The Tragically Hip’s Gord Downie has terminal brain cancer

The Tragically Hip have announced that lead singer Gord Downie has terminal brain cancer.

Perhaps no band of the past 20 years has been more beloved in Canada than The Tragically Hip. The band will have a complicated future after announcing that lead singer and lyricist Gord Downie has terminal brain cancer. On their website, the band announced that Downie was diagnosed back in December.

Despite Downie’s terminal brain cancer, The Tragically Hip don’t plan on breaking up yet. They are planning one more tour because they feel that’s what Downie would want.

From The Hip:

"What we in The Hip receive, each time we play together, is a connection; with each other; with music and it’s magic; and during the shows, a special connection with all of you, our incredible fans. So, we’re going to dig deep, and try to make this our best tour yet."

The Tragically Hip haven’t really caught on in the United States, but they are members of the Canada’s Walk of Fame and were inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame back in 2005.

They have also won 14 Juno Awards, which are given to Canadian music artists. It is not known if this will delay the release date for their newest album Man Machine Poem, which is scheduled to come out in June of 2016. They are perhaps most well known for their album Trouble at the Henhouse, which was released in 1996 and netted them a Juno Award for best album back in 1997. Their album Phantom Power, released in 1998, also netted them a Juno Award for best album. Downie has released three solo albums on his own.

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