But neither video nor radio was responsible for the bands rapid ascent: it was their live performances, where Downies unusual charisma electrified everyone who piled into either biker bars or student pubs to see them. We reserve the right to close comments at any time. The interview with Patrick and MikeDowniefromThe National, CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices. Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted. The final concert was released on DVD under the title A National Celebration on December 24, 2017. Last year, he releaseda solo project, Secret Path, and announced the 23-track double-LP, Introduce Yerself last month. The band also earned 16 Juno Awards the most ever for a band and the fourth-most ever for an artist picking up their last two in April for Group of the Year and Rock Album of the Year for Man Machine Poem. The poet whose metaphors had inspired generations of rocknroll fans had nothing more to saywith words, anyway. [77], In August, Downie's Twitter account was reactivated, and began posting a series of teaser photographs of handwritten song lyrics, accompanied by numbers that appeared to be a calendar countdown to the date of October 15. The group also has a Canadian Music Hall of Fame induction, a Governor General's Performing Arts Award, an honorary fellowship with the Royal Conservatory of Music and a star on Canada's Walk of Fame. The Secret Path began as 10 poems that Gord Downie wrote as he grappled with Chanie's story. Just a few close friends on a starry night in front of a campfire. Gord Downie - Canadian History Ehx In 2008, Downie appeared as a guest vocalist on City and Colour's single "Sleeping Sickness". Downie was reluctant at first; he told the Toronto Star he felt like a dilettante. to catch the first shows of the tour, just in case he didnt make it home. This was all a red (and white) herring: There are likely as many American references as Canadian ones in Tragically Hip songs, and Downie never threw darts at a map of Canada for song ideas, nor did he seek to set Heritage Minutes to music. Gordon R Downie (1899-1943) - Find a Grave Memorial I don't pretend to understand it; it feels confusing and frightening and wonderful.". Gord Downie was a haunting presence around Toronto in 2017: singing Lost Together with Blue Rodeo at Massey Hall, taking in a PJ Harvey show, embracing Drake at a Raptors game, posing with Bobby Orr. On that summer night in Kingston, the set list dipped back to the Hips first hit single, Blow at High Dough, the one that opens with the line: They shot a movie once, in my hometown. His movie, our hometowns: Downies lyrics imbued Canadas music scene with mystery and magic and presented it, poetically, to a wide mainstream audience. When he first said they were going on tour, I said, Are you okay? Gord Downie | Obituary | Sharing Memories - Arbor Memorial [63] The Toronto Maple Leafs honoured Downie with a moment of silence before their game on October 18, during which the retired-jersey banner for Bill Barilko whom Downie had written about in the Tragically Hip song "Fifty Mission Cap" was lowered from the rafters of the Air Canada Centre. Everyone whose family has ever been cursed with cancer projected stories onto the tale of a man who chose to stare down a terminal diagnosis and take the show on the road. Then came Downie's diagnosis, which created a wave of nostalgia and celebration even as people prepared for his passing. [18] This marked his last public appearance before his death. I think that everyman quality matters.. Over the course of his career, Downie released three other musically adventurous solo albums, a collaboration with Toronto roots-rock band the Sadies, and a book of poetry. ", Mike says he hopes the film makes it clear that this idea, "meant a lot to this guy, he wasn't chasing causes around, this was really important. There can be a certain darkness in the lyrics, in some ways that reminded me of reading and listening to Leonard Cohen or Robertson Davies. He was the son of Lorna (Neal) and Edgar Charles Downie, a travelling salesman, later a real estate broker and developer. When he wasnt doing that, he directed his attention to environmental issues, specifically those endorsed by Lake Ontario Waterkeeper, a Canadian water charity run by an old Queens University classmate, Mark Mattson. Where some go to get lost. In his last year, while living with his own tragic story of terminal cancer, singer Gord Downie was consumed by another. Gord was the fourth of five children . David Lindley, Multi-Instrumentalist Who Shaped the Sound of Soft Rock, Dead at 78 Bellegarde also bestowed on Downie an honorary . That includes Downies specifically Canadian references, which were all but alien on radio playlists then (or now). Create the spark. [6] In high school, Downie was the frontman for a band called the Slinks performing at the KCVI Variety show and rivaling older members Rob Baker and Gord Sinclair's band the Rodents. They tapped into rocknrolls primal energy in ways that had been largely forgotten by the late 80s: they were a dressed-down, no-frills roadhouse bar band whose videos were rejected by MTV, a band whose sound was far removed from the eras pop stars, stadium rock, hair metal, aging Boomers, newer bluesy bandseven from alternative icons like R.E.M. He usually started with a "Hello," and often ended with a variation on "Good night, music lovers," but what would happen in between was anyone's guess. Comments are welcome while open. In losing Gord Downie, we lose the Tragically Hip, and so - The Star It was passed in December 2019, establishing the Poet Laureate of Ontario. Though he clearly relished his role on stage, Downies approach to celebrity was always tenuous. The Tragically Hip formed in 1983 at Queen's University, named after a sketch in former Monkees member Michael Nesmith's long-form music video "Elephant Parts," and were soon playing the Kingston bar scene. Youre family. And [doing it for] his own family as well, to put something in the coffers for his kids.. The concert was broadcast live and viewing parties were held across Canada. Aided by teleprompters showing the lyrics, Downie pranced about the stage with his signature theatrical dance moves, though less kinetically than in the past. Months of craniotomies, chemo and radiation therapy followed. Not surprisingly, Downie has cited all those as key influences, as well as David Byrne, Van Morrison and, yes, Jim Morrison; Downie sang a few Doors tunes . On the evening of October 17th, 2017, Downie passed away at the age of 53. The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time His death was announced on the Tragically Hip website, stating quote: Last night Gord quietly passed away with his beloved children and family close by. I know an 85-year-old with boy trouble. That included only three live shows, in Toronto, Ottawa and Halifax, and appearances at the Ottawa WE Day event and Haydens Dream Serenade concert in Toronto. Gord Downie is the late lead singer and songwriter of rock giants The Tragically Hip. [1][54][55] The surviving members of the Tragically Hip made the news of his death public the next morning, by sharing an official statement from his family on their website:[54]. "That there wasn't a whole country, you know, we hadn't figured out what that missing piece was. TV is the main source of information. The Tragically Hip was formed in 1984 and went on to become a decidedly Canadian success story. Tragically Hip front-man Gord Downie's brother Patrick on why he and his brother Mike are working so hard to preserve the singer's legacy. The Hip, as they're often called, won 16 Juno awards (the most of any band) and received a raft of other honours, including the Order of Canada. "It takes ahold of you. In the wake of his diagnosis, Gord only fought harder for what he believed in: social justice, environmentalism and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, he added. Tragically Hip lead singer Gord Downie performs with band members Paul Langlois, Gord Sinclair, Johnny Fay and Rob Baker at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre to kick off the bands latest Man Machine Poem tour in light of Downies brain cancer diagnosis, in Victoria, B.C., Canada July 22, 2016. He was the singer and lyricist for the Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip, which he fronted from its formation in 1984 until his death in 2017. What few knew in 2015, however, was that Downie and Usher had separated, promptingthe sale of the house. Throughout his career, Downie seemed unfiltered on stage. Gord Downie's Path to Reconciliation | The Walrus I think thats all part of what appeals to Canadian fans. [78] On September 21, it was confirmed that Away Is Mine, an album comprising the last songs Downie recorded in his lifetime, will be released on October 16. On October 13, 2016, Downie and his brother Mike, along with the Wenjack family, announced the founding of the Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack Fund to support reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. They're writing all the music and I'm writing all the lyrics and we're coming up with some neat stuff. Gord Downie, Soundtrack: Jumper. Wenjack was to 2016 what Syrian refugee Alan Kurdi was