Some have called The Tragically Hip Canada's band, but they're also a band for artists, according to Canadian indie band Stars singer, Torquil Campbell. He played at festivals with The Hip and he remembers them as a "gentlemanly, kind, supportive, loving group of people."

Listen to Campbell recount his experience playing at a music festival with Gord Downie and The Hip in Calgary with Checkup guest host Allison Devereaux.

Torquil Campbell: I was just making dinner listening to all these people from all over the country talk about what the [Tragically Hip's] music meant to them and what the band meant to them. We [Stars] have been lucky enough to play with The Hip a few times and I've spent time with all of those gentlemen. I just wanted everybody to know that the beauty that you hear in their music is reflected in their "personhood."

Without any exaggeration, Gord Downie is the single most generous, passionately supportive, committed, loving person that I've ever encountered in my career as a musician. No matter where you are and no matter who you are, if Gord's in the building he's watching your show.

He was sitting side stage during the first show we played with The Hip, which was at a Virgin Music festival in Calgary a few years ago. First of all when we got there, there were trailers for all the bands but there was a big fence up around The Hip's trailer. Somebody said to me, "I guarantee you within 10 minutes of those boys arriving on site that fence will be taken down." And sure enough when the van pulled up, they all got in and they looked at the fence as they walked into their trailer. Ten minutes later, not only was it coming down, but they were out there taking it down themselves. And that sort of embodies who they are as people and as professionals.

At that festival, even when he was the star of the show, Gord sat on a travel case and watched, from the first band on at one o'clock till The Tragically Hip walked on stage at nine. He watched every moment of every show—he was there cheering and screaming. If you asked him to sing with him he'd get up and sing with you - that's the kind of guy he is. He is a true artist; he's a true citizen; and he's a true friend.

There is a no more gentlemanly, kind, supportive, loving group of people than the people who make the Tragically Hip. Most of all, Gord as their leader just exemplifies what an artist and what a citizen should be. He takes responsibility for his soul and he shares everything he has. And I want people to know that he's an extraordinary man and they're all extraordinary people and we should celebrate the hell out of them this summer—just get out there and scream for them and have beers and have an awesome time because that's what they want you to do.