Prime Minister Justin Trudeau joined thousands of fans to celebrate the Tragically Hip on their last stop on the Man Machine Poem tour in their hometown of Kingston, Ont. he spoke with Ron Mclean.
The band kicked off their tour in Victoria, B.C. last month — gaining traction with Canadian fans nationwide. Tickets sold out almost immediately after the band revealed Gord Downie, the lead singer, was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.
Trudeau wasn’t sure if he’d be able to attend the concert when asked in June. He said he was fortunate enough to have met with Gord Downie, and see the band perform at many concerts.
In May, Trudeau revealed in a tweet his adoration for the Hip, and what they mean to him. “Gord Downie is a true original who has been writing Canada’s soundtrack for more than 30 years,” he tweeted.
CBC spoke with the Canadian Prime Minister before the Kingston show to ask him in more detail why he adores the Hip, and how they’ve impacted his life. Watch the interview below.
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Meet the Tragically Hip's biggest fan
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Hip Check: a Tragically Hip listening party
Do the most Canadian song lyrics belong to the Tragically Hip?