Overview
- The band announced he died on March 7 in Berkeley at age 84 and said he was surrounded by family.
- He became a symbol of the anti–Vietnam War movement through “I‑Feel‑Like‑I’m‑Fixin’‑to‑Die Rag” and a solo Woodstock set featuring the crowd’s “Fish Cheer.”
- McDonald co‑founded Country Joe and the Fish in Berkeley in 1965 with guitarist Barry “The Fish” Melton, shaping the Bay Area’s psychedelic scene.
- Across five decades, he released more than 30 solo albums and intertwined music with activism, including sustained support for Vietnam veterans and environmental causes.
- His family requested privacy following his death, and no public memorial plans have been announced.