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This morning The Tragically Hip announced that front-man Gord Downie has a terminal brain tumor.
The Hip made the announcement on the band’s official website this morning, and at the same time announced plans for one last Canadian tour
With iconic songs like “Courage” and “Ahead by a Century” The Tragically Hip has become one of the most popular Canadian rock bands of all time.
The band received the horrible news last December after lead singer Gord Downie suffered a seizure while walking on the sidewalk in Kingston.
“He has one of the most aggressive forms of brain cancer called gliobastoma” said Dr. James Perry.
This morning at Sunnybrook Hospital, Downie’s doctor detailed the six weeks of radiation treatment and chemotherapy the singer has already undergone.
“A type of GBM that is more amenable to treatment than most.”
Neurosurgeon James Perry has been working with Gord Downie to get him physically able to go on tour.
“You can imagine the unique position I was in giving advice to one of the most iconic individuals in the country, in a task such as a tour across the country.”
The band will hit the road this summer for one last cross country tour.
“This is what these guys do, when this all started it was a goal, the band has a new record that they’re proud of.” said Patrick Sambrook, The Tragically Hip manager.
“I think it’s appropriate, honestly awesome for everyone involved to give and receive what happens when this band plays live and what they mean to the people, and what the people mean to them.” said Bernie Breen, The Tragically Hip manager.
Two years ago Gord Downie played at the Burlington Sound of Music. Knowing this will be the last tour for The Tragically Hip will be hard for their fans to take.
“They’re a fantastic group, people love them. They stretch such a long decades of music all ages of rockers that love them.” said Dave Miller.
Hamilton rockers the Arkells tweeted out their reaction to the news this morning, saying “gutted…love you Gord.”
Downie’s doctor wouldn’t predict how much longer the singer has to live, but was pleased with how the tumor has responded to treatment. The details of the tour will be released tomorrow morning on Live Nation.
And millions of fans are hurting after hearing the news of Gordon Downie’s terminal illness, but maybe none as much as Trent Richer.
For the past 20 years, he’s been travelling around the country covering his favourite Hip songs with his cover band The Practically Hip.
As one of the bands biggest fans, he took the news of Downie’s illness pretty hard.
“You don’t even know how to react.”
Trent has had the privilege of meeting Gord on more than one occasion and he says as down to earth and nice as people say he is, well it’s all true.
“Gord came down the hallway and remembered my name and I just thought, he meets thousands of people and he remembered me..”
Trent isn’t the only one who is deeply saddened to hear the news about Downie’s cancer.
The Tragically Hip fans are so passionate and so dedicated that when the band released a red wine two years ago it flew off the shelves at Stoney Ridge winery in Vineland. Since then, they’ve released a second wine, a chardonnay labeled “Ahead by a Century.” Both seem to be very popular.
In fact, when news got out about Gordon’s illness, the winery saw an influx of people coming in to grab a bottle.
It hasn’t been just Canadians trying hard to get their hands on the wine either. The winery says it’s had requests from countries all around the world.
