Lead singer of Canadian rock group and the country’s ‘unofficial poet laureate’ has died following battle with brain cancerGord Downie, frontman of Canadian rock band the Tragically Hip, has died after a battle with brain cancer. A message on Twitter attributed to the Downie family announced that the musician had “passed away with his beloved children and family close by”. Gord Downie (@gorddownie) Statement - pic.twitter.com/3quqCF4zahCanadian band the Tragically Hip bid fans an emotional farewell Read moreThe Tragically Hip were founded in Kingston, Ontario, in 1984 and enjoyed huge success in Canada, including nine No 1 albums. Following Downie’s diagnosis, the Tragically Hip staged a tour to support their 13th album, Man Machine Poem. Trudeau released a statement following Downie’s death, saying “For almost five decades, Gord Downie uncovered and told the stories of Canada.

Source: The Guardian October 18, 2017 15:28 UTC