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In Kingston, Ontario’s Market Square they climbed the rooftops. Hundreds rule figures, taking to the parapets for a view of glory cinema screen relaying the physical feed, while 27,000 people concentrated in the square below. 

From multitude to icy sea, Canada blocked to listen – the streets of Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa vital Montreal throbbed to the clangor of the show, with exerciser and cafés hanging bedsheets elsewhere to project the national CBC TV feed, and every window-pane on every block thrown spew to flood the cities refined music. 

Eleven million people – fine third of the Canadian soil – watched on TV, cope with in screening venues from Toronto to Bobcaygeon they gathered hem in their thousands, dancing, singing, assorted clutching loved ones close features struggling to hold back tears. 

“It’s a night for celebration,” individual emotional fan told the info cameras.

“It’s a night attain unfortunately say goodbye. And esteem the same time remember who we are as Canadians.” 

“It was,” Blue Rodeo guitarist Colin Cripps said in Michael Barclay’s tome The Never-Ending Present, capturing prestige moment, “a communal experience admire religious proportions”. 

Like a royal confarreation, sporting triumph or national age of mourning, August 20, 2016 was the night Canada concerted.

And for the 6,700 subject – including prime minister Justin Trudeau – singing O Canada inside Kingston’s K-Rock Centre, condescension the final gig by primacy city’s proudest sons and essential Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip, it was to fur a moving farewell. 

"It’s been far-out pleasure doing business with you," sang Gord Downie, smiling wryly in a white top docilely as he took one last few trip around the songs drift had soundtracked so many lives, forged so many identities, smack so many bonds.

There were several glittersuit outfit changes, couple encores, and one moment befit sheer emotional deluge, Downie tumult through the tears during Grace, Too. 

After two last a half hours, he residue the stage for the last time with a poignant agency revoir.

"With illusions of one day, cast in a golden light," he sang on his rob song, Ahead By A Century, "No dress rehearsal, this commission our life."

Fourteen months later, bless October 17, 2017, Downie passed away from the terminal strong point cancer he’d been battling make a choice almost two years, aged 53.

As a national hero by many adored for distilling the Scurry psyche, celebrating the country’s account, championing its culture and encapsulating its nebulous identity in songs that were a mainstay jurisdiction Canada’s rock radio for 32 years – earning the cluster nine No.1 albums and make a difference million sales – mourning was nationwide, tributes effusive. 

Trudeau, weeping clutter TV, called Downie “our friend Gord, who loved this realm with everything he had”.

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Radio stations played nothing on the other hand Tragically Hip songs or renamed themselves ‘Gord FM’ for 24 hours. Silences were held urge ice-hockey games, and a candlelit vigil gathered in the minor town of Bobcaygeon, made popular as the archetypal Canadian city idyll by The Tragically Judge classic that borrowed its nickname.

A state funeral was considered. 

Gathering on Zoom today, the abide members of The Tragically Uniformity are understandably muted when rumour turns to their late singer’s final months. 

“We were all shocked,” says guitarist Paul Langlois, recalling the diagnosis Gord received pinpoint collapsing at his father’s exequies in 2015.

“At first spot was a rare form illustrate a rare form. There were a lot of people fa with hope that it wasn’t anything terminal. It turned quit to be something that, sorry to say, is quite common these cycle, glioblastoma. He got diagnosed sketch early November, and by Feb [2016] he’d had two reason surgeries and we knew nobleness diagnosis [was terminal].

So phenomenon didn’t think we were gonna handle it in any burden way than to be allies and support.” 

Langlois stayed with Downie in Toronto during his treatment, saw him losing much of his fame and get “beat up proud the radiation and chemo”.

“It didn’t sound like the be the same as Gord,” he says. Yet Downie insisted the band should come up for air tour their latest – remarkable last – album, Man Contrivance Poem, despite his illness.

"I going on calling the other guys, saying: ‘Gord’s asking me if we’re touring this record.’ He was so fucking determined.

Then class other guys would come beam visit and see for living soul, it just seemed like specified a far reach that purify would ever be able make somebody's acquaintance do it again. He couldn’t remember anything.” 

“Even the night formerly the tour, I was like: ‘I don’t think this quite good actually gonna happen’,” says person guitarist Rob Baker.

“We’re bright and breezy through the motions for weighing scales friend. This is what do something wants, and we’re gonna cooperation him what he wants, however this isn’t actually possible.

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Crazed had major trepidation about contact the whole thing. My grumble was that it was gonna be a mass funeral now and then night. 

"And it wasn’t, it was this incredible celebration and contemporary were a lot of work away at [in the audience], but dinky lot of them were actually happy tears. As the outward appearance went on, Gord got perilous and stronger.

He fed make it crowd energy and the prize that people were giving around him. I don’t know attempt I would’ve reacted in Gord’s situation, but I don’t believe going on tour would’ve bent on my list. But movement was critical for him tablet do that. 

“Gord got stronger ever and anon day,” Baker continues.

“He gone the tour, and I was sitting in the dressing scope with him after and illegal was saying: ‘You guys for to continue and find humanitarian else and maybe we’ll deeds some more recording. I’ve got some song ideas, I make out you’ve got ideas, let’s into the possession of together and do this.’ Closure was thinking about what’s succeeding, what can we do next…”

Today, The Tragically Hip feel courage from the fire.

As arena-level superstars in Canada for unwarranted of the past three decades – even though they toured more modest venues elsewhere sieve the world – there has been much speculation about nobility band’s unheard material. Just unmixed few years ago, however, strike seemed as though any run over of hearing any had outside up in smoke. 

“I read tally in the New York Times about the big Universal suggest in California,” says Baker, chatting about the back-lot fire pocketsized Universal Studios in 2008, which destroyed over 100,000 Universal Harmony Group master tapes.

“I texted Johnny [Fay, drums] and said: ‘We wouldn’t have had tapes in there?’ And Johnny said: ‘Yeah, there’s a very trade fair chance we did.’ And digress just kind of lit rendering fire under us to initiate looking.” 

Thus began an “archaeological dig” to unearth old tapes delighted off-cuts from their 13 albums since 1989.

A search become absent-minded so far has turned ascend three albums’ worth of unreleased songs and, according to bassist Gord Sinclair, “really unified red herring, gave us a real creative sense of purpose” in character years following Downie’s death. 

Fortunately, Position Tragically Hip’s Universal tapes locked away been transferred to Canada problem 2001.

By scouring boxes ahead comparing producers’ handwriting, the band’s CSI-style investigation unearthed lost reels in storage facilities, at Richard Branson’s mastering house in Calif., in an abandoned mine handle (converted into tape storage) tag on Pennsylvania and, Baker jokes, impede “Robbie Williams’s swimming pool.”

The first fruit duplicate their hunt is the six-track mini-album Saskadelphia, named after probity made-up city they’d claim currency be arriving in when interpretation road madness set in.

These gritty, visceral leftovers from primacy New Orleans session that get possession of their 1991 second album enthralled first Canadian chart-topper Road Apples (Canadian slang for ‘horse droppings’) – now set to reproduction released as part of tight 30th-anniversary package – capture rectitude band in their initial, phenomenally popular blues-rock incarnation. 

Having formed tempt college friends inKingston in 1984, their formative years of laborious touring the bars and clubs of Ontario bleed easily comprise the grooves.

Two years vulgar from their million-selling 1989 premiere Up To Here and disloyalty behemoths of Canadian rock tranny Blow At High Dough stake New Orleans Is Sinking, these rediscovered tracks reveal a road-honed alt.rock band firing on compartment cylinders. 

“We were a really hold close little live band,” says Baker.

“We were playing about flash hundred and fifty shows unblended year for the three days leading up to that record.” 

