Gordon Downie (lead vocals)
Paul Langlois (rhythm guitar, backing vocals)
Bobby Baker (lead guitar)
Gord Sinclair (bass, backing vocals)
Johnny Fay (drums)
Originally from the penetentiary town of Kingston,Ontario, The Tragically Hip started playing together with the current, unchanged line-up, in 1983. They chose their name from a skit in the cult classic 'Elephant Parts' movie by ex-Monkee Michael Nesmith.
They toured the rigorous southern Ontario club scene before coming to the attention of MCA Records' then president Bruce Dickinson who was sufficiently impressed with their performance at the legendary Horseshoe Tavern to sign them to a long-term record deal.
Their 1987 eponymous debut EP went completely unnoticed despite the airplay of their first single 'Smalltown Bringdown', but their 1989 follow-up 'Up To Here' featured their first breakthrough with two hit singles "Blow At High Dough" and "New Orleans Is Sinking" firmly establishing The Tragically Hips presence on the Canadian music scene.
1991's 'Road Apples' made The Hip a household name with its Don Smith produced slick and jangly catchiness. Three hit singles put the band on the map and they were able to tour Australia where they released a special single for that market with "Twist My Arm".
1992 saw a quick follow up with the solid 'Fully Completely' and the radio/video staples "Locked In The Trunk Of A Car"at which time they launched the first of their annual 'Another Roadside Attraction' touring sideshows. The festival attracts thousands per city appearance and features the added bonus of dozens of additional acts both from Canada and abroad.
Two more singles kept their live momentum rolling with "Courage" and "At The 100th Meridian" at which time they slowed down to record the next album - 'Day For Night'. Despite all their success, the American market was an elusive dream. The band did sign a US deal through Atlantic to see their album released south of the border, but supporting tours were merely hit and run affairs with the label unwilling to invest in a definitive marketing plan to get the Hip known to the American public.
During their tour for 'Trouble At The Henhouse", they recorded their show at Cobo Hall Arena-Detroit, MI in 1996, the result being "Live Between Us". The album came out in 1997 and was released, as usual, on Universal in Canada, but their previous distributor, Atlantic US weren't interested in handling the USA, so the band has been handling their own distribution stateside.
The summer of 1998 sees the release of their 8th full-length album called 'Phantom Power'
Singles
1987 Smalltown Bringdown (BMG)
1989 Blow At High Dough (MCA)
1989 New Orleans Is Sinking (MCA)
1990 Boots Or Hearts (MCA)
1990 38 Years Old (MCA)
1991 Little Bones (MCA)
1991 Three Pistols (MCA)
1991 Twist My Arm (MCA - Australia)
1991 Long Time Running (MCA)
1991 On The Verge (MCA)
1992 Locked In The Trunk Of A Car (MCA)
1993 Courage (MCA)
1993 At The Hundredth Meridian (MCA)
1993 Looking For A Place To Happen (MCA)
1994 50 Mission Cap (MCA)
1998 Poets (Universal)
2000 My Music @ Work (Universal)
Albums
1987 The Tragically Hip (BMG)
1989 Up To Here (MCA)
1991 Road Apples (MCA)
1992 Fully Completely (MCA)
1994 Day For Night (Universal)
1996 Trouble At The Henhouse (Universal)
1997 Live Between Us (Universal)
1998 Phantom Power (Universal)
2000 Music @ Work (Universal)
Video
1987 Smalltown Bringdown
1989 Blow At High Dow
1989 New Orleans Is Sinking
1991 Little Bones
1991 Twist My Arm
1992 Locked In The Trunk Of A Car
1993 Courage
1993 At The 100th Meridian
1996 Gift Shop
1998 Poets
Compilation Tracks
1998 "Emergency" on '30 Hour Famine' (Nettwerk)
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