Country Joe McDonald dies at 84newsline24

March 9 (UPI) — Country Joe McDonald, who formerly helmed Country Joe and the Fish, died Saturday. He was 84.

The band announced the music artist’s death in Berkeley, Calif. on Facebook Sunday. The cause was listed as Parkinson’s Disease complications.

“He was surrounded by his family, and the news has been confirmed by Best Classic Bands, as well as the McDonald family,” the post reads. “At this time, the McDonald family requests privacy during this very difficult period.”

McDonald’s psychedelic rock band took to the stage before some 400,000 during Woodstock, The New York Times reported, performing “I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-to-Die Rag,” which criticized the Vietnam War.

“I was inspired to write a folk song — about how soldiers have no choice in the matter but to follow orders — but with the irreverence of rock ‘n’ roll,” he previously said of “Fixin’-to-Die” in an interview with the outlet.

McDonald ultimately branched off on his own, launching his solo career with Thinking of Woodie Guthrie.

He shared that he was retired in 2019.

“I’ve been dabbling with being retired for a couple years, and now I’m just watching the grandkids, staying home and getting to know my neighbors,” he previously told Rolling Stone, per People.

In addition to his wife, Kathy, McDonald is survived by five children and four grandchildren.