[QuizShowChampion]

I was also thinking of this a while ago, but more along the lines of the band sitting down with an official biographer at some point in their careers. This coffee table book sounds better though.

I think you might have to wait a few years for the band to release anything because they would probably want to wait until the end of their careers, and none of them sound anywhere near finished with making music to me.

[Sohi]

doesn't gordon downie have a book or two of his poetry? or about his poetry?

[Killer Whale Tank]

The Hip have always been victims of their 'Canadian' status. They waited about two years too long to embark on large-scale arena tours, for example, because it was unheard of for an act without a large US following to sell out arenas in Canada. Think of the $$ millions wasted! Similarly, there isn't a literature on the Hip because they're only huge in Canada - it hasn't occured to publishing houses to do it, probably.

The fact is that the Hip are a unique phenomenon. There's never been a band with this bizarre ratio of popularity in Canada and obscurity abroad. My guess is that something will surface after the band have broken up or retired or died, and people twig to the fascinating nature of that phenomena.

The ultimate piece of pop writing is Ian Macdonald's Revolution in the Head...something like that for the Hip would be amazing.

[Bookhead]

Thanks for all the input on this topic, everyone!

It still surprises me that a Canadian publishing house hasn't jumped at the idea of a Hip biography. If any authors or publishers have been reading this topic (I hightly doubt it, but you never know) it's time to get going! (I don't offer up myself as a prospective Hip biographer because I do not think I'm at all qualified--plus I think the author really ought to be a Canadian anyway. I believe that only a Canadian could have the proper cultural perspective to write about a band that is so uniquely Canadian--just my opinion, some may disagree).

I like the ideas that some have mentioned of a book focusing on the Hip's lyrics. Several years ago (maybe about 1997) I bought a book called "R.E.M. Inside Out: The Stories Behind Every Song." It's quite a fun book that delves deeply into the inspiration and origin of all the band's songs from "Chronic Town" up to "New Adventures in Hi-Fi." It's very similar in content and presentation to the stuff on the HipMuseum site. Anyway, a book that explored every Hip song in detail (along with appropriate photos and illustrations) would be great fun for all the band's diehards out there.

[NegPhil]

The Hipbase could compile a book similar in fashion to The Grateful Dead Family Album. More or less a fan based pespective of the band as they evolved from hometown to big time.

[trevor]

I have some ideas about putting together a coffee table book of some of the images I have taken over the years. There are some great online services for doing such a thing and I certainly want to try and accomplish this by the end of the summer. If there was interest, I could certainly order a couple of extra copies...

[The Heron Outside]

Awesome idea Trev...Could be sold outside shows too...Ever consider compiling photos from all willing Hipbase members?

(That was my sly way of telling you I want in on something like this)

[trevor]

Awesome idea Trev...Could be sold outside shows too...Ever consider compiling photos from all willing Hipbase members?

(That was my sly way of telling you I want in on something like this)

Hehehe...yeah I have considered that - unfortunately, I am not sure about all the logistics printing pictures of the hip...let alone adding any lyrics or anything.

I will see what I can come up with and let you know.

PS: You know I would love to include some of your shots too :thumb:

[sean.bonner]

Any way I can contribute... I'd be more than glad.

[MattyM]

Any way I can contribute... I'd be more than glad.

Ditto

[Sam]

It still surprises me that a Canadian publishing house hasn't jumped at the idea of a Hip biography.

Canadian publishers are incredibly conservative about publishing anything that hasn't got a proven market in the US or UK. Most Canadian authors (particularly of fiction) need to get published somewhere else first. Research texts can get published a bit more easily, because the university presses take care of them, but they're not exactly marketed to the general public.

I'd love to see a book like U2's recent release U2 on U2. It's basically a big picture book but the stories and memories from the band members are really cool. If they could find a publisher, I'd love to see something like that from the Hip. Actually, I kind of expected some sort of retrospective picture when the Hip were inducted into the Music Hall of Fame. That seemed like an opportune moment.

[chris]

Selling unauthorized pictures of any band may/will get you into hot water with the lawyers....

[The Heron Outside]

I knew a grown-up would come in and ruin the fun sooner or later...

[chris]

Maybe if it's non-profit, or better yet, for charity, The Hip will get behind it and everyone will be a winner!

[sean.bonner]

Maybe if it's non-profit, or better yet, for charity, The Hip will get behind it and everyone will be a winner!

Waterkeepers.