The Tragically Hip’s Gord Downie Dead at 53

Written by Taylor Berman | October 18, 2017 - 9:17 am

performs during Day 3 of the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival 2011 held at the Empire Polo Club on April 17, 2011 in Indio, California.

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

Also Read

The Best Boxed Sets Of 2023

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.