The Metal Voice‘s Jimmy Kay and Alan Dixon spoke via Zoom Triumph longtime guitarist and solo artist Rik Emmett. Emmett spoke about the re-release of 11 of his solo albums, why he left Triumph and the upcoming Triumph Documentary.
July 10, 2020, Round Hill Records reissued 11 solo Rik recordings in the digital format, including Ten Invitations (1998), Swing Shift (1998), Raw Quartet (1999), Live at Berklee (2000), Handiwork (2003), Good Faith (2003), Strung-Out Troubadours (2006), Live at Hugh’s Room (2007), Liberty Manifesto (2007), Push & Pull (2009), and Marco’s Secret Songbook (2012):
When asked if Triumph was considered a Heavy Metal Band “The Truth of Triumph is I think the other guys more so Gil Moore the drummer would have preferred to have been a Metal band and (bassist) Mike Levine was kind of happy to go along with that journey. When they first initially envisioned the band (Triumph) before I was even in it, I think they sort of saw it as a Jimi Hendrix, Cream kind of thing. However I did have more progressive bones in my body. Plus I would also write a tune and hope that it would cross over to AM radio and Heavy Metal never did that.”
When asked about leaving Triumph “The reason why I left the band (Triumph) was because I couldn’t do things I wanted to do in the Triumph situation. There was also pressure from managers, agents and even the record company at the time saying, you don’t want to get too far away from the hard rock sound. I think it’s true the band reflected the personalities and the characters of the three of us and it’s kind of like sometimes the things that make a band good and unique are also the kind of things that creates tension and stress inside the band. That eventually maybe are the things that are going to break the band up. John Lennon and Paul MCcartney would be the supreme example. “
When asked about the direction of his solo albums “I was never concerned about trying to retail records in a record company situation. I was a musician, I would write, record, I would put out these records and if I made my money back I would go oh great. On those records I was all over the map. I was doing stuff like jazz, classical guitar, blues etc… I was fulfilling all of the things that have been frustrated dreams when I was in Triumph, now I was going to do whatever I wanted to do. After decades along comes Round Hill Records and they started with putting out the Triumph albums on Vinyl and now my solo albums. “
When asked about the upcoming Triumph Documentary “Banger are pros and they are digging around your life and they are going in deep. There is a surreal nature to it, you are going back in your life and they (Banger) remind you of things you completely forgotten and sometimes it hurts. I have seen a rough cut, it’s really good it really gets to the heart of the band, the music, the connections to people and how we were a soundtrack to the fans lives and how it matters to them.”
For decades, Rik Emmett (largely considered one of the greatest rock guitarists of all-time) has been a prolific recording artist – whether it be as a member of Triumph, offering solo material, or collaborating with others. And now, fans will be able to enjoy quite a few of his solo releases once again – which covers a wide variety of styles.
Originally released 30 years ago, TRIUMPH’s ‘Classics’ celebrated the legendary Canadian power trio’s Greatest Hits.
And now, on December 13th, 2019, TRIUMPH’s 13-track ‘Classics’ will once again hit the racks (via Round Hill/Triumph Catalog), and all of the expected gems are included – “Lay It on the Line,” “Magic Power,” “A World of Fantasy,” “Fight the Good Fight,” and “Hold On.”
Also featured are two special live recordings that close the set – “Never Surrender” (live at the US Festival) and “Blinding Light Show/Moon Child (live at Sweden Rock).
The album will also be available for preorder via the link here: smarturl.it/TriumphClassics
“We are excited to showcase our career on the ‘Classics’ reissue,” says the band. “It’s a beautiful package and sounds awesome!”
Comprised of drummer/vocalist Gil Moore, bassist/keyboardist Mike Levine, and guitarist/vocalist Rik Emmett, Triumph formed in 1975 (hailing from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada). With their unique blend of progressive rock, heavy metal and soaring melodies, the band enjoyed a string of rock radio and MTV hits, in the process scoring a string of gold and platinum-certified albums and selling out arenas, thrilling fans with their award-winning live shows.
And in December, rock fans will be reminded once again about the power that Triumph possessed – deep in the grooves of ‘Classics.’
TRIUMPH: ‘CLASSICS’ TRACKLISTING:
Tears in the Rain
Lay It on the Line
I Live for the Weekend
Magic Power
Somebody’s Out There
Spellbound
A World of Fantasy
Follow Your Heart
Fight the Good Fight
Rock & Roll Machine
Hold On
Never Surrender (Live at the US Festival)
Blinding Light Show/Moon Child (Live at Sweden Rock)
Banger Films, in association with Revolver Films and Bell Media’s streaming service Crave, is currently in production on TRIUMPH: LAY IT ON THE LINE, the first-ever feature documentary about the dramatic career of the legendary Canadian power trio TRIUMPH. And now, the producers are inviting a limited number of fans to be part of the action.
