Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie has died, the band said on its website Wednesday. He was 53.“Last night Gord quietly passed away with his beloved children and family close by,” said the statement posted on thehip.com.“Gord knew this day was coming – his response was to spend this precious time as he always had – making music, making memories and expressing deep gratitude to his family and friends for a life well lived, often sealing it with a kiss… on the lips.”Downie was born in Amherstview, Ont., a suburb of Kingston, on Feb. 6, 1964. He attended the Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute for high school, where he and four friends formed the Tragically Hip in 1983.In May 2016, the band revealed that Downie had been diagnosed with brain cancer, and announced what was assumed to be a farewell concert tour that coincided with the release for the Hip’s 14th studio album, Man Machine Poem.The 10-city, 15-show blitz across the country started in Victoria and ended in the Hip’s hometown of Kingston. The final show, on Aug. 20, 2016, was held at Kingston’s K-Rock Centre on 1 Tragically Hip Way and counted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau among the attendees.“Gord said he had lived many lives. 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. No one worked harder on every part of their life than Gord. No one,” the band’s statement said Wednesday.
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