Bandmates: Frontman of “Tragically Hip” turned down the offer to become a hologram in his final years

Gord Downie had no interest in ever becoming a hologram musician.

According to him, he was confronted with this offer to his former bandmates from Tragically Hip around the time when he announced in 2016 that he was suffering from incurable brain cancer.

Trending guitarist Paul Langlois told the Canadian Press that a well-known hologram company known for creating digital versions of deceased artists reached out to the band and asked if the “Ahead By a Century” artist might want to join.

“Gord was so sharp that he was the same Gord,” Langlois said.

“And he just said, 'Are you kidding me? No way.'”

Hologram concerts are becoming increasingly popular in the music industry after the estates of Whitney Houston, Amy Winehouse and many others approved digital recreations of the deceased artists.

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Living Swedish pop superstars ABBA helped develop this innovative concept when they created a residency featuring younger versions of themselves performing in front of a live audience.

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Downie died in October 2017 after the Hip had completed their tumultuous final tour.

While promoting the four-part documentary “The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal,” Langlois and drummer Johnny Fay stated that they would keep Downie's word about holograms if they were ever approached again.

“If it's something like that, there will be 1,000 'no's',” Langlois said.

“We would all be on the same side in the future.”

The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal premieres at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 5 before making its streaming debut on Prime Video.

TIFF runs from September 5 to 15.

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