Featured In
ALBUMPhantom Power (Deluxe)The Tragically Hip
Albums by The Tragically Hip
ALBUMPhantom Power (Deluxe)The Tragically Hip
ALBUMLive At The RoxyThe Tragically Hip
ALBUMRoad Apples (Deluxe)The Tragically Hip
ALBUMMan Machine PoemThe Tragically Hip
ALBUMNow For Plan A (Deluxe Edition)The Tragically Hip
ALBUMWe Are the SameThe Tragically Hip
ALBUMWorld ContainerThe Tragically Hip
ALBUMIn Between EvolutionThe Tragically Hip
ALBUMIn Violet LightThe Tragically Hip
ALBUMMusic @ WorkThe Tragically Hip
The Tragically Hip's Popular Music Videos
Ahead By a Century
The Tragically Hip
Grace, Too
The Tragically Hip
New Orleans Is Sinking (Live At The Roxy, May 3, 1991 (Killer Whale Tank Version))
The Tragically Hip
Ouch
The Tragically Hip
Montréal (Live From Molson Center, Montréal, 2000)
The Tragically Hip
Not Necessary
The Tragically Hip
Artist Playlists
The Tragically Hip Essentials
If anyone can claim the title of Canada's band, it's this quintet from Kingston.
The Tragically Hip: Deep Cuts
The Canucks branch out from their blues-rock base.
The Tragically Hip: Influences
Find out what makes these alt-rock titans tick.
Under the Influence: The Tragically Hip
Meet the artists who fell under the spell of the Canadian rock heroes.
Artist Biography
The Tragically Hip—known to their legions of fans simply as the Hip—were the preeminent Canadian rock band of the '90s. Their poetic, detailed lyrics centered on the country's history and landmarks; notable songs cover the tragic disappearance and death of Toronto Maple Leafs player Bill Barilko ("Fifty Mission Cap") and the contrast between life in Toronto and in a small town ("Bobcaygeon"). The Hip originally formed in Kingston, Ontario, in the early '80s around the nucleus of vocalist/guitarist Gord Downie and several high-school friends, including guitarist Rob Baker, bassist Gord Sinclair, and drummer Johnny Fay. Gigs in Ontario clubs eventually led to a record deal, and their 1989 debut LP, Up to Here, which kicked off a two-decade-plus run where each of their studio albums went platinum or multiplatinum in Canada. Although the Hip's approach echoed R.E.M.'s intricate storytelling and social conscience—for example, Downie was a vocal supporter of indigenous rights—the Hip's music incorporated inspiration from melodic classic rock and the acoustic-electric tension favored by fellow Canadian icon Neil Young, in the form of loose folk grooves ("Ahead By a Century"), gritty blues swagger ("New Orleans Is Sinking"), and hard-rock boogie ("At the Hundredth Meridian"). Sadly, in 2016, the band announced Downie had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer. That same year, the group embarked on one last Canadian tour that illustrated how beloved they were—a massive hometown farewell show streamed and broadcast live reached 11.7 million people—and released the incisive album Man Machine Poem. Although Downie was open to the Hip continuing without him, the band officially called it a day after their frontman's death, securing their legacy as one of integrity and influence in Canada and beyond.
Hometown
Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Genre
Rock