Fans of Canadian rock legend Gord Downie and The Tragically Hip took to social media Tuesday to share messages of heartbreak, admiration and hope after the band revealed Downie was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer in December.
In a letter addressed to fans, the band said their frontman has been fighting hard over the last few months with friends and family by his side. It’s unclear whether Downie is undergoing treatment for the cancer; however, an update on his condition is scheduled to take place at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto at 11 a.m. ET.
“The news about Gord Downie makes me feel like I just found out a good friend is dying,” said one Twitter user.
Along with messages of hope and well wishes, many fans took to social media to share their favourite Tragically Hip lyrics and Downie quotes.
The news comes as a hard blow for fans of The Hip; many of whom consider Downie to be the personification of the Canadian spirit.
The Kingston, Ont., band formed in 1984 and launched their self-titled debut EP in 1987. Their first full-length album, Up to Here, in 1989 turned them into bona fide rock stars with hits including Blow at High Dough and New Orleans Is Sinking. But songs likes the 1999 hit Bobcaygeon — named after a town in the Kawartha Lakes region north of Toronto — secured the band’s place as Canadian icons.
“One of Canada’s greatest poets, legendary frontmen, and all around brilliantly funny individuals, this will be a cultural loss like few others. Here’s hoping his last bit of time with family, friends, and fans is filled with even a fraction of the enjoyment he gifted to us over the past 30 years,” wrote one Instagram user.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau weighed in on Downie’s cancer revelation, tweeting, “Gord Downie is a true original who has been writing Canada’s soundtrack for more than 30 years.”
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