Country Joe and the Fish
Country Joe & The Fish was widely known for its protest songs against the Vietnam War and is regarded as a major influence in psychedelic rock. The band was formed in 1965 by Barry “The Fish” Melton and “Country Joe” McDonald. By 1967, several other members had been added, but this lineup would change several times over the years. By late 1968, the band had released three albums—all of which made the charts—and it was a regular performer at The Fillmore Auditorium and Avalon Ballroom, as well as other Bay Area venues. Country Joe gained national notoriety after performing at the Woodstock Festival in August 1969, where the ending song was I Feel Like I’m Fixin’ to Die Rag, followed by the now infamous Fish cheer. Over his 40-plus years career, McDonald has recorded 33 albums and written hundreds of songs. He continues to perform today. Melton studied law while on the road and was admitted to the California Bar Association in 1982. In 2009, Melton retired as Public Defender of Yolo County, California.
