Gord Downie, Tragically Hip singer, has terminal cancer

[Saviolo]

From the CBC Article:

Gord Downie, the lead singer and lyricist of the iconic Canadian rock band the Tragically Hip, announced this morning he has terminal brain cancer, but still plans to join his bandmates of more than 30 years for a summer tour.

The band posted the news of Downie's illness on its website this morning and their band manager will release more details at a press conference at Sunnybrook Hospital at 11 a.m.

Despite the diagnosis, The Hip announced it will "dig deep" and hit the road together this summer. The details of that tour should be released later this week, according to the band.

"This feels like the right thing to do now, for Gord, and for all of us," group members said in their statement. "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."

The Tragically Hip's frontman has long established himself as one of the country's greatest songwriters, his lyrics giving a voice to Canada's land, its history and, at times, its official winter sport.

Full article here: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/gord-downie-cancer-1.3596839

The Tragically Hip has been part of the Canadian landscape for so long. They were a really integral part of my musical upbringing in the 90's. I was first really introduced to them with Fully Completely, and then I back-bought all the way back to the self-titled album. Day for Night probably remains my favourite album, and Grace, Too always catches me. I've seen them live a handful of times, including the original Another Roadside Attraction tour when it came through Ottawa. They were playing with Hothouse Flowers, Crash Vegas, Daniel Lanois, and Midnight Oil.

They were always like the biggest bar band in Canada. The one that everyone knew, and could sing along with. So many stories in Gord's lyrics. Nothing evokes a dive bar in a small working-class town that on the outs like "Trickle Down." They wrote a song about a hockey player that had been dead for 40 years and made it a huge hit.

Canada will be a little emptier without The Hip in it.

If I die of vanity, promise me
Promise me if they bury me someplace I don't wanna be
You'll dig me up and transport me
Unceremoniously away from
The swollen city breeze
Garbage bag trees
Whispers of disease and
Acts of enormity
And lower me slowly and sadly and properly
Get Ry Cooder to sing my Eulogy!

-from "At The Hundredth Meridian" from Fully Completely

(edited to include link to the CBC article)