In the “triumphant” spirit of the film, Banger is giving a group of lucky fans a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend a special event that will be filmed for the documentary. The intimate and interactive celebration is scheduled for Saturday November 16, 2019 in the Greater Toronto Area, and it’s a chance for the attendees to explore the story of the group, interact with rare artifacts and iconic props from the Triumph legacy, and of course, hang out with the band themselves. More than that, it’s a chance for Triumph to say thank you to the fans who have stuck with them for over thirty years.
Capacity for the event is extremely limited. Fans interested in attending should contact Banger Films at TriumphEvent@bangerfilms.com for information on how they can be a part of this momentous event.
Check out the ‘Triumph Superfan Fantasy Event’ teaser video here:
Produced by Emmy and Peabody award-winning Banger Films, TRIUMPH: LAY IT ON THE LINE is a Crave Original Documentary that’s a celebratory, exhilarating thrill ride through the history of one of rock’s most unsung bands. Slated for release in 2020, the film covers Triumph’s humble beginnings as staples of the GTA circuit in the mid-70s to their heyday as touring juggernauts, selling out arenas and stadiums all across North America with their legendary spectacular live shows – and way beyond.
Drummer/vocalist Gil Moore, bassist/keyboardist Mike Levine, and guitarist/vocalist Rik Emmett formed Triumph in 1975, and their blend of heavy riff-rockers with progressive odysseys, peppered with thoughtful, inspiring lyrics and virtuosic guitar playing quickly made them a household name in Canada. Anthems like Lay It On The Line, Magic Power, and Fight The Good Fight broke them in the USA, and they amassed a legion of fiercely passionate fans. But, as a band that suddenly split at the zenith of their popularity, Triumph missed out on an opportunity to say thank you to those loyal and devoted fans, a base that is still active today, three decades later.
“Mike, Rik, and I are thrilled to revisit Triumph’s history, and especially to express our gratitude to our amazing fans,” says Gil Moore. “We are excited to be working with Banger Films and this documentary is our way of reaching out to all those people who have touched us along the journey to say ‘THANKS’”
TRIUMPH: LAY IT ON THE LINE will be right at home in the Banger Films catalogue, among such esteemed rock docs as Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage, Super Duper Alice Cooper, Iron Maiden: Flight 666, and, most recently, ZZ Top: That Little Ol’ Band From Texas. Featuring interviews with Triumph, their contemporaries, their close friends and partners, and their fans, this film will be an all-access pass into the story behind the hit records and the light shows. Overflowing with unseen footage and unheard audio, this is a film for both the diehard fans and the casual observers, a story about the three friendships that formed the basis of one of Canada’s most successful rock bands.
The film is produced by Banger Films in association with Revolver Films, Bell Media’s Crave, Live Nation Productions and NBC Universal Canada. It is produced with the participation of the Rogers Documentary Fund and Slaight Communications Inc. International Distribution by Round Hill Music.
Portland-based SATANARCHIST supplies the public with a vicious new dose of their punk-infused thrash metal concoction with “Triumph”, the latest single from their impending second album, “First Against The Wall”, which sees independent release next week. The new single is spilled by popular underground metal portal, No Clean Singing, as the band prepares to assault Canada on a cross-country tour.
Recorded and mixed by Fester at Haywire Studios (Usnea, Rabbits, Stoneburner) and mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege (Obituary, Integrity, Nails), “First Against The Wall” will lure diehard blackthrash worshippers and devotees of crust/d-beat punk and social activism into its unrelenting attack. In addition to nine searing SATANARCHIST anthems, “First Against The Wall” comes to a finale with a cover of the macabre ballad “Silver Ships Of Andilar” by Texas country legend Townes Van Zandt.
Yet another example of the horrifyingly angry and high-quality anthems of protest and rage in response to the actions carried out by our president, SATANARCHIST’s politically-enraged “Triumph” hammers forth from the speakers upon the listener, making their feelings on the current US administration unmistakable. Offers No Clean Singing of the song, “‘Triumph’ is a blazing-fast fireball of ripping, writhing blackened thrash with a palpable sense of rage mixed with rampant destructive tendencies. Whiplashing arpeggios and molten soloing blend with caustic vocal fury. And then the song changes… slowing, and becoming brooding, bruised, doomed, and even more memorable (but still punctured by eruptions of Nunziata’s turbocharged percussive mayhem).”
Discharge SATANARCHIST’s “Triumph” at THIS LOCATION.
Also stream “Tempest Of Sorrow” at Decibel Magazine RIGHT HERE, and stream “Paradox” and preorder the album at THIS LOCATION.
SATANARCHIST will independently release First Against The Wall digitally and on CD on June 2nd, while embarked on a cross-Canada tour in support of the album. The tour kicked off this Friday, May 26th and runs through June 10th, the first leg of the tour alongside Spinesplitter, and the rest of the dates see them paired with Hard Charger. And, just announced is a hometown record release show for the album on June 14th, which sees SATANARCHIST joining Barghest and Recluse. Watch for additional tour dates to be announced in the coming weeks.
SATANARCHIST Tour Dates: 5/26/2017 The Beer Gardens – Charlottetown, PEI w/ Spinesplitter, Busted Skulls
5/27/2017 Gus Pub – Halifax, NS w/ Spinesplitter, CrotchRot, Versifist
5/28/2017 Claudes House – Moncton, NB w/ Spinesplitter, Diner Drugs
5/29/2017 The Capital – Fredericton, NB w/ Spinesplitter, Mangler
6/01/2017 Maniac Mansion – Fredericton, NB w/ Hard Charger
6/02/2017 Scanner Bistro – Quebec City, QC w/ Hard Charger
6/03/2017 House Of Targ – Ottawa, ON w/ Hard Charger
6/0/2017 The Garnet – Peterborough, ON w/ Hard Charger
6/05/2017 Doors Pub – Hamilton, ON w/ Hard Charger, Greber, Thick Piss
6/06/2017 The Windsor Beer Exchange – Windsor, ON w/ Hard Charger
6/07/2017 The Temple – St. Catherines, ON w/ Hard Charger
6/08/2017 Coalition – Toronto, ON w/ Hard Charger, F*ckhawk, Black Tar
6/09/2017 Fattal – Montreal, QC w/ Hard Charger
6/10/2017 Rock Le Stage – Trois Rivieres, QC w/ Hard Charger
6/14/2017 High Water Mark – Portland, OR *record release show w/ Barghest, Recluse [info]
Formed by two former members of Spectral Tombs, SATANARCHIST surges with music that embodies the band’s philosophies of atheism, Satanism and anarchism reflected in a sound that fuses black metal, anarcho-punk and thrash. The follow-up to their 2014-released Making Threats At Punks Again debut, on SATANARCHIST’s First Against The Wall brutalizer, drummer/lyricist Mark Nunziata and guitarist/vocalist John Edwards maintain a similar hybrid of rabid metal/punk styles as before, but the material exhibits a progression in the intricacy and complexity of the songwriting. The lyrics deepen into a more straightforwardly political realm addressing environmental devastation and ecological sustainability, the rise of fascism in US politics, the damage wrought by the institution of religion, and the weight of death and loss.
TRIUMPH guitarist RIK EMMET & RESolution9 have teamed up with Metal Shock Finland to premiere for Finland the band’s official lyric video “Human Race”, taken from their electrifying new album “RES 9”, coming out worldwide on November 11th, via Mascot Label Group. The album features contributions from RUSH guitarist Alex Lifeson, DREAM THEATER vocalist James LaBrie, and Rik Emmett’s onetime TRIUMPH bandmates, bassist Mike Levine and drummer Gil Moore.
Comments Tarja Virmakari, Metal Shock Finland‘s CEO/Founder/President:
“Metal Shock Finland has a huge pleasure to premiere for Finland this awesome pearl of classic rock, “Human Race”! Each note and riff tell about the high class style and skill to dominate the genre. If this is what the “RES 9″ album is about, I’m surely looking forward to enjoy it fully!”
Watch the video here:
“This album represents a journey through my life,” Emmett observes, “and the idea behind a lot of these songs is me trying to figure out who I am, and why I’m doing what I’m doing. There’s a common thread of positivity here that ties into the records I was making 30 years ago. What did I learn from making them? You’ll hear all of that echoed in the grooves of this album.”
Indeed, the scope of the 11 deeply heartfelt songs on RES 9 covers a lot of exciting aural ground, from the out-of-the-gate gallop of “Human Race” (which also features a driving 12-string contribution from Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson) to the testifying tones of “My Cathedral” to the whispering blues of “The Ghost of Shadow Town,” not to mention the cutting-heads guitar duels on “End of the Line” and the touching album-closing bonus track “Grand Parade,” which reunites Emmett with his onetime Triumph bandmates, bassist Mike Levine and drummer Gil Moore. The RESolution9 band itself is comprised of Rik’s touring quartet, with Dave Dunlop on guitar, Steve Skingley on bass and keyboards, and Paul DeLong on drums. Dunlop and Skingley also co-produced RES 9 with Emmett.
