Canadian rock icon succumbs to brain cancer

GORD DOWNIE

KINGSTON, Ontario — Gord Downie, who made himself part of Canada’s national identity with songs about hockey and small towns as the lead singer and songwriter of the iconic rock band The Tragically Hip, has died at age 53 after a two-year battle with brain cancer.

A statement on the band’s website said he died Tuesday night “with his beloved children and family close by.”

Since The Tragically Hip’s first album in 1987, the band has provided a soundtrack for the lives of many Canadians. “Ahead by a Century” and “Bobcaygeon” are among the best known.

While Canadian musicians Drake, the Weeknd and Justin Bieber have made waves internationally, the Tragically Hip built a huge following of die-hard homegrown fans.

An emotional Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wept in Parliament while talking about Downie on national television in a statement to reporters.

“We are less as a country without Gord Downie in it. We all knew it was coming, but we hoped it wasn’t,” said Trudeau, his voice breaking. “I thought I was going to make it through this, but I’m not. It hurts. “

Downie was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive and incurable brain cancer, in December 2015. When the band made the news public in May 2016, expressions of sorrow poured in from across the country.

That same day, the band said it would mount a Canadian tour despite Downie’s cancer. Tickets for the 2016 summer tour sold out almost immediately, culminating in a national broadcast of the band’s final tour stop at Kingston, Ontario. Millions tuned in.

Downie later said that he needed six teleprompters during the concert series so he would not forget lyrics. But through it all, Downie remained the consummate showman, rocking out on stage in distinctive leather suits.

During his final show, Downie called out to Trudeau, who attended the concert, to help fix problems in Canada’s aboriginal communities.