News of Gord Downie's brain cancer sparks album sales

News of Tragically Hip singer Gord Downie's brain cancer hit Windsor fans hard, causing many to buy up albums from stores across the city.

Downiesuffers from an aggressive form of brain cancer known as glioblastomathat's incurable,but should not rob the band's frontman of his ability to sing,his doctor said today in Toronto.

• Gord Downie, Tragically Hip singer, has terminal cancer

The Hip's albums are almost sold out at Dr Disc Records, owner Liam O'Donnell said.

"There's been a steady flow out the door today," he told CBC News.

The Hip have been a consistently popular band at Dr Disc, where sales jumped Tuesday similar to what he saw after Prince and David Bowie's deaths.

One man bought $130 worth of records, while a woman bought $65 worth of CDs.

With another album set to release, O'Donnell said he plans to order extra because the news has raised more awareness of the band.

Dedicated fans

Downie's voice is iconically Canadian, "superfan"NabeelSheibansaid.

"There's no other band that has that kind of quintessential Canadian vibe to it," he said. "Every song that they release sounds like a Canadian song that you can play in the garage, with a couple beers, with buddies or around the campfire."

After attending four concerts, including one in Windsor and another in Bobcaygeon, Sheiban said he plans to make it to the next show.

"Charismatic" and "weird' are two words Sheiban used to describe Downie's style of performance, but it's what he enjoys most.

"If there's one thing about Gord Downie, when you see him performlive, he performs for the audience not for himself and you can tell that this final tour is probably going to be the greatest thing that he's ever going to do," he said.

Both the band andDowniehave become a staple in Canadian music, Jimmy Graham, anothersuperfan, said. When heperformed, Graham said songs including "Courage" were what people expected any band to play.

When word of his cancer was made public, Graham said he was "shattered."

"They're one of the greats, I would say pioneers, but at least one of the great bands that really personify Canadian music and Canadian way of life," he said. "Gord is just an amazing performer, just a great storyteller and he's a Canadian treasure."