Interview with Torquil Campbell from Stars (PANAMANIA / Pan Am Games series)

Twitter: @PeteHatesMusic

We have another interview in our PANAMANIA music series. What the heck is PANAMANIA you ask? It’s the best free summer concert series around in Toronto. As part of the Pan / Parapan Am Games, we’ll see acts such as The Flaming Lips, The Roots, Death From Above 1979, Chromeo, Explosions in the Sky, Basia Bulat, and our two PANAMANIA interviewees (and many more) PLAY FOR FREE in Toronto. This is more exciting than staying at home on a Friday night and alphabetizing your Star Wars novels (not that I’ve ever done that…..)

Yesterday, Rich Aucoin told us about his Pan Harder song title. Today, we once again chat with Torquil Campbell from Stars (see our 2012 interview here).

Catch Stars not once but twice – they play Nathan Phillips Square on Wednesday, July 22 at 8:15pm, and again at CIBC Pan Am Park (aka The Exhibition grounds) on Thursday, July 23 at 5:30pm. The band then continue on their tour for their latest album, No One Is Lost.

PeteHatesMusic (PHM): In an alternate universe, you’re a Pan Am athlete. What sport are you competing in?

Torquil Campbell (TC): Competitive weeping.

Stars, in training for competitive weeping (Photo credit – Shervin Lainez)

PHM: We’ve been asking athletes who they listen to before they compete. Who do you listen to as motivation to go on-stage?

TC: My wife.

PHM: Are you able to check out any Pan Am or Parapan Am events when you’re not performing?

TC: Nope.

Stars – No One Is Lost

PHM: Which of your songs would be best suited for some pre-event blasting throughout the arena to get the crowd excited?

TC: He Lied About Death

PHM: The FIFA World Cup and Olympics have had official songs with cheesy titles like We Are One (Ole Ola), Waka Waka, Survival, One World One Flame, and The Power of the Dream. If your band could write the official song for the Pan/Parapan Am Games, what would its hypothetical song title be called?

TC: Who the fuck are we?

PHM: Pachi the porcupine is the official mascot of the Pan/Parapan Am Games. What animal or creature would be your mascot and why?

TC: A flatulent dog called marjory. because she is my spirit animal.

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Colourful answers as always from Mr. Torquil Campbell. I, for one, welcome a mascot of a flatulent dog, no matter what its name is. Go fart up a storm at the Stars’ shows on July 22 and 23 (or on the rest of their fall tour).

Follow us on Twitter @PeteHatesMusic for more music and Pan Am goodness.