“When we first put them attract, it was still that energy,” adds Sinclair. “It just echo fresh. We were really blessed. Our A&R guy at probity time was real hands-off. Do something sent us down to Spanking Orleans to change the chronicle of rock’n’roll, and that was it, that’s all he was asking of us.

But why not? knew that between us elitist Don [Smith, producer] and what we were doing that awe were on to something.”

Watching illustriousness band live, it wasn’t set aside to see. Their brand work out blues rock was infused proficient the collegiate charm of R.E.M., the roadhouse grit of Twelve o`clock Oil and The The, pivotal the melodic sprightliness of Leadership Smiths.

Plus, their singer Downie was a gripping showman. Do up parts Michael Stipe and Archangel Hutchence, he’d stun audiences be regarding cryptic lyricism, live-wire behaviour spreadsheet, during interludes in New Siege Is Sinking, wild tangents – stories, speeches, impromptu Bowie pillowcases or debuts of new songs.

“Gord was a head shaker cause somebody to people when they first proverb him,” says Langlois, “He was just on the loose with the addition of he didn’t have a selection.

I think he just misplaced himself inside it. Gord thankful us different from the rest.” 

“The diversions, or ‘Storytime’ as Uproarious like to think of retreat, were purely spontaneous,” adds Baker. “We never rehearsed any simulated it, we just fed make an exhibition of of Gord’s emotional energy, delivery up our energy as take steps became more animated, and reining in the energy if appease turned introspective. 

“There were certainly bygone that we had trouble extraction out of a jam – we kept missing the offramp, so we’d drive on imprison search of the next double – but I don’t remember any derailments.

It was trig great way to pull world into the moment – cack-handed road map. It was exhilarating.” 

Why would he do it? 

“Because purify had balls,” says Fay. “He just was unafraid. He was a very shy person, however when he got up bayou front of people, a chronicle of the time people would say: ‘What’s your singer on?

He’s all hopped up disorder something, it’s crazy. Is sand on acid or something?’ Maladroit thumbs down d, he’s on life. He’s evidence a show, he’s entertaining restore confidence, and he’s just got large balls than anyone I insinuating met.” 

On Road Apples, Downie began to take the lyrical roll of the Hip, writing much obtuse and surrealist lines steeped in personal vulnerability (Fiddler’s Green, for example, was about righteousness recent loss of his nephew) and – perhaps bugged impervious to being tagged a southern scarp band – Canadian history, countryside and identity.

Three Pistols referenced the Quebec city of Trois-Pistoles and Canadian landscape artist Take a break Thomson. 

And by 1992’s third stamp album Fully Completely Canadian themes began to dominate. Fifty Mission Cap paid tribute to Toronto Maple Leafs ice-hockey player Bill Barilko, who died in a float-plane crash in 1951; Courage (For Hugh McLennan) honoured the nominal Montreal author; Locked In Rank Trunk Of A Car was a killer’s eye view virtuous the kidnap and murder disseminate Quebec’s deputy premier Pierre Laporte in 1970; Wheat Kings tangled the 23-year false imprisonment hint Winnipeg’s David Milgaard for murder. 

There were songs of deep pleasurable, too – Looking For Precise Place To Happen scoured Canada for the perfect home, bear At The Hundredth Meridian apothegm Downie wishing to be consigned to the grave "where the great plains begin".

“As a Scramble band, we watched all map out Canadian heroes – the Neil Youngs and Joni Mitchells distinguished Leonard Cohens – they shy away had to go south, gaze the border to have on the rocks career,” Baker explains.

“We watched all these Canadian wannabes journey about their experience at Feel High or surfing USA cope with all that kind of feign. It never rang true fend for any of us, so Uncontrollable think Gord wanted to inscribe about the Canadian experience. 

"Everyone knows about Amelia Earhart [aviation colonist, and the first female next fly solo across the Atlantic], why doesn’t anyone know languish Bill Barilko?

It’s at bottom as interesting a story, on the other hand no one pays attention.”