Emmett is a strong believer in teamwork, and to him, the overall vibe of RES 9 is clearly reflected in the brotherhood and camaraderie shared amongst all the artists who made this special music together. “You can’t accomplish this kind of project 100 percent by yourself,” Emmett believes. “It takes a lot of things working together to make something like this happen. I come back to the old saying that goes, ‘Success has many fathers, and failure is an orphan.’ I knew that I had to spread it all around. It’s important I keep the guys in my band pretty happy.”
Lead track “Human Race” masterfully sets the positivity table for what’s to come. “I’ve been around the block a few times, and one of the things I like about the lyrics in ‘Human Race’ is when we get to the last verse where it says, ‘I am still this guy. I still live this.’ That’s very true,” Emmett acknowledges. “There’s also a line in there about raising a joyful noise — and I still want to do that too.”
Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson added some period-perfect 12-string guitar alongside Emmett and Dunlop to buttress the impact of “Human Race,” and he says he found it quite an honor to play with and for his lifelong friend. “When Rik asked me to play on his new album, I didn’t hesitate for a second,” Lifeson reports. “He’s the consummate musician, a wonderful guitarist, and a terrific person, and it’s always my pleasure to work with him any chance I can get. There is a rock purity in his songwriting and performance, and it’s just so much fun to get together and throw ideas around. He’s always so up and open for anything — even a notoriously uncooperative Rickenbacker 12-string!” Dunlop points out the way RESolution9 meshed with Lifeson “stands as a great example of the collective efforts of the brotherhood.”
Another one of RES 9’s honored guests, Dream Theater vocalist James LaBrie, lent his own considerable talents to a pair of tracks, “I Sing” and “End of the Line” (the latter of which also features Lifeson taking the third guitar solo), and he jumped at the chance to record with his fellow Canadian. “I’ve been extremely blessed and fortunate to meet so many great musicians and beautiful people throughout my career, and to have the opportunity to collaborate and record with some of them is really icing on the cake,” LaBrie notes. “What a thrill it was to record with Rik, who is such an incredible musician and overall down-to-earth cool guy.” About the slow-build manifesto of “I Sing,” Skingley enthuses, “James sang his ass off on that song!” Adds Dunlop, “I enjoyed tracking the guitars on ‘I Sing’ the most because I got to go crazy with several layers of guitars — and I also got to channel [Pink Floyd’s] David Gilmour on the outro.”
A fair amount of the album was recorded and mixed at Mississauga, Ontario’s MetalWorks Studios, a location where Emmett, Levine, and Moore (who owns the studio) recorded many of Triumph’s greatest works — and it’s also where the trio convened to tackle “Grand Parade.” Clarifies Emmett, “The Triumph song is a bonus track. That’s the best way to position it. It’s like ‘Suitcase Blues’ [the last track on Triumph’s 1979 million-seller, Just a Game] — or ‘Her Majesty’ at the end of Abbey Road!”
Having Triumph involved on RES 9 to some degree was always on the table. “I play ‘Suitcase Blues’ as the last song of the night in the encore for my acoustic shows. I dedicate it to Mike and Gil and the fact that they gave me the latitude to do the crazy things that I do,” Emmett laughs. “As I was developing the lyrics for ‘Grand Parade,’ I started thinking, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if I could get Mike and Gil to play on it? Wouldn’t that just bring everything full circle?’ One thing led to another, and there we were, recording in MetalWorks. Things just lined up perfectly.”
Levine had a great time in the studio with his former bandmates. “We rocked it up a bit, and Gil made the drums heavier than they were on the demo,” the bassist notes. “Once I paid deeper attention to the lyrics, I really got into the ‘let’s wrap up this late night’ kind of feel to it. I think it turned out really fantastic. I told Rik I felt it was a really cool tune, one that was very personal for all of us. I’m really, really proud of it, and it was great to work with both Rik and Gil on it. It was really neat.”
Moore wholly enjoyed the “Grand Parade” experience. “It was really a pleasure to have Rik and his band at MetalWorks, and getting to see him there every day was just like the old days,” the drummer recounts. “I always liked how Rik was able to bring another dimension and another color palette to what we were doing, and I like the spacious bass and drum tracks we did together. That’s what’s always been in my wheelhouse, as far as my playing is concerned. I’m really happy with how this song turned out. I hope we get to do it again.”
Emmett’s ultimate goal for RES 9 is to connect with as many people as possible. “The context of this entire album for me was, ‘Wow, somebody tossed me a lifeline,’” he concludes. “I still want to make positive music and offer people something that’s motivating and inspiring — and I want to do it for myself too. I need music, and music can provide that lifeline for me.” Mission accomplished: “I’ve got a thirst for life,” as Emmett sings on “Human Race.”
And you’ll find that thirst being quenched quite handily in the very heartbeats that percolate within all 11 tracks of RES 9. Drink up.
Rik Emmett with Alex Lifeson, James LaBrie, Gil Moore, Dave Dunlop and Steve Skingley – Photo by Mark Weiss
“RES 9” Tracklist:
Stand Still
Human Race (feat. Alex Lifeson)
I Sing (feat. James LaBrie)
My Cathedral
The Ghost of Shadow Town
When You Were My Baby
Sweet Tooth
Heads Up
Rest of My Life
End of the Line
(feat. Alex Lifeson & James LaBrie)
Grand Parade
(feat. Gil Moore & Mike Levine) [bonus track]
Rik Emmett & RESolution9 is:
Rik Emmett – Guitar & Vocals
Dave Dunlop – Guitar
Steve Skingley – Bass & Keyboards
Paul DeLong – Drums
According to Bravewords.com, The US Festival (US is an acronym for “Unite Us In Song”) held on Memorial Day of 1983 was a massive three-day celebration of music and culture sponsored by Steve Wozniak, formerly of Apple Computer. Wozniak financed the entire thing himself (approx. 10 million dollars), and his motivation quoted as “to throw a big party in the middle of nowhere” is quite an understatement. This festival was a follow up to 1982 Labor Day inaugural Us Festival events. The festivals were intended to be the celebration of evolving technologies; a marriage of music, computers, television and people.
Us Festival 1983: Days 1 – 3 includes the 3 days of New Wave, Heavy Metal and Rock in 1983 with performances from U2, THE CLASH, JUDAS PRIEST, STEVIE NICKS, SCORPIONS, INXS, MEN AT WORK, STRAY CATS, TRIUMPH, MISSING PERSONS and more. This includes the legendary U2 performance of ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’, The Clash’s final performance with Mick Jones, a seminal performance for INXS in the US, and many other landmark moments in music history. It is estimated that over 670,000 fans attended.
The festivals included large air-conditioned tents featuring the US Festival Technology Exposition a dazzling display of then-cutting edge computers, software, and electronic music devices. Also making a debut were installations of “out-door rain”, perforated pvc nozzles that sprayed water to fight the fierce hundred-degree heat.
The US Festival interest remains strong 30 years later in pop culture with mentions in The Simpsons, Malcom In The Middle, Dharma & Greg and other popular TV shows. US Festival 1983 is produced by Icon Television Music, Inc. and Unuson Corporation with the cooperation of Steve Wozniak. This is the only Unuson sanctioned official release of US Festival 1983 at iTunes and on DVD.
US Festival 1983 is directed by award winning filmmaker and music biographer Glenn Aveni and includes insight from Mark Goodman, one of the original VJ’s that covered the Us Festival in 1983 for the newly launched MTV Channel.
US Festival 1983 Days 1 – 3 are available on iTunes for $9.99 each. Order the DVD (available December 3rd) at this location.
Tracklisting:
INXS – ‘The One Thing’
DIVINYLS – ‘Boys in Town’
ENGLISH BEAT – ‘Jeanette’
STRAY CATS – ‘Rock This Town’
Stray Cats – ‘Please Make Up Your Mind’
MEN AT WORK – ‘It’s A Mistake’
Men At Work – ‘Who Can It Be Now’
THE CLASH – ‘Should I Stay or Should I Go’
JUDAS PRIEST – ‘Breaking The Law’
Judas Priest – ‘You’ve Got Another Thing Comin”
TRIUMPH – ‘Magic Power’
Triumph – ‘Fight The Good Fight’
Triumph – ‘Lay It On The Line’
Triumph – ‘A World Of Fantasy’
SCORPIONS – ‘The Zoo’
Scorpions – ‘Can’t Get Enough’
BERLIN – ‘Sex’
QUARTERFLASH – ‘Find Another Fool’
U2 – ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’
U2 – ‘The Electric Co.’
MISSING PERSONS – ‘Words’
STEVIE NICKS – ‘Stand Back’
Stevie Nicks – ‘Outside The Rain’
Trailer:
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