Looking a Barry Melton’s accomplishments from an outsider’s perspective, two stand out. First, he recorded an album as a teenager that remained on Billboard charts for two years and — according to many — helped define counterculture ‘60s rock. Second, although he does not hold a college degree, Melton excelled in legal studies and was accepted by the California Bar. He served as a criminal defense lawyer in Mendocino and Yolo counties, reaching the position of Public Defender, before setting up practice in Lower Lake. Of course, much of America remembers Melton as a founder of and lead guitar player for Country Joe and The Fish, the band responsible for the most iconic anti-war song (the “I Feel Like I’m Fixin’ To Die Rag”) and Woodstock’s most rousing moment. His group, The Barry “The Fish” Melton Band, plays a concert tonight at the Soper Reese Theatre in Lakeport to benefit KPFZ community radio.
1. Would you hate me if I told you my favorite band in the mid-’60s was The Monkees?
No, I like the Monkees. In fact, I worked the ‘basket houses’ [where musicians passed the hat for contributions] in Greenwich Village as a kid and one of the guys working the basket houses was Peter Tork, who was also a folk singer. Mike Nesmith has done some fantastic productions. I went to high school with Mickey [Dolenz]. Those are a bunch of creative guys and they did some clever songs. Remember ‘Last Train to Clarksville’?
2. How often do people ask you about Woodstock?
You know, too often. And I can always tell when they didn’t go. They’ll say something like ‘wasn’t Woodstock great, man?’ Being there was an endurance test. It was tough.
3. Looking back, do you have a favorite moment?
No, no. I have many favorite moments. The day I met my wife.
4. So she reads this paper?
She does.
5. Is there someone you would’ve liked to play with — in any era?
Any era? I really would’ve liked to play with Chopin. He was the first rock star.
6. Why law?
I read a biography of Clarence Darrow that included transcripts of his trials. Of course it had the Scopes trial. His closing argument in Leopold and Loeb, where he railed against the death penalty — as soon as I finished reading I read Loeb’s autobiography.
7. So which is more terrifying, the stage or court?
Neither. I remember coping with stage fright as a teenager. But I remember the point where it no longer made a difference. After that, on stage was like home.
8. Do you realize how many famous names you can mention?
Famous names are only valuable as reference points in a conversation.
9. Why keep playing?
Because I’m stupid. I don’t know anything else to do. No, it’s because I love it. Music is a language, just like English. It grounds me. Spencer Dryden — he was a great drummer — he said to me look at it this way. Other old guys get together and play poker. Only one person wins. We get together on a Saturday night and play music. Everybody wins.
10. You picked Lake County because …
Because we have the best air. [Editor’s note: the interview took place when smoke draped the county]. Lake County for me is geographically an important mid-point in my life. We had worked in Mendocino County and worked in Yolo County. My wife and I were looking for a place we felt comfortable. It makes sense for us.
