When you think of the roster of national acts that have disappeared into the Canadian wilderness over the last 15 to 20 years, The Tragically Hip’s continuing relevance and popularity is quite impressive. To put it in perspective, here are a few examples of where The Hip’s contemporaries are now: Haywire and The Northern Pikes peaked, broke up and reunited for comeback shows and tours. Lee Aaron morphed from metal queen to jazz princess. Sash Jordan went from writing hits to judging nitwits on Canadian Idol. And what the hell ever happened to The Box, Glass Tiger and Alannah Myles? Meanwhile, The Tragically Hip consistently release great albums—10 so far—and tour to packed houses across the country, without the help of Big Brother down south. The Hip are as Canadian as hockey, beer and cold weather, and that’s probably why we love them so much.
Runner-up: Nickelback
