[Tthip]

Hello friends.

We have some very tough news to share with you today, and we wish it wasn’t so.

A few months ago, in December, Gord Downie was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.

Since then, obviously, he’s endured a lot of difficult times, and he has been fighting hard. In privacy along with his family, and through all of this, we’ve been standing by him.

So after 30-some years together as The Tragically Hip, thousands of shows, and hundreds of tours…

We’ve decided to do another one.

This feels like the right thing to do now, for Gord, and for all of us.

What we in The Hip receive, each time we play together, is a connection; with each other; with music and it’s magic; and during the shows, a special connection with all of you, our incredible fans.

So, we’re going to dig deep, and try to make this our best tour yet.

We hope you can come out and join us this summer – details and dates will be coming this week.

And we sincerely thank all of you, for your continued love and support,

Paul, GordD, Johnny, Rob, GordS

- See more at: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.thehip.com/#.dpuf">http://www.thehip.com/#.dpuf</a><!-- m -->

[nestene1]

No words.

Heartbroken, for me, us, the band and their families.

[thebends]

No words, so grateful for all the memories.

[robbroncs]

my mother was diagnosed with brain cancer may 6th in 2007, after battling cancer for over a decade from breast, to liver, to bone, to brain. on May 2nd (almost a year later) she had a stroke which ripped her of all her motor skills. the lights were on. someone was home. but unable to do anything about it. she was finally taken from her suffering October 8th 2008.

reason i bring this up, "terminal" brain cancer could be a month, a day, a few years..... I hope and pray Gord makes it though this tough time. maybe even beats this.

FUCK CANCER

[BrenTheodore]

This hits me harder than anything has in a long time. Feels like I'm losing a father somehow..

Stay strong fellas.

[Tubaros]

Such sad news, such a loss. :-(

[mark]

that was tough to read this morning. i don't usually get bothered by a "celebrity" announcement like this, but this one hurts

[Lizard King]

Gut punch to start the day, nothing will stop me from hitting up this tour now.

[Remi_Gaudet21]

What a shock. Why do we have to lose our best canadian songwritter?? Heartbroken to say the least

[eatmecompletely]

saddened
and sad to see an end of an era
Gord was a big part of my upbringing

Even though I never met him personally, he was my professor for my teen years

He taught me philosophy nature and a way to live your life

His lyrics where my soundtrack from when I was 13 till now

Sad to think of a world where their isn't a hip show every 2 years
and no more new music

[Bookhead]

Heartbroken, shocked.

Thank you Gord Downie, thank you Tragically Hip, for the wonderful gift of music you have given me.

Wishing Gord all the best in the days, weeks, and months ahead--and I am praying for that he can beat this insidious disease.

[NWOntario]

I didn't think I'd be able to listen to the Hip's music for a long, long time...

...and then he said he was fabulously rich c'mon just let's go she kinda bit her lip "geez, I don't know" and goddamn if this music isn't so full of life there's nothing I can do except let the records play and turn them up loud and celebrate the music and this band and look forward with fear and trepidation and a slight sense of optimism to this tour.

[longseason]

Thoughts with his band and his family. Hope we all get a chance to join them this summer.

Gutted.

[Jenna_Bird]

This is just heartbreaking. There isn't any other word.

[HugeHipFan]

Obviously the worst possible news to wake up to. Surprised and almost disappointed that they are going to tour - the melodramatics will be off the charts. Some of our best songwriters passed away this year, and I sincerely hope Gord is not going to join them. Not yet. Not yet.

One last HipTrip forthcoming. I hope to see you all there. Let's line up before midnight at Sam's to buy the new album, then join the band at the Gardens for another barn burner. Oh, memories, please don't fade. Don't burn out, don't fade away. Let's grow old together...

-Matt