Gord Downey

[Dave the Brave]

Sadly released news that Gord Downey of The Tragically Hip has terminal brain cancer.

I'm sure all prayers and good vibes will be appreciated.
One of Canada's best bands of the last 3 decades.

Super nice and self effacing fellow.

DtB

[zravkapt]

I just read about this. Awful news. People outside Canada have no clue how popular the Hip are in Canada.

[Yves]

Was just coming here to share the bad news.... 52 years old... Excuse the bad pun but it's tragic....

[mozo-pg]

I just watched the national news in Canada and they confirmed Gord's disease is terminal. Still, he plans on touring with the Tragically Hip. Unreal.

[mozo-pg]

[SteveSly]

Wow, bummer. I never got into Tragically Hip much until I saw them live opening for Eric Johnson many years ago. Gord was one of the most interesting front men I have ever witnessed and I became a convert to the band. They have always had a pretty strong following here in Michigan which is not unusual for Canadian bands since we are right across the border. Anyway…..this is very sad news.

[mozo-pg]

Wow, bummer. I never got into Tragically Hip much until I saw them live opening for Eric Johnson many years ago. Gord was one of the most interesting front men I have ever witnessed and I became a convert to the band. They have always had a pretty strong following here in Michigan which is not unusual for Canadian bands since we are right across the border. Anyway…..this is very sad news.

I still can't believe it's terminal - such a young age. Glad you like the TH's music.

[jlneudorf]

Huge shock when I read this. Tragic...

[Progatron]

The final Tragically Hip show happens tonight in their hometown of Kingston, Ontario, and is being broadcast on CBC as well as at various places all over Canada (for example, there's a huge gathering at the waterfront here in Burlington where it is being shown).

Sad day!

[Brave73]

Fantastic concert!! Fitting end to this wonderful Canadian band!

[mozo-pg]

Words fail...what a night.

[Progatron]

Farewell Tragically Hip... long may you be remembered.

[Brave73]

[Brave73]

From the 3rd and final encore last night.

[Mike D]

That was a great show.

I didn't like the Hip when I first heard them, but over the years I warmed up to them as I heard more of their stuff. They became more diverse in their writing over time, but they managed to keep an essential element of being Canadian in their music. Hard to define what that is, exactly, but it's there.

Downie's lyrics and delivery are strange, beautiful and extremely powerful.

[rcarlberg]

they managed to keep an essential element of being Canadian in their music. Hard to define what that is, exactly, but it's there.

Eh?

[Progatron]

they managed to keep an essential element of being Canadian in their music. Hard to define what that is, exactly, but it's there.

Agreed. And there was never anything saccharine about the lyrics. It was never blind patriotism or a smug sense of preeminence. It was simply... Canadian.

As time passes since that Saturday night 'farewell' concert, I realize more and more that what we were witnessing was a powerful and compelling chapter in Canadian music history. I will miss The Tragically Hip. More importantly, I will miss living in a time when life was a little more fair to Gord Downie.

[SteveSly]

I didn't like the Hip when I first heard them, but over the years I warmed up to them as I heard more of their stuff. They became more diverse in their writing over time, but they managed to keep an essential element of being Canadian in their music. Hard to define what that is, exactly, but it's there.
.

I was the same way. I had a friend who was really into them and kept lending me their albums, but nothing was clicking with me. Then I got to see them live as an opening act for Eric Johnson and they blew me away. I finally “got it” and have been a fan ever since. Yea, Gord is one of the most unique front men I have ever seen.