Gord Downie, Tragically Hip singer, has terminal cancer
- Thread starter mentalfloss
- Start date
One thing is for sure, no matter how much we honour and celebrate Gord's live, when he dies, unlike our neighbour, we will not be elevating him to sainthood!! ( Elvis, Cobain, Jackson..), why? because we are far too sensible and down to earth in Canada, compassionate, yes but real. Elvis was bigger than life, but he died at 42 from a prescription drug overdose. Next on the list Micheal Jacksons! yikes! We also celebrate our athlete for bringing home medals, any colour will do for us, we are not that petty, just as long as they've behaved properly and decently towards the country that invited them, unlike some American athletes (like the swimming team, with Lochte being revered by CNN), these guys thanked Brazil by sp#tting in the face, no.... Canadian would not do that.
For somebody with terminal brain cancer, he looked fine at OAC ceremony. Looked better than our PM who was sitting in the front row like a good prim and proper schoolgirl. I am not sure why (other than the publicity -- answered my own question) they chose to give him the OAC. He is just a musician who happens to be dying.
"He is just a musician who happens to be dying."
I wouldn't hold either of those things against a guy!
Downie got the award for his work in promoting the missing indigenous women's file, his contribution to Canadian music, AND because he is dying.
Makes me think of the wisdom of one bard..................."He can not read his tombstone when he's dead"!
(We're all dying, the duration for some is just different than for others and generally we're not sure of which others)
TIFF 17: Gord Downie on ' Long Time Running' — 'Make the film I’ve never seen'
First posted: Thursday, September 14, 2017 10:13 AM EDT | Updated: Thursday, September 14, 2017 10:22 AM EDT
The Tragically Hip, sans singer Gord Downie, whose terminal brain cancer diagnosis was made public in 2016, showed up for the world premiere of their documentary, Long Time Running, at TIFF on Wednesday night.
And even though none of the band — guitarist Paul Langlois, bassist Gord Sinclair, lead guitarist Rob Baker, and drummer Johnny Fay — spoke to reporters we know they liked the movie about their farewell tour across Canada in support of Man Machine Poem, because co-directors Jennifer Baichwal and Nicholas de Pencier told us so.
“We’re not nearly as nervous tonight as we were when we showed the band the film a while ago,” said Baichwal.
“They loved it and thank God they did.”
Added Baichwal inside Roy Thomson Hall to filmgoers before the screening: “Gord said to me, ‘Make the film I’ve never seen.’”
Also on the Long Time Running red carpet was Headstones singer Hugh Dillon, who grew up with the band in Kingston, Ont., and Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx.
[youtube]isGyCHpdaY4[/youtube]
Toronto International Film Festival
TIFF 17: Gord Downie on ' Long Time Running'
'Long Time Running' review: Tragically Hip bid farewell in emotionally stirring documentary
By Jane Stevenson, Postmedia Network
First posted: Thursday, September 14, 2017 02:43 PM EDT | Updated: Thursday, September 14, 2017 02:53 PM EDT
Leave it to Gord Downie to end his music career – if last summer’s Tragically Hip Canadian tour was indeed their swansong – on a high note.
The determined Kingston, Ont., band’s frontman, who went public with his terminal brain cancer diagnosis in the spring of 2016, defied all the odds and pushed his longtime bandmates to hit the road despite his weakened physical and mental state, according to the group’s celebratory and poignant new documentary, Long Time Running.
“Don’t tell Gord he can’t do something,” says drummer Johnny Fay, who along with Downie and the rest of the Hip is interviewed extensively by filmmakers Jennifer Baichwal and Nicholas de Pencier after their cameras crossed Canada with the group on their Man Machine Poem trek in the summer of 2016.
Hip fans will enjoy not only the behind-the-scenes footage of Downie getting ready for each night’s show on the trek (right down to his underwear) but the entire group’s collective memory of their 30-year personal and professional journey as one of Canada’s most beloved rock bands that started back in high school.
