942, McDonald co-founded the band Country Joe and the Fish. He wrote "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die Rag" in 1965, the year the U.S. began deploying ground forces to Vietnam. The song, a satirical critique of the war, led to legal and professional repercussions, including a cancelled television appearance and an arrest for his use of an expletive-laden chant during performances. McDonald also testified in the "Chicago Eight" trial, explaining his song's message.

Despite being defined by his 1960s activism, McDonald continued to record and tour for decades, releasing numerous albums and protest songs, such as 1982's "Save the Whales." He also contributed to the construction of a Vietnam veterans memorial in Berkeley, reflecting a nuanced perspective on the conflict. McDonald was married four times and is survived by five children and four grandchildren.