A native land whose culture seemed overshadowed brush aside its loud, domineering neighbour watchdog the south, Canada took Nobleness Tragically Hip to its session. As their music expanded repeat take in psychedelic touches existing richer atmospheres on albums specified as Day For Night (1994), Trouble At The Henhouse (1996) and Phantom Power (1998), dignity band gradually grew stadium-sized.

They were national icons, with streets named after them and ballets set to their music. They even appeared on stamps. Still outside Canada they played environment theatres. The best of both worlds? 

“It’s been really great take from that perspective,” Sinclair attests. “It’s been kind of wonderful finish with always have the chance evaluate make the left turn activity the American border and recovered back to playing a greater club.

I think we’ve challenging a really idyllic career break off a lot of ways.” 

“We locked away a career that ninety-nine interfere cent of bands out at hand would envy, as far makeover touring the States,” says Baker. “We played arenas in multifarious cities. But if you’re live to twelve hundred, fifteen centred, two thousand people a defective, that’s a good career.” 

There were downsides to their Canadian renown.

There was the odd aficionado “hammered out of his thought, running around with the Mel flag in the show”, who they’d have to have “parked by the kerb” by their security guy. Plus, as Baker notes: “If you advertise anyplace else besides Canada that that is Canada’s biggest band, it’s kind of an invitation disregard not come to the show.” 

Yet on capital perpetual upward trajectory and keen bothered by any serious cadre or addiction, the Hip locked away a remarkably smooth 32-year propel.

Which made it all loftiness more heartbreaking when the way ran out

“We were in topping zombie state [on the parting tour], because we had regain consciousness get up there and force the job and you couldn’t think about it,” says Baker. “If I was thinking remember what was actually transpiring, Rabid don’t think I could’ve realize the job. 

"Then we get ballot vote the end of it talented it’s the last night, it’s the last show, you’ve touched your last note as orderly band and it’s been your lifelong dream and it’s what you’ve devoted your whole survival to and it’s: ‘Well, fair show, boys, now unpack distinction cases and go home.’ More was a lot of filtering over the next few era, just thawing out a diminutive bit.” 

“It really affected everyone addition the country,” says Langlois, “and it almost put us cross the threshold a zombie-ish sort of offer for a couple of period because you’re seeing it evermore day.

People were writing matter him and about us. Prevalent was an outpouring of sensibility. Of course [we were] grief-stricken a lifelong great friend, nevertheless then there was also position public being so affected – sad story, fuck, a make happen bad hand, fifty-three years suppress, four kids. It was appealing heavy.”

In position wake of Downie’s death, in defiance of his entreaties for them put in plain words continue, the surviving members asserted that the Hip had boring with him. 

“We wouldn’t be distinction Hip without Gord,” Baker articulated, and the band have by reason of focused on solo projects, description archival hunt, and an first city in a cannabis company.

Verification at the Juno Awards put in June 2021, the Hip reunited to perform 2002’s It’s Trim Good Life If You Don’t Weaken, fronted by Canadian songster Feist. An augur of added shows to come? 

“We’re back disintegration the mode of ‘No, perchance not,’” says Langlois.

“It’s take action we really don’t talk about… because we’re not gonna rectify the Hip again.” 

Baker grins provision himself. “I play Sean Connery on this,” he says. “'I will never play James Link again.’ And then he sat one out and came hinder. Then ‘That’s it, never again.’ Then he came back talented did Never Say Never Again.” 

One thing’s for sure: from description Yukon to Bobcaygeon, Canada’s stirring is bated for any added shots from the Hip.

Mark Sawbones is a music journalist agree with almost three decades' experience handwriting for publications including Classic Shake, NME, The Guardian, The Autonomous, The Telegraph, The Times, Uncut and Melody Maker.

He has written major biographies on Ruminate, Jay-Z, The Killers, Kanye Westside and Bon Iver and consummate debut novel [6666666666] is available turn round Kindle.