The Never-Ending Present : The Story of Gord Downie and the Tragically Hip

The #1 National Bestseller Shortlisted for the 2019 Speaker's Book Award Nominated for the 2019 Heritage Toronto Book Award "Barclay combines his admiration of the band with his knowledge of the music industry to make a clever, touching, and very informative book that may well be the definitive work on an important piece of Canadian pop culture." — Publishersweekly.com, starred review The long-awaited, first-ever print biography of Canada's band! In the summer of 2016, more than a third of Canadians tuned in to watch what was likely the Tragically Hip's final performance, broadcast from their hometown of Kingston, Ontario. Why? Because these five men were always more than just a band. They sold millions of records and defined a generation of Canadian rock music. But they were also a tabula rasa onto which fans could project their own ideas: of performance, of poetry, of history, of Canada itself. In the first print biography of the Tragically Hip, Michael Barclay talks to dozens of the band's peers and friends about not just the Hip's music but about the opening bands, the American albatross, the band's role in Canadian culture, and Gord Downie's role in reconciliation with Indigenous people. When Downie announced he had terminal cancer and decided to take the Hip on the road one more time, the tour became another Terry Fox moment; this time, Canadians got to witness an embattled hero reach the finish line. This is a book not just for fans of the band: it's for anyone interested in how culture can spark national conversations. Front Cover 1 Copyright 3 Table of Contents 4 Preface 8 Chapter One: In a Big Country 12 Chapter Two: I Can Only Give You Everything 28 Chapter Three: Everybody Knows the Words 52 Chapter Four: On the Verge 66 Chapter Five: Are You Billy Ray? Who Wants to Know? 86 Chapter Six: Something Familiar 90 Chapter Seven: Stolen from a Hockey Card 105 Chapter Eight: You Want It Darker 120 Chapter Nine: Let’s Debunk an American Myth 138 Chapter Ten: Super-Capacity 158 Chapter Eleven: Escape Is at Hand for the Travelling Man 170 Chapter Twelve: The Berlin Period 191 Chapter Thirteen: Is It Better For Us If You Don’t Understand? 209 Chapter Fourteen: Is the Actor Happy? 223 Chapter Fifteen: A Heart-Warming Moment for Literature 234 Chapter Sixteen: As Makeshift as We Are 249 Chapter Seventeen: The Dance and Its Disappearance 268 Chapter Eighteen: Rock It from the Crypt 280 Chapter Nineteen: Are We the Same? 292 Chapter Twenty: Oh Yeah, This Band 303 Chapter Twenty-One: The Inevitability of Death 323 Chapter Twenty-Two: Exit, Stage 5 341 Chapter Twenty-Three: The Stranger 364 Chapter Twenty-Four: That Night in Kingston 390 Chaper Twenty-Five: The Luxury 417 Photos 434 Endnotes 450 Index 480 Acknowledgements 502 Back Cover 506 The Long-awaited, First-ever Print Biography Of “canada’s Band” “a Clever, Touching, And Very Informative Book That May Well Be The Definitive Work On An Important Piece Of Canadian Pop Culture.” — Publishers Weekly, Starred Review In The Summer Of 2016, More Than A Third Of Canadians Tuned In To Watch The Tragically Hip’s Final Performance. Why? Partially Because Gord Downie’s Terminal Brain Cancer Made The Event Much Bigger Than Merely A Musical Occasion. But Also Because These Five Men Were Always More Than Just A Chart-topping Band. They Defined A Generation Of Canadian Rock Music. They Were A Tabula Rasa Onto Which Fans Could Project Their Own Ideas: Of Performance, Of Poetry, Of History, Of Canada Itself. Acclaimed Music Journalist Michael Barclay Talks To Dozens Of The Band’s Peers And Friends About Not Just The Hip’s Music But About The Opening Bands, Dealing With Disease Through Art, Gord Downie’s Role In Reconciliation With Indigenous People, And The Hip’s Role In Canadian Culture. It’s A Book For Those Who Have Always Loved The Hip, And For Everyone Else. As Downie Said At That Final Show Watched By Millions, “everyone Is Invited. Everyone Is Involved.” The long-awaited, one and only unauthorized biography of The Tragically Hip