Sad news in the music world today.
Country Joe McDonald died. He was 84 years old.
His real name was Joseph Allen McDonald, although he was better known by his stage name of "Country Joe."
The most famous, even iconic moment that he had, a moment which lives on still today, came at Woodstock back in the summer of 1969.
Here was a little snippet from the MSN article by Carson Holaday, in which he described it:
McDonald, who was known for fronting the sixties group Country Joe and the Fish, famously led the crowd at the 1969 Woodstock festival in the anti-Vietnam War protest anthem “I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-to-Die Rag.” The solo performance included the “Fish Cheer,” a call-and-response to “Gimme an F” that prompted the audience to spell out “f***.”
Yup. That's what I remember him best for.
Of course, the first time I heard that, it was during childhood. So naturally I found it appealing and enormously funny.
Over the years, however, my understanding of Woodstock and what it meant, and how it challenged societal standards and, in particular, the Vietnam War, it felt like it took on very different connotations.
I had tried to see as many of the original Woodstock artists as possible. However, I never did see Country Joe live, although I had checked fairly regularly. But he seemed to have retired from performing live shows years ago. That said, he was supposed to be at the Woodstock 50 show, although that turned out to be a disaster and was canceled weeks before it was supposed to take place, after numerous artists pulled out. Country Joe was one of the biggest names to pull out relatively early.
Anyway, a large part of our memories of Woodstock died today.
Rest In Peace, Country Joe.
Country Joe McDonald dies at 80 Story by Carsen Holaday • 10h
https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/country-joe-mcdonald-dies-at-80/ar-AA1XMbz7?ocid=socialshare&fbclid=IwY2xjawQbHXtleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEedocD13BIdFUNgBVbcJ6RUlFiIr2B9b6XNkUJLS27JxlkCrTwd8RG-YkGeAk_aem_luRqq2uvOkUXHyaiQlvwsA
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