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. 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. Gord Downie was a Canadian rock singer-songwriter, musician, writer and activist. He was the lead singer and lyricist for The Tragically Hip, which he fronted from their formation in 1984 until his death in 2017. Downie was widely regarded as one of the most influential and popular artists in the Canadian alternative rock scene. Michael Barclay is a copy editor at Maclean's and a freelance music writer. He co-authored Have Not Been the Same: The CanRock Renaissance 1985–95.