Gord Downie, the frontman for legendary Canadian rock group The Tragically Hip, has died, the band confirmed this morning in a statement. He was 53.
Statement – https://t.co/vOTvlJ2jqA pic.twitter.com/Z6dHmr1xpM
— The Tragically Hip (@thehipofficial) October 18, 2017
Downie was diagnosed with glioblastoma—in incurable form of aggressive brain cancer—in December 2015. A final tour the following summer with The Tragically Hip quickly sold out and a livestream of the band’s final concert was viewed by an estimated 11.7 million people.
Downie spent his last months working on behalf of Canadian indigenous groups and advocating for brain cancer research, The Globe and Mail notes. He’s survived by four children.
