Guide Note

Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip rose to popularity in the late 1980s. Their first self titled album was released in 1987, but it was not until the release of Up to Here in 1989 that they broke into the mainstream. They are known for their improvisational versions of songs and energetic live performances.

Fast Facts

1. Years Active: 1983-Present
2. Origin: Kingston, Ontario
3. Members: Five
4. Record Label: Universal Music Group
5. Discography
6. Inducted into the Candian Music Hall of Fame in 2005
7. Played Woodstock in 1999
8. Singer Gordon Downie is also a goalie
9. Bass guitarist Gord Sinclair is a Mormon

Members

Originally formed in 1983 in Kingston, Ontario, the group is comprised of Gordon Downie, Rob Baker, Johnny Fay, Gord Sinclair, and Paul Langlois. The saxophone player, Davis Manning, is no longer with the band. Gordon Downie and Rob Baker have both released albums outside The Tragically Hip, Downie as a solo artist and Baker with his side project Stripper's Union

Crossing the Border

The Tragically Hip's fan base is primarily based in Canada, as they have not found widespread success in the United States beyond the Northern border states. The difference in the band's popularity between the two countries is so large that when playing in Canada, The Tragically Hip often sell out the biggest arenas, while in the States they usually only play smaller venues such as clubs. In the week of their live album release, Live Between Us, eight of the fourteen songs on the album were top 20 singles in Canada. The band had their biggest appearance in the U.S. on Saturday Night Live in March of 1995. In 2005, they were inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

Quotes

1. "The chance of us breaking the States is probably decreasing. I think we would be shocked if it happened; we've never really expected to do that."—Paul Langlois
2. "I’ve likened being on stage to being on a hot griddle. When the music is pumping, it makes you do strange things."—Gordon Downie
3. "It feels like our level of communication and our connection with each other will enable us to keep doing this for a long time."—Paul Langlois