The Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie has died. He was 53.
Downie died on Tuesday night, per his family, with his children close by. His passing was not unexpected.
“Gord said he had lived many lives,” the Downie Family said in a statement to the media. “As a musician, he lived ‘the life’ for over 30 years, lucky to do most of it with his high school buddies.”
“At home, he worked just as tirelessly at being a good father, son, brother, husband and friend,” it continued. “No one worked harder on every part of their life than Gord. No one.”
Read the Downie Family’s full statement about the singer’s “life well lived” here:
Statement – https://t.co/vOTvlJ2jqA pic.twitter.com/Z6dHmr1xpM
— The Tragically Hip (@thehipofficial) October 18, 2017
Last May, Downie was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor. Still, he toured with the band throughout the summer.
The proud Canadian and indigenous peoples’ rights activist leaves behind four children and wife Laura Leigh Usher, with whom Downie separated from before his cancer diagnosis.
Watch the music video for the Hip’s “Bobcaygeon” above.