One of my favorite bands from the “arena rock” era of the 1980’s is reuniting for what will be their 50th anniversary in 2026 (initial dates and locations have already been announced beginning in April). The 3-piece band hails from Toronto, Canada and were long overshadowed by that other 3-piece Canadian band known as Rush (who I was also a fan of). Their music however was nowhere close to being alike; Triumph was straight up rock music with a very positive message (in many of the lyrical content) and were known for their pyrotechnic and laser light show (something that was mostly designed by the band and drummer Gil Moore).
Important Official Clarification
As expected, there were some of the different hot takes on this (some of it I believe was sourced from various post-announcement interviews that were conducted including Eddie Trunk’s show which I haven’t listened to yet) calling the presumed setup (of what wasn’t announced) a potential disaster. The band has since posted an announcement and FAQ about the tour on their official site.
I wrote the following knowing parts of these details (like them being joined by 3 other musicians). The only part that wasn’t clear was each members involvement at each show which they have now clarified that both Gil and Rik being there every night while Mike will be at select shows (basically the medical issues he has been dealing with). That part is understandable but this revelation might be enough to dampen ticket sales unfortunately.
Are some of the negative hot takes justified? To some degree, I understand that because for some fans, it is “all 3 or bust” (and brings up all the past opportunities since 2007 that failed to materialize). And I’ve read a bunch of disappointed posts about this as well (which I also understand) given how the band (unlike others), hasn’t toured with the original three since 1988 and had only three limited reunion engagements since then (which I wrote about below).
I’m still trying to look at this with some perspective though versus pure skepticism but I know the realities of productions like this where ticket sales will determine if this ends up being a go or not (they’ve booked some fairly large sized venues). And reaching a percentage of the projected sales might present a challenge for a band that hasn’t actively been performing/touring and releasing new material for well over a decade.
IMHO, after listening to Trunk’s interview with the three original members, I do agree with the take that they are being transparent (acknowledging they do need the assistance to put out a tour of this level, but are also still figuring out as they go how well it will all work).
UPDATE: the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame published the performance of Lay It On The Line that Rik Emmett and Phil X did back in October for Triumph’s induction. It really is a good sign of what these shows will be like.
Original Posting
I managed to see the band in their heyday across 3 different tours; Allied Forces (1981), Never Surrender (1983), and Thunder Seven (1985). Guitarist, co-vocalist, and songwriter Rik Emmett would leave the band in 1988; it was an acrimonius breakup mired in accusations and lawsuits where the prospects of them ever getting back together seemed like it would never occur. Emmett would go onto a relatively successful solo career (definitely no where the level of the numbers that Triumph did, but more than enough to keep him musically active and connected with fans).
Following is from their Allied Forces tour (pro shot for a live simulcast on radio via Westwood One and MTV in 1982)… best attempt to ML enhance/upscale this and cleaning up the audio.
His guitar playing (not only straight up shredding, but also very classical) is what drove me to buy my first electric guitar (something I couldn’t afford at the time so I bought this really cheap junk from Sears). A few years later, I saved up enough to buy a Charvel Model 3 or 4 (since I couldn’t afford their flagship Jackson Soloist; my college classmate had this gorgeous emerald sparkle Soloist). Over a decade later, I’d end up owning well over 50 guitars including a bunch of Jackson’s that I could only dream about before (I have since downsized that collection). But I digress…
Post-Emmett, the band initially tried continuing on with Phil X (Theofilos Xenidis) as the guitarist a few years later. But that was during that transition into the 90’s when the music scene was going through this shift (with the Seattle “grunge” alternative genre being close to exploding into the mainstream). The bands final album (Edge of Excess in 1992) didn’t fare well; the band decided to breakup in 1993. Moore continued running the studio he had setup (the band self-managed/produced themselves) in 1978; the studio has become a very storied one in terms of artists that have recorded there. That studio is Metalworks Studio in Mississauga, Ontario. Bassist Mike Levine continued running the business part including working with Moore on re-releasing parts of their catalog and selling merchandise including items that had been kept stored.
For over a decade after Triumph officially went on hiatus, Emmett was not on speaking terms with his former bandmates and business partners. However, in 2007, they were inducted into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame where the three appeared together on stage for the first time in close to 20 years to accept their induction. Emmett gave a moving speech about how his late brother who had passed away from cancer, had requested that he try to make amends with his former bandmates because life is too short to be bitter. With these recognitions, the two sides managed to communicate and resolve the differences/misunderstandings that had kept one of the most talented bands separated. In 2008, they were also inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
But as far as an actual reunion (to record new material or to even tour), those were consistently non-starters. Even during their heyday, the band was very picky about how everything was run (being self-managed) and would only put on shows that met their own personal standards for delivering that light show (outdoor air festivals being the exception). In the summer of 2008 though, they made two different appearances; at the Sweden Rock Festival and Rocklahoma. It was at that time when there was a lot of hope for the band getting back together again on a full-time basis. But multiple interviews afterwards, they confirmed that financially (due to the nature of how the music business was), touring to the level which they expected of themselves would put them into a financial hole.
