Gord Downie dies at 53

Gord Downie, the legendary front man of the Canadian rock band the Tragically Hip, has died at the age of 53.

In a statement posted online, the band confirmed that Downie died on Tuesday night, “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,” the statement said.

The beloved Canadian musician was diagnosed with a terminal form of brain cancer in May, 2016.

The Tragically Hip never achieved the popularity south of the border that they could have, but some of their hits did cross over and may be familiar. In Canada he was probably the best-known currently-performing rock musician (OK, perhaps tied with Geddy Lee of Rush.) Gord also in his last days and by his own initiative produced the album/graphic novel/animated film The Secret Path to document the abuses of First Nations people in Canadian residential schools.

A sad but unfortunately not unexpected loss given his recent diagnosis. Rest easy, Gord, and thank you for all the music we grew up to.

Some of his best with the Tragically Hip:

New Orleans is Sinking (my personal favorite... only gained in popularity after being banned from radio airplay after hurricane Katrina)

38 Years Old

Ahead By a Century

Blow at High Dough

Boots or Hearts

Little Bones

Locked in the Trunk of a Car

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Back in the late 20th century, when I was working at AAA, I was at a conference with some Campana software engineers from Canada and they made me a CD of some live Hip. That was my first and only knowledge of the band.

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The mind is a weird and mysterious place

R.I.P.

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