#1 Posted on 18.10.17 1045.15 Reposted on: 18.10.24 1045.18
Originally posted by thehip.comOctober 18, 2017
Last night Gord quietly passed away with his beloved children and family close by.
Gord knew this day was coming – his response was to spend this precious time as he always had – making music, making memories and expressing deep gratitude to his family and friends for a life well lived, often sealing it with a kiss… on the lips.
Gord said he had lived many lives. As a musician, he lived “the life” for over 30 years, lucky to do most of it with his high school buddies. At home, he worked just as tirelessly at being a good father, son, brother, husband and friend. No one worked harder on every part of their life than Gord. No one.
We would like to thank all the kind folks at KGH and Sunnybrook, Gord’s bandmates, management team, friends and fans. Thank you for all the help and support over the past two years.
Thank you everyone for all the respect, admiration and love you have given Gord throughout the years – those tender offerings touched his heart and he takes them with him now as he walks among the stars.
Love you forever Gord.
The Downie Family
We all knew it was coming but this one still really stings.
Downie was basically a national treasure. It's pretty much a national day of mourning in Canada. I can't think of an American equivalent where you have a band who's so loved and also so tied into the national identity. Nearly half the country tuned into their farewell concert last August, and the Prime Minister was crying as he gave a statement about Downie's passing this morning, saying "we are less as a country without Gord Downie in it."
Not only did the Hip go on a final tour after announcing the terminal cancer diagnosis, but Downie spent the last year and a half recording at least two more albums and advocating for Indigenous rights and reconciliation. He knew his time had been cut short and made the most of it.
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#2 Posted on 18.10.17 1129.22 Reposted on: 18.10.24 1129.26
Sorry to hear that. One of those scenarios where, in their prime, I never heard of them and only became aware after the fact. Great musician either way.
#4 Posted on 18.10.17 1512.44 Reposted on: 18.10.24 1513.19
Originally posted by The GoonVery sad day today. I thought getting the news of his cancer last year would make today easier, but that's not so.
Absolutely this. In fact, when Chris Cornell died, I was telling someone about how it hit me harder than Downie was going to because I had already mourned Gord. Turns out that was NOT correct; his death has really hit me hard.
#7 Posted on 29.10.17 1416.16 Reposted on: 29.10.24 1418.41
I live in Connecticut now, but the first 22 years of my life were in Ohio right across lake Erie. Most of my formidable years were spent desperately trying to tune in 89X (Windsor/Detroit!) or FM96 (London's best rock!) and lamenting that the all the cool bands never made it across the lake. I only got to see the Tragically Hip in concert once, and it was the craziest, rowdiest concert I have ever been to. I've seen many a punk and metal show, but no crowd was more intense than the drunken Canadians that showed up in Cleveland for these gentle alterna-rockers. It was also in The Odeon, a now closed dive in Cleveland that was LITERALLY just a hole in the ground with a roof over it. The Hip had their full laser-light show that I'm sure looks great in their usual arena setting, but in this little pit it blinded. My boyfriend was kicked in the head and rendered sightless and we had to leave before the encore. Good times. The Tragically Hip take me back to a more innocent time, and I feel like a piece of my childhood died too.
My favorite 8 songs because 7 was too hard: Nautical Disaster Grace, Too Music@Work Courage Silver Jet Fully Completely New Orleans is Sinking Ahead by a Century
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#8 Posted on 29.10.17 1719.08 Reposted on: 29.10.24 1719.09
Originally posted by Toast JrIt was also in The Odeon, a now closed dive in Cleveland that was LITERALLY just a hole in the ground with a roof over it.
#9 Posted on 2.11.17 1623.52 Reposted on: 2.11.24 1624.10
Originally posted by Toast JrI've seen many a punk and metal show, but no crowd was more intense than the drunken Canadians that showed up in Cleveland for these gentle alterna-rockers.
I saw the Hip on their farewell tour last year, but that was the first time I'd seen them in 17 years. The audience that goes to Hip shows was a big part of why I stayed away for so long. So many drunken idiots being shitty to the opening bands and to any women who dared to show up. Quite antithetical to what the Hip is about.
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