Bruce Barthol obit

Bruce Barthol, Country Joe & the Fish Bassist, Dies at 75

 

He was not on the list.

Bruce Barthol, the original bassist for the Bay Area psychedelic-folk-rock band Country Joe and the Fish, died yesterday (Feb. 20, 2023). Barthol, who played on the group’s first three albums, was 75. No cause or place of death has yet been reported.

Barthol, who was born on November 11, 1947, in Berkeley, Calif.  Barry Melton, the group’s lead guitarist, posted on his Facebook page: “Oh … this is so difficult … saw him on Valentines Day & thought he had much longer … he was such a wonderful person … we were in high school together, and we met each other even before that … did I mention he played bass in one of the earliest electric versions of Country Joe and the Fish?…”

Country Joe and the Fish were founded in 1965 by singer-songwriter “Country” Joe McDonald and Melton. Many of their songs focused on political and social issues of the day, and were first released on two EPs, Talking Issue #1: Songs of Opposition (Rag Baby, 1965) and Country Joe and the Fish (Rag Baby, 1966). With the addition of keyboardist/guitarist David Cohen, drummer Gary “Chicken” Hirsh and Barthol on bass, the group gained popularity on the local circuit, performing at San Francisco venues such as the Fillmore Auditorium and the Avalon Ballroom, as well as outside of the Bay Area.