The Tragically Hip, also often referred to as simply "The Hip," consist of Bobby Baker (guitar), Gordon Downie (vocals, guitar), Johnny Fay (drums), Paul Langlois (guitar), and Gord Sinclair (bass). Formed in 1983, they took their name from a skit in the movie Elephant Parts by Michael Nesmith of The Monkees.
They were signed by MCA in 1987 when Bruce Dickinson saw them perform live at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto, Ontario. Later that year they released the EP The Tragically Hip, though they were largely unrecognized until 1989's Up To Here. Up To Here established them as one of the best and most influential bands in Canada.
In 1992 they created the Another Roadside Attraction festival, which tours Canada to promote small, unknown bands.
Though they are one of the biggest Canadian bands, they have never found success in the United States. However, the live album Live Between Us was recorded in Detroit, Michigan in 1996, and they have a small following mostly along the border in Michigan and New York. They also performed at Woodstock 1999.
Singer Gord Downie has released two solo albums, in 2001 and 2003.