The Hip’s rhythm guitarist Paul Langlois recalls how his best friend Downie wanted him to be there for his post-brain surgery radiation and chemotherapy treatments and the singer says he liked to listen to the Waterboys and the Bee Gees (the latter, he admits, a guilty pleasure).
And the doctor who operated on Downie says the “best case scenario,” for his survival is between four to five years.
This is not to say that Downie, one of the country’s most respected songwriters and live performers, father of four and mentor to many a Canadian musician, may not defy the odds yet again.
At the beginning of his recovery, Downie could barely speak, let alone have any memory of the dense, poetic lyrics he’s written for the Hip so he had to re-learn them all over again with the help of teleprompters both during rehearsal – a video shows the struggle all too well – and on the road.
But, as each show was performed, Downie’s bandmates noticed him getting stronger despite initial fears he might have a seizure on stage.
“Everybody around me did help me get onto my knees and then onto my feet,” says Downie in the movie which culminates in Kingston during that wildly patriotic and emotional final show that was nationally broadcast.
“It was the best I ever felt on stage. I wanted the shows to go on forever.”
Now they can thanks to this documentary.
'Long Time Running' review: Tragically Hip bid farewell in emotionally stirring
First posted: Thursday, September 14, 2017 10:13 AM EDT | Updated: Thursday, September 14, 2017 10:22 AM EDT
The Tragically Hip, sans singer Gord Downie, whose terminal brain cancer diagnosis was made public in 2016, showed up for the world premiere of their documentary, Long Time Running, at TIFF on Wednesday night.
And even though none of the band — guitarist Paul Langlois, bassist Gord Sinclair, lead guitarist Rob Baker, and drummer Johnny Fay — spoke to reporters we know they liked the movie about their farewell tour across Canada in support of Man Machine Poem, because co-directors Jennifer Baichwal and Nicholas de Pencier told us so.
“We’re not nearly as nervous tonight as we were when we showed the band the film a while ago,” said Baichwal.
“They loved it and thank God they did.”
Added Baichwal inside Roy Thomson Hall to filmgoers before the screening: “Gord said to me, ‘Make the film I’ve never seen.’”
Also on the Long Time Running red carpet was Headstones singer Hugh Dillon, who grew up with the band in Kingston, Ont., and Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx.
[youtube]isGyCHpdaY4[/youtube]
Toronto International Film Festival
TIFF 17: Gord Downie on ' Long Time Running'
'Long Time Running' review: Tragically Hip bid farewell in emotionally stirring documentary
By Jane Stevenson, Postmedia Network
First posted: Thursday, September 14, 2017 02:43 PM EDT | Updated: Thursday, September 14, 2017 02:53 PM EDT
Leave it to Gord Downie to end his music career – if last summer’s Tragically Hip Canadian tour was indeed their swansong – on a high note.
The determined Kingston, Ont., band’s frontman, who went public with his terminal brain cancer diagnosis in the spring of 2016, defied all the odds and pushed his longtime bandmates to hit the road despite his weakened physical and mental state, according to the group’s celebratory and poignant new documentary, Long Time Running.
“Don’t tell Gord he can’t do something,” says drummer Johnny Fay, who along with Downie and the rest of the Hip is interviewed extensively by filmmakers Jennifer Baichwal and Nicholas de Pencier after their cameras crossed Canada with the group on their Man Machine Poem trek in the summer of 2016.
Hip fans will enjoy not only the behind-the-scenes footage of Downie getting ready for each night’s show on the trek (right down to his underwear) but the entire group’s collective memory of their 30-year personal and professional journey as one of Canada’s most beloved rock bands that started back in high school.
The Hip’s rhythm guitarist Paul Langlois recalls how his best friend Downie wanted him to be there for his post-brain surgery radiation and chemotherapy treatments and the singer says he liked to listen to the Waterboys and the Bee Gees (the latter, he admits, a guilty pleasure).
