Remembering Country Joe McDonald

January 1, 1942-March 7, 2026

I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Country Joe yesterday.

Of all the bands that I saw and photographed growing up in the '60's, the one I saw most were Country Joe and the Fish.

Country Joe was the ultimate anti-war rock musician, and a big hit of his was the "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin’-To-Die Rag" (Give me an F, Give me an I, Give me an S, Give me an H. What's that spell Fish, what's that spell Fish, what's that spell FISH"...sometimes U-C-K were inserted in place of the I-S-H)

This song, included in the film Woodstock, helped launch the Fish upward and onward.

The first time I saw them was at the Fillmore East on May 25, 1968. They were headlining for the comedian Pigmeat Markam ("Here Comes the Judge") and Blue Cheer. I had just bought Blue Cheers new LP and wanted to see them, but it was Counry Joe and the Fish that really blew me away that night. At one point they played a baseball game on stage with their instruments, the batter using his guitar for the bat.

The first photograph I ever had published was of Country Joe singing on stage at that Fillmore concert. It was in a small paperback book titled "The World of Rock" and my photo credit appeared on the credit page right next to Linda Eastman, Paul McCartney's wife, which I was very proud of. If I remember correctly I was paid $5 for the use of that photo.

I rediscovered Country Joe years later when I picked up (used and for a dollar) his solo LP "Vietnam Experience", all the songs having to do with the Vietnam war. It's a truly great LP.

Country Joe McDonald....Rest in Peace.

All photos taken by Joshua Touster May 25, 1968