to 2015: a tragic symbol who launched a Canadian conversation about compassion and collective reckoning. The band never reached the same sales figures it did with its first four full-length albums, but continued to make music that was generally well-received by critics and selling at platinum or multi-platinum levels. The group gigged around Canada throughout the Eighties and eventually earned a record contract after then-MCA president Bruce Dickinson caught them live in Toronto. Gordon Edgar Downie (1964 - 2017) - Genealogy - geni family tree His family and managers said future releases are planned, including solo material and unreleased work with the Hip. [21] He was also a part of the Swim Drink Fish Music club, a project that unites artists and environmentalists in a music club to raise money for Waterkeeper organizations in Canada. Visitors walk the deserted streets of a town that once had a population between 7,000 and 8,000 people. 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. Though they were lumped together because of their work on Indigenous issuesMaracles work on which, of course, far outstretched Downies more recent foraymany wondered if the timing had more to do with health concerns. Those tender offerings touched his heart and he takes them with him now as he walks among the stars.. He met his future Tragically Hip bandmates while attending. Downie passed away on the night of Tuesday, Oct. 17, with his children and family by his side, according to a statement released by the band. Gord Downie, the Tragically Hip frontman who united a diverse array of music lovers with his commanding stage presence and Canadiana-laced lyrics, has died. Very quick question to anyone that might be able to answer it.. Do the work. The Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack Fund is a registered charity. Downie spent his final months speaking out in support of Indigenous people, declaring: "Canada is not Canada. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. Were still trying to figure out what makes us Canadian, and we have one of the loudest neighbors in the world, so this band helped a country, and Gord helped people lyrically, slowly start to try to define themselves.. In front of an intimate crowd of 6,700 inside Kingston's K-Rock Centre, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Downie thanked the audience "for keeping me pushing" and used the opportunity to call for action on Indigenous issues. Why a dying Gord Downie struggled to reveal 'The Secret Path' to Canadians | CBC News Loaded. Gord Downie, troubadour of Canada, charmed and challenged a nation After a long battle with cancer, the Tragically Hip frontman died among his family on Tuesday night. [9], Downie began pursuing a solo career with the release of Coke Machine Glow in 2001. Related [80] The album, to be titled Lustre Parfait, is slated for release in May 2023.[81]. At home, he worked just as tirelessly at being a good father, son, brother, husband and friend. Downies political awareness had been tweaked in 1993, when the Hip invited Midnight Oil on a summer Canadian tour; that bands singer, Peter Garrett, was an outspoken activist who would later serve as Australias environment minister. When you have five children, its hard to remember all the details, said Edgar. No one. [19], Downie was heavily involved in environmental movements, especially issues concerning water rights. Gord Downie's Family Plots Public Memorial | Exclaim! It's not easy and, what can you say, there's a lot of pain without really going back and digging it up.". He rarely granted interviews, and generally eschewed red-carpet jaunts for events like the Juno Awards. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [74], Arjun Sahgal, an oncologist with the Sunnybrook Hospital who had been involved in treating Downie after his cancer diagnosis, lauded Downie's strength and courage in continuing to tour, make music and use his fame to publicize both cancer awareness and indigenous reconciliation issues, and called Downie "a Terry Fox in the modern day".[75]. Days earlier, this quiet man had held much of the entire nation rapt, millions watching as he summoned all his strength to tackle his terminal condition, to fend backhowever brieflythe inevitability of death. How Gord Downie Said Goodbye in His Own Way - Newsweek Those were the private reasons. The Tragically Hip released their first EP in December 1987; a year after that, they headed down to Memphis to record 1989s Up to Herewhich would become one of two Hip albums to eventually sell more than a million copies in Canada. The Downie residence was the only one where the Hips gold record was nowhere to be seen; the elder Downies couldnt remember the name of his high-school punk band. Singer Gord Downie Of The Tragically Hip Dies At 53 : NPR 'Just seeing all those unguarded, real moments with Gord, that always just, that always gets me.'