And the doctor who operated on Downie says the “best case scenario,” for his survival is between four to five years.
This is not to say that Downie, one of the country’s most respected songwriters and live performers, father of four and mentor to many a Canadian musician, may not defy the odds yet again.
At the beginning of his recovery, Downie could barely speak, let alone have any memory of the dense, poetic lyrics he’s written for the Hip so he had to re-learn them all over again with the help of teleprompters both during rehearsal – a video shows the struggle all too well – and on the road.
But, as each show was performed, Downie’s bandmates noticed him getting stronger despite initial fears he might have a seizure on stage.
“Everybody around me did help me get onto my knees and then onto my feet,” says Downie in the movie which culminates in Kingston during that wildly patriotic and emotional final show that was nationally broadcast.
“It was the best I ever felt on stage. I wanted the shows to go on forever.”
Now they can thanks to this documentary.
'Long Time Running' review: Tragically Hip bid farewell in emotionally stirring
Gord Downie to release new solo album ’Introduce Yerself’
THE CANADIAN PRESS
First posted: Wednesday, September 27, 2017 11:17 AM EDT | Updated: Wednesday, September 27, 2017 11:34 AM EDT
TORONTO — Gord Downie is releasing a new solo album of 23 original songs produced with long-time collaborator Kevin Drew.
“Introduce Yerself” is slated for release Oct. 27 with each song written about a specific person.
Downie’s website says the tracks were recorded during two four-day studio sessions in January 2016 and February 2017. The list of titles include “Coco Chanel No. 5, ”Snowflake“ and ”You Are the Bird.“
Many of the songs came together in a single take.
A short video clip posted on YouTube shows Downie rifling through his notes in front of a microphone.
“Hello boys, way up in the North,” he sings softly. “On the western side of James Bay.”
Alongside the CD and digital release, a vinyl version will arrive in stores Dec. 1 with two pull-out posters.
This marks the second album by the Tragically Hip frontman since going public with his terminal brain cancer diagnosis.
Last October, he released “Secret Path” — an album, graphic novel and film based on the story of Chanie Wenjack, a young Ojibwe boy who died while trying to escape a residential school. That project was also produced with Drew, also known as one of the leaders of the indie rock band Broken Social Scene.
[youtube]wuHj20v2oKs[/youtube]
Gord Downie
Gord Downie to release new solo album
THE CANADIAN PRESS
First posted: Wednesday, September 27, 2017 11:17 AM EDT | Updated: Wednesday, September 27, 2017 11:34 AM EDT
TORONTO — Gord Downie is releasing a new solo album of 23 original songs produced with long-time collaborator Kevin Drew.
“Introduce Yerself” is slated for release Oct. 27 with each song written about a specific person.
Downie’s website says the tracks were recorded during two four-day studio sessions in January 2016 and February 2017. The list of titles include “Coco Chanel No. 5, ”Snowflake“ and ”You Are the Bird.“
Many of the songs came together in a single take.
A short video clip posted on YouTube shows Downie rifling through his notes in front of a microphone.
“Hello boys, way up in the North,” he sings softly. “On the western side of James Bay.”
Alongside the CD and digital release, a vinyl version will arrive in stores Dec. 1 with two pull-out posters.
This marks the second album by the Tragically Hip frontman since going public with his terminal brain cancer diagnosis.
Last October, he released “Secret Path” — an album, graphic novel and film based on the story of Chanie Wenjack, a young Ojibwe boy who died while trying to escape a residential school. That project was also produced with Drew, also known as one of the leaders of the indie rock band Broken Social Scene.
[youtube]wuHj20v2oKs[/youtube]
Gord Downie
Gord Downie to release new solo album
there was a politician who said that we all have stories of gord downie.
when i saw justine get emotional i thought that he had been kicked out of office.
when i saw justine get emotional i thought that he had been kicked out of office.