Gord Downie has died at the age of 53. In this 2012 interview, The Tragically Hip singer talks about his wife's battle with breast cancer and how it shaped the band's album "Now for Plan A."
I was on my way from Washington to Alaska and had stopped to eat at a pub, All the TV's were tuned in to the final concert with everyone watching intently. I was thinking it a bit strange that one of them wasn't tuned to the olympics, or the UFC fight. When I asked who the band was the patrons around me were astonished. I have been obsessed since Saturday with finding out as much as I can, How could The Hip of stayed off my radar for 3 decades? I was a chance spectator for this iconic event and feel blessed to have witnessed a piece of it. What a brave performance, what an infectious personality, Canadians you have been blessed for decades..
So here is this guy who just so happens to be the front man for a most amazing band. He helps his wife through her cancer..the words of his songs have resonated with me..especially "Courage". This song was a cornerstone of my relationship with my husband who just so happens to be Canadian and who battled cancer and sadly, lost. Now we have this man, this voice (which I love) and his own battle with this dreaded disease that never discriminates - I pray that he beats it... either way thank you Gord Downie and your entire band for your songs, your words. They continue to lift me up and put a smile on my face.
Please be kind to yourself Gord. Thank you for your music. Am feeling grief. We all die but delay it as much as you can. World is better when you are singing.
I only hope that this summer's tour is what he wants and what his family wants. He's given the fans more then enough already. True story: Hip fans care more about him than themselves.
The news today hurts a lot. Your legacy will always be remembered and millions of Canadians will cherish you the rest of their lives. You're a Canadian rock legend and you're lyrics have helped many; myself included, through a lot of dark and hard times throughout our lives. I can't wait to see you one last time. Not to say goodbye but see you later. Thank you Gord. Thank you for countless great years. "There's no simple explanation. For anything important any of us do." #Courage It couldn't come at a worse time...
Let's celebrate. It’s time to be grateful. It’s a time to remember all the fun, excitement and madness. It is time for Canadians to not only raise a glass but to raise the bar as Gord and The Tragically Hip have done and have inspired us to do. It’s time to listen to the music and the interviews and the words. It is time, once again, to listen to our 'poet laureate'. Together, let's rage against the dying of the light. As Gord said in Now for Plan A, 'Come on Honey, just give me that look ahead.'
Heartbreaking.... Just f'ing.....heartbreaking. I feel for him and his family. To go through what he did with his wife, and now with Gord facing this brutal pale truth himself. I wish everyone in Canada could shave a day off their mortality and give it to him, to even begin to pay him back for everything he's given us. At any rate, I just wanted to comment.
I think those of us who partied to Gord and the Hip's music and have seen them live over the years have shaved more than a day off of our mortality in appreciation of the music, the mood, the moment. Life is.
To my Canidan cousins from Canadia, My condolances you've lost a great one there. What a Writer he was. Goes where no ones been before. From Downunder.. R.I.P. Gord.
I have two good friends, who are a married couple with two kids, and they both found out within a week of each other that they had cancer. What can you say? They both battled surgeries, treatments, dealing with terrified kids. It's been about 7 years since they got the all-clear. I wish so much, that this was the case with Gord and his wife.
I am filled with unbelievable sadness for this man, a man I have never met, a man ive seen in concert once. I think that last part "everything is going to be all right" even thought it is a cliché, it just still hurts
who were the 10 people who disliked this video? Wendy is a Gem... such a compassionate interviewer that asks big questions without threatening the subject. Her question about being the husband of a cancer fighter was huge!
totally agree, love Wendy mesley... she can be very sensitive thoughtful interviewer... but she can also pull out the gloves and get tough when her (more dubious) subjects are screwing her around....ie investigative reporting.
Just finished watching the Kingston concert - Un - fing - believable! The whole band gave everything they had! Some of those songs brought back awesome memories, when music was music, not the garbage they put out now. Gordy was amazing!
although you're not wrong about there being good music your comment irks me good sir. And there is a lot of garbage music now more so than ever. Mainstream used to be a lot better than mainstream today. And instead of being a douche bag why don't you suggest some good bands!
Michael MacDonald I apologize for the douchey remark. I guess all I was trying to get at, is instead of shaming someone for the err of their way (especially one with no malice or ill intent) educate them respectfully. Again, apologies for myr emark because you sound nothing like a douche bag.
The Reasonable Atheist I just wanted to say thank you for being so "reasonable" when you responded to my comment about today's music being garbage and the remarks that buddy made. I admit what I said was not well thought out and I regretted it later. It just seems like a lot of new music is so electronically altered and synthesized that it sounds artificial, and I won't even go there when it comes to rap and the lack of real talent it takes to make. Except for Kid Rock of course! Anyways, I'm sorry I didn't thank you sooner for being such a gentleman and a scholar (a rare breed, indeed).
Jenny Lyn you are a poor excuse for a human being, a vulture and obviously frustrated with your life. Show some respect, if you know what that word means.
I never heard of this gentleman until now. His love for the people has earned him love from the people. He will be remembered in Canadian history forever
RIP GORD. MY TEARS ARE FALLING FREELY AND OPENLY WITH THE NEWS OF YOUR PASSING. NYE:WEH (THANK YOU) FOR BEING WITH ME AND DEFINING MY LIFE AND CREATING MEMORIES. YOU WALKED HAND IN HAND WITH ME WETHER OR NOT YOU KNEW IT, THROUGH HAPPY PARTIES AND SADDEST TIMES. YOU WILL FOREVER BE LOVED AND TRULY BE MISSED. XOXOXO REST NOW
STILL cant believe that he and his wife have cancer, how tremendous this might be for the family. my heart goes out to you GORD. you are by far one of the best writers performers out there. LONG LIVE THE HIP!!!
Cynthia Clinton and then u got these CEO`s from a few Pharmaceutical companies raising drug prices sky and giving themselves million dollar bonuses. Greedy bastards!
Listening to these guys for 30 years...saw them play in Kingston when they were just kids themselves...used to run into Gord's Dad, Edgar all the time at the restaurant I worked at...he was so proud of his son...and rightfully so. Heartbreaking to see this happen to him...I want to thank these guys for providing the soundtrack for my life...I cried like a baby when I found out the news. May you find peace Gord...my heart goes out to you and your family and the rest of the band.
Gord made a cameo in the 2009 film One Week, where Joshua Jackson left his home to go on a motorcycle trip after being diagnosed with an aggressive cancer. Eerie.
i am a 16 year b/c survivor, i get it. even after surviving life HAS changed. we see it differently. but when someone is diagnosed with a terminal cancer sentence like Gord has been, what do you do? how do you approach life? i can't imagine. Love you Gord, bless you, your wife and all of your friends and family.
So utterly poignant for so many, least of all Gord Downie...he is one 'classy' and 'classic' gentle man. Be well Gord...so, so many are here for you and the power of positive thought IS very powerful!
All Gord has to do is look up Otto Warburg and read his Warburg Theory that won the 1931 Nobel Prize for Medicine. Warburgs the most winning scientist in history I'm pretty sure he knows his shit. Then we can all enjoy more Tragically Hip Albums
We at ehbuddTV have dedicated our Old Pinawa Dam episode 32 to Gord Downie because he loved all Canadian history. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-S90ssb3GDAM.html