. The remains of Bodie are being preserved in a state of arrested decay. Our music is entirely different. Most artists will hear crowds singing the first verse and choruses of their most popular songs; Downie routinely had audiences singing every single line in his discography back to him, no matter how arcane or untethered the lyric was to rhyme or meter, songs full of what songwriter John K. Samson calls beautifully meaningful non-sequiturs., The Tragically Hip, photographed in New York in February 1992. It is a priority for CBC to create products that are accessible to all in Canada including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges. The last 150 years arent as much worth celebrating as we think, Downie said. Downie died on October 17, 2017 at the age of 53. Downies privacy was put to the test in 2015, when the Huffington Post ran a story about how his Toronto home had recently sold for under the asking priceunheard of in the citys real estate market. They were too traditional and aspirational to be punk or alternative, and yet they were raw enough that they immediately stood out on any mainstream radio playlist. It was viewed by an estimated 11.7 million people. Gords command of language was profound. What followed once the show hit the road, though, was a public outpouring that few could have predicted: a year of Downie transforming from an aging rock star to tragic hero. in which the Tragically Hip are shown as a local band practising in the main character's garage. It's not very pleasant, but don't look away,' you know? Roy Tee/Hollandse Hoogte/Redux Gord Downie, the lead singer for the beloved Canadian alt-rock. And their support hasn't gone. [16], Also in 2014 Downie appeared as a guest vocalist on "The Art of Patrons", a song from Fucked Up's album Glass Boys.[17]. To testify one more time. During their live shows, Downie would notably ad-lib lengthy stories in the middle of songs. The rest of the Tragically Hip were scions of the Kingston elitesons of doctors, deans, judges and popular teachers. He was the poet who once asked, When are you thinking of disappearing? "Then for him to say, 'Look at this, this is our country too. Downie was born Feb. 6, 1964, to parents Edgar Charles and Lorna Downie and grew up in Amherstview, Ont., just outside Kingston. or somewhat similarly minded mainstream artists like John Mellencamp. "That's kind of our job, to make sure that it's in place going forward, because I do think that he had an oversized impact on this country. Last night Gord quietly passed away with his beloved children and family close by. He also called Downie "the greatest frontman this country has ever produced.". All Rights reserved. [39] The album was accompanied by a graphic novel on which he collaborated with Jeff Lemire,[39] and an animated television film which aired on CBC Television. At the Assembly of First Nations in Gatineau, Quebec, on December6, 2016, National Chief Perry Bellegarde honoured Downie with an eagle feather, a symbol of the creator above, for his support of the Indigenous peoples of Canada. Gord Downie's not-so-Secret Path to truth and reconciliation Everything about itthe music, the film, the band, his performancemakes you want to pay attention By Michael Barclay October 22,. Gord Downie, the lead singer of the Tragically Hip, died Tuesday night surrounded by his loved ones. And Then There Was David Lindley, See the Beths Deliver Refreshing 'Expert in a Dying Field' Mini-Set on 'CBS Mornings', The YSL Case Is Stretching Fulton County's Justice System to Its Breaking Point, Trump Promises to Continue Presidential Campaign if Indicted, Then Delivers a Snoozy CPAC Speech, NBA 'Investigating,' Team Suspends Ja Morant After Allegedly Flashing Gun on Social Media. Where is Gordon Downie buried? - Quick-Advices He sang about Canada, but disavowed nationalism, his songs exploring heavy topics like David Milgaard's wrongful conviction (Wheat Kings) or Canada's treatment of First Nations (Now the Struggle Has a Name). Gordon Downie (known widely as Gord Downie) was born in Amherstview, Ontario, and raised in Kingston, Ontario, along with his brothers Mike and Patrick, and sisters Charlyn and Paula. [6] In 1986, Manning left the band as guitarist-vocalist Paul Langlois joined. 