A National Celebration

I’m not sure exactly when the Tragically Hip became Canada’s favorite band, but they have been a big part of ROCK 95’s history since the station first signed on the air back in 1988.   Gord Downie , Rob Baker, Gord Sinclair and Johnny Fay have forged a a unique and special place in the history of Canadian rock bands.

The Hip is not just a rock band, they have become part of the national fabric of this great country, and along the way have become a reflection of the heart and soul of this great land we collectively call home.  Rugged, gritty, and always full of class, the Tragically Hip from the beginning and even heading toward the end have always approached their music  and their fans with class.

We all hoped the Hip would still be touring and playing well into their 70’s like the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and some of the other great rock pioneers that have come before them, but that dream was shattered with the heartbreaking news of Gord Downie suffering from terminal brain cancer.

Gord’s decision to go ahead with plans to release their Man Machine Poem Tour album and follow it up with a planned national Canada wide tour while battling this scourge of a disease is nothing short of remarkable and amazingly courageous, but as with everything else about this band and their history, it’s also the perfect statement to bring their remarkable career to it’s conclusion and to face cancer in the most remarkable way.  Class act!

The Tragically Hip’s final show on their Man Machine Poem Tour is in their home town of Kingston, ontario  Saturday night and broadcast live on the CBC.