Mayor John Tory declared it Tragically Hip Day in Canada’s largest city, Toronto, today. This is the first night of a three-concert stint for the band.
Originally from Kingston, Ontario, The Tragically Hip has a fierce and affectionate following across Canada, built up over thirty years and 16 albums. And this tour, in support of their most recent album, Man Machine Poem, will probably be the last for the five members together.
Lead singer and songwriter, Gord Downie revealed he is suffering from a terminal form of brain cancer and fans have been flocking to the shows for their last time with the group that became known as “Canada’s band”. Guitarists Paul Langlois and Rob Baker, bassist Gord Sinclair and drummer Johnny Fay are the other members the band.
The Tragically Hip play tonight, Friday night and Sunday night at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre. The band will play Hamilton, Ontario next week, followed by the country’s capital, Ottawa, and then the final show on August 20th, in Kingston, Ontario.
When the shows sold out so quickly, denying many fans the opportunity to see ‘the Hip’ one more time, the national broadcaster stepped in and organized, “The Tragically Hip, a National Celebration”. Now the final show will be broadcast on both CBC and Radio-Canada on television, radio and the internet.
There are reports of many ‘Hip parties’ and barbecues and picnics being arranged across the country, to take in the show next Saturday night.
Every day in Canada, 27 people are diagnosed with brain cancer, according to Gord Downie’s doctor, neuro-oncologist, Dr. James Perry.
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