1. Garrett and his bandmates became invested in the fight against clearcutting in B.C.s Clayoquot Sound, and convinced the Hip to join them. Gord did not rest from working for the issues he cared about, and his commitment and passion will continue to motivate Canadians for years to come He will be sorely missed.. [34][35] Doctors at Toronto's Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre confirmed the same day that it was a glioblastoma, which had responded favourably to radiation and chemotherapy treatment but was not curable. Then he got up, silently, walked over to a pile of wood, picked up two logs, and returned to put them on the fire. At home, he worked just as tirelessly at being a good father, son, brother, husband and friend. [3] His first to hit number one was Introduce Yerself, shortly after his death. Some Canadians, being a cautious bunch, flew from Ontario to B.C. Canadians learned of Downie's illness on May 24 last year the same day the rest of the rock group,Paul Langlois, Rob Baker, Gord Sinclair and Johnny Fay,announced that the Kingston, Ont.-based band would head out on a final summer tour "for Gord, and for all of us.". Throughout the Nineties and into the Aughts, the Tragically Hip and Downie developed and expanded their sound. This was a man inviting us to his own wake. Kingston Transit buses displayed "GORD, WE'LL MISS YOU" on their electronic destination signs, alternately with the regular route number and name display. "The first time we heard him open his mouth, we just went, holy shit. The album was raw, experimental and far removed from the rock radio world the Hip inhabited: droning organs, atonal guitar screeches and accordions competed for sonic space with Downies vocals atop opiated folk-country songs. Downie was born on Feb. 6, 1964, in Amherstview, Ont., just slightly west of Kingston, to Lorna and Edgar, a travelling salesman turned real estate developer. Gord was the fourth of five children: older siblings Mike, Charlyn and Paula, and younger brother Patrick. Solo albums were a pressure-release valve for Downie during the early 2000s, as the Hip became elder statesmen in danger of being taken for granted. All the while, he was writing and recording: with the Hip, keyboardist Kevin Hearn, avant-garde noisemakers Dinner is Ruined, and separate projects with producers Kevin Drew and Bob Rock. Brad Wheeler tells his. No one. Gord said he had lived many lives. Another 11.7 million watched a CBC broadcast of the concert, with hundreds of viewing parties held in public parks, squares, movie theatres, bars and restaurants across Canada. Singer Gord Downie's Extraordinary Sense Of Purpose - Forbes The bands management broke the news just after the May long weekend in 2016, while simultaneously announcing a tour to promote the new album. " Rosa Hwang (@journorosa) October 18, 2017. Downie also appears in the Trailer Park Boys movie The Big Dirty, in which he and Alex Lifeson play a pair of police officers. Paused. However, the band never quite took. Gordon Edgar Downie CM (February 6, 1964 October 17, 2017) was a Canadian rock singer-songwriter, musician, writer and activist. Gordon Edgar Downie was born in Kingston on Feb. 6, 1964, and spent his formative years in nearby Amherstview. Kevin Light/Reuters, I would get very jumbled emails when he was in treatment, or texts at odd hours of the night, says one former musical colleague. Tragically Hip front-man Gord Downie's brother Patrick on why he and his brother Mike are working so hard to preserve the singer's legacy. The gig notably came together thanks to the efforts of fellow Kingston, Ontario native Dan Aykroyd, who introduced the group despite John Goodman hosting that nights show. During his final months, Downie chose to say goodbye in his own unique wayand he let fans bid the beloved band farewell, too. More recently, he and other members of the band appeared in the episode of Trailer Park Boys entitled "Say Goodnight to the Bad Guys", in which he is harassed while eating a bologna sandwich at a singles dance. As we move towards resolution and understanding and greater serenity in all aspects of our life, love's pretty elemental and that's nice to know. Gord was my friend, but Gord was everyone's friend, it's who we were, our buddy Gord, who loved this country with everything he had." "He loved every hidden corner, every story, every aspect of this country that he celebrated his whole life." "We are less as a country without Gord Downie in it." [51] They were not divorced at the time of Downie's death and had remained close friends. Thank you for all the help and support over the past two years. It wasnt until the 1991 release of the bands second album, Road Apples, that Downie seized the lyrical reins entirely.