![]() They became “the unofficial house band” at local radio station The Q, which first went to air in 1987, the same year the Tragically Hip released its debut E.P. The band has always done well in Victoria, one of the first cities outside of its hometown to fully embrace the group during its early days. Fittingly, but not surprisingly, it drew the largest attendance in the history of the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre. The group kicked off its farewell tour of the country in Victoria on July 22, 2016. “They always left me wanting to come back for more.” “I wanted to have as many different experiences with them as I could,” he said. Morgan Brooker of Victoria saw the band perform 46 times, including one of the two Vancouver stops on its final tour. It was rumoured that another tour was in the works, with a date pencilled in for Victoria. He recorded and released a solo record, Secret Path, one year ago and has another solo record due for release Oct. He received his cancer diagnosis in December 2015, but chose not to reveal it publicly until five months later. Nothing about the final months of Downie’s life felt rushed. Downie leaves behind his wife, Laura Leigh Usher, and four children. 20, 2016, that these same five friends played their final show. After moving to Kingston as child, he met future bandmates Johnny Fay, Robbie Baker, Gord Sinclair and Paul Langlois. Perhaps the cruelest twist of all was that treatment of his cancer, glioblastoma, damaged the area of the brain responsible for memory, forcing him to use teleprompters during the band’s farewell tour.ĭownie was born Feb. People travelled to and from Victoria to see the group perform if you were a fan of the band, you were a fan of the band for life.ĭownie became notorious for his off-the-cuff rants and theatrical asides. At first, Hip shows were simply tour stops on a concert calendar.īut over time, they became unofficial family reunions. Over the course of a 30-year career, the Hip and Downie forged deep relationships with cities across the country, with the band eventually making its way onto a Canada Post stamp. ![]() “What an extraordinary life that was lived by an extraordinary Canadian,” Premier John Horgan told reporters Wednesday, echoing the tearful sentiments of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. “This idea that we would be able to take our music and emblazon it on our shield, swords held high, and go out into the world is absurd,” Downie told me during a 2003 interview, but he endured. It was his dying wish to reconcile our country’s dark past with what he hoped would become its bright future, and he did so while knowing he could die at any moment.įor many, that was simply Gord, a caring individual whose songs about Canadian figures - from former hockey player Bill Barilko to the wrongly imprisoned David Milgaard - brought together listeners of all ages and backgrounds.įame didn’t suit Downie. He was one of the good guys, a patriot who, in recent months, dedicated his time to addressing Indigenous issues in Canada. The passing of the Tragically Hip frontman leaves a Great Lakes-sized hole in the Canadian landscape, artistic and otherwise. But that doesn’t make the death of Gord Downie, at age 53 from brain cancer, any easier to digest. The country feels gutted right now.It was a day we all knew would come. ![]() I walk around in silent conversation with my latest unfinished songs.”- Gord Downie, 2009. Few Canadians touched this country like Gord Downie. The sign will be dimmed tonight at 11 p.m. I’ve asked that the Toronto sign be lit in red & white today to honour Gord Downie. On behalf of the people of Toronto, I extend my heartfelt condolences to Gord Downie’s family, his Tragically Hip bandmates and his millions of fans. ![]() His diagnosis was heartbreaking but he faced illness with courage and a commitment to continue doing what he loved. His music is an essential part of the soundtrack of Canada. Gord Downie was an inspiration to us all. You music spun in every locker room I’ve ever entered, and gave pride to every Canadian I’ve ever encountered. Rest in peace my friend.Ĭanada’s identity & culture are richer for Gord Downie’s work. There will never be another one like you, Gord. See some of Canada’s best tell Gord goodbye on Twitter below. There will be a film about the band’s last concert titled Long Time Running that will start streaming on Nov. Following that, the band embarked on a farewell tour with 15 shows across Canada to say goodbye. Gord Downie, Frontman of The Tragically Hip, Dies at 53 After Battle with Brain Cancerĭownie had been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, glioblastoma, in May 2016. ![]()
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