For years after that, rumors of a tour with a classic lineup of Van Halen (with Triumph as one of the groups on the bill) circulated but all fell flat as the years went on. Emmett himself was the only one who remained musically active up until the pandemic while both Levine and Moore admitted that it would be challenging for them to tour. Emmett himself was also looking to take time off from the small club shows he was doing (to spend more time with his grandchildren). He would also more recently reveal post-pandemic that he came down with prostate cancer and was experiencing arthritis in his hands. Moore himself had mentioned that he had lost his drumming chops/stamina where the prospects of even trying to play a full set seemed daunting.
Basically, age (health issues) coupled with musical performing inactivity, was seemingly putting an end to any further live touring. But decades ago, the band had this song released in 1987 entitled Never Say Never. In recent years, each band member in separate interviews have mentioned that they never ruled out the possibility of ever performing together again as it had last done in 2008).
In 2019 for a “super fan” event which they held for 300 selected fans that were flown to Mississauga, the band did a surprise performance of 3 songs (which was captured in a documentary called Triumph: Rock & Roll Machine (released in 2021).
Then just this past summer (in June 2025), it was announced that Triumph would reunite for its first public performance in 17 years for a free concert that would be held prior to the Edmonton Oilers’ second Stanley Cup final game against the Florida Panthers. Triumph’s song Lay It On the Line had gone viral in Canada since part of the song had been used as promotional material for the Stanley Cup Finals. That turned into a pleasant surprise for the members of Triumph as they learned the song was on high rotation and being searched for and watched online (exposing the band and their music to a whole younger audience), and led to this rather last minute appearance. The following is their epic performance of the song from the 1983 US Festival.
Levine however would not be present since he had a long schedule appointment with a specialist (for an undisclosed health issue) that he could not get out of (because as he explained it, he had been waiting for a long time to see this doctor and cancelling would require another long wait which he couldn’t afford to do for his medical condition). Both Emmett and Moore played alongside several other Canadian musicians including Phil X (who had replaced Emmett after he left). While it honestly was not the best sounding performance (Rik’s voice sounded really rough), the fact they were at least partially together was nice to see.
It was at this time (watching those moments), that I felt they had one really final opportunity to take advantage of this renewed interest. Moore himself had discussed (in recent years) different ways the band could present their music in a live show setting (lot of conceptual stuff that didn’t seem to rule out anything including guest musicians, holograms, and since he mentioned collaborations with Microsoft, likely AI/ML generated content (based on material which they of course own). Thus it sounded like the three would appear in limited fashion (to do a few songs) while other parts would be presented via these other avenues. For this tour though, it seems they are committed to performing a complete 90+ minute setlist along with 3 other performers (the same ones who they played with for the Edmonton live; Phil X on guitar, Todd Kerns on bass, and Brent Fitz on drums)
After months of silence (since the surprise appearance in June), the band put out a series of shorts the past few days hinting at a big announcement (2025 is actually their 50th year since they formed). Many (myself included) had a gut feeling of what that announcement would be when the first one showed Gil Moore (with drum sticks in his back pocket) walking through the halls of Metalworks Studio into a room with a door that said “rehearsal room”, where he sat down at a small drum kit.
The short the next day showed bassist Mike Levine sitting at a mixing desk with his bass and then walking into the rehearsal studio with both Emmett and Moore sitting there (not well hidden at all nor serious attempts to hide what that big announcement would be).
And they delivered that exact expectation (and will be touring with fellow Canadian rockers April Wine as the opener; though most of that bands original lineup has either left or passed away). Definitely older and wiser and possibly re-energized by the exposure to a newer/younger audience along with many of us who have long waited for this very thing to happen. Even their kids/grandkids will be able to experience them performing together (and that will be an incredible moment for them).
I don’t have any expectation of there being perfection (and definitely know they aren’t going to be running around the stage like back in the 80’s). Emmett himself has had to lower the tuning for many of the songs that he could easily sing at the high range while in his 30’s. Most of us know this reality as we get older and just want to see them together again performing a set of songs that were anthemic while we were growing up, while getting into our own careers, while having/raising a family, etc. Or as many have put it, their music was the “soundtrack of their life”.
But I do know their desire to deliver as quality and entertaining of a performance as possible including that stage show which they were known for back in the day, will be unchanged (and will be assisted by those guest musicians that Moore once mentioned. Many of us were fortunate to be able to experience them in their prime. And many of us who are now older (as they are), get to experience the Rock and Roll Machine once again with a whole new/younger generation of fans that they picked up since the Stanley Cup promos were aired this past summer.
