Country Joe & The Fish

Biography

Country Joe and the Fish was an American psychedelic rock band formed in Berkeley, California, in 1965. The group was founded by vocalist and guitarist Country Joe McDonald and guitarist Barry 'The Fish' Melton, both of whom had backgrounds in folk music and were influenced by artists like Woody Guthrie. Initially performing as a folk duo, they soon expanded into a full rock band, embracing the burgeoning psychedelic scene in San Francisco. Their debut album, 'Electric Music for the Mind and Body' (1967), became a landmark of the psychedelic era, blending folk, blues, country, and rock with experimental sounds and politically charged lyrics. The band's music was notable for its satirical humor, social commentary, and association with the counterculture movement, particularly in opposition to the Vietnam War. They gained further fame for their performance at Woodstock in 1969, where Country Joe McDonald delivered the iconic 'Fish Cheer.' The band released several influential albums before disbanding in the early 1970s, though they reunited for occasional performances in later years. Their legacy endures as pioneers of psychedelic rock and as voices of the 1960s counterculture.

Fun Facts

• The band's name was inspired by a phrase from Chairman Mao's 'Little Red Book': 'The revolutionary is a fish that swims in the sea of the people.'
• Country Joe McDonald's 'Fish Cheer' at Woodstock in 1969 became one of the most iconic moments of the festival.
• Their debut album, 'Electric Music for the Mind and Body,' was recorded mostly live with only vocals overdubbed, a technique shared by other San Francisco bands of the era.
• LSD was legal in California when the band formed, and psychedelic drugs played a significant role in their music and performances.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Woody Guthrie - early musical influence on both McDonald and Melton (folk music recordings) [early 1960s]
• Bob Dylan - inspiration for going electric and adopting a rock style (Highway 61 Revisited) [mid-1960s]
• John Fahey - influence on instrumental composition (instrumental folk recordings) [mid-1960s]

Key Collaborators

• Barry 'The Fish' Melton - co-founder, lead guitarist, and vocalist (all Country Joe and the Fish albums) [1965–1970]
• David Bennett Cohen - keyboardist and organist (Electric Music for the Mind and Body, I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die) [1966–1969]
• Bruce Barthol - bassist (Electric Music for the Mind and Body, I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die) [1966–1969]
• John Francis-Gunning - drummer (early recordings and live performances) [1965–1967]

Artists Influenced

• Jefferson Airplane - shared psychedelic and countercultural ethos (live performances and collaborations) [1960s]
• Grateful Dead - shared psychedelic and countercultural ethos (live performances and collaborations) [1960s]
• Various psychedelic rock bands - pioneered psychedelic rock style and political lyrics (Electric Music for the Mind and Body) [1960s–present]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Flying High (Electric Music For The Mind And Body)
2. The Fish Cheer / I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-To Die Rag (I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die)
3. Bass Strings (Electric Music For The Mind And Body)
4. Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine (Electric Music For The Mind And Body)
5. Death Sound (Electric Music For The Mind And Body)
6. Rock And Soul Music/Love (The Life And Time Of Country Joe And The Fish From Haight-Ashbury To Woodstock)
7. Love (Electric Music For The Mind And Body)
8. Eastern Jam (I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die)
9. Porpoise Mouth (Electric Music For The Mind And Body)
10. Who Am I (I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia