If there's anything the 2017 Juno awards established, it's that you don't play off The Tragically Hip. Like, ever.
The beloved band from Kingston, Ont. won the Junos Group Of The Year on Sunday night, and accepted their award to thunderous applause and cheers from the audience. It's been, as many know, a monumental and bittersweet year for The Hip. The band announced in May that lead singer Gord Downie had terminal brain cancer. The band embarked on a final tour this summer, with Canadians from coast to coast selling out every stadium that was booked.
So the Juno win was a logical accolade for the band this year. Members Rob Baker and Paul Langlois were onstage, with lead guitarist Baker first giving thanks to the people in their extended crew who ensure The Hip make it to their shows and that the shows run smoothly.
Rob Baker (R) and Paul Langlois of the The Tragically Hip accept the Juno for Group of the Year (Photo: Lars Hagberg/AFP/Getty)
Then Paul Langlois started to say his thank yous, thanking their label, Universal, and then their families.
And then the cut-off music played.
Some sort of pseudo-EDM type business.
Langlois was incredulous: "Oh, you're gonna play me off, are you?" he said.
Yes, Paul. With one of your own songs yet. As Langlois continued to give his thanks, the music switched to The Hip's "Ahead By A Century."
"Go to commercial, go ahead!" Langlois said. And then, "This is my arena, not yours," referring to the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa where The Hip had played six months earlier.
He went on to thank Gord Downie as the audience erupted into massive cheers, basically drowning out anything he said next.
Naturally, Canadians watching the show were not impressed with the show's choice to cut off the band.
Others couldn't believe they played The Hip off with ... The Hip.
But some thought The Hip should've been mindful of the timing of the show and kept things short:
Check out the surprising two minutes for yourself here: