Behind The Vinyl - "Lay It On The Line" with Mike Levine from Triumph 

While I was in the Marines, I was based in 29 Palms, CA and attended the US Festival. I was standing at the back of the outdoor concert, in San Bernardino I believe, soaking in the crowd of 300,000 people. A guy walks up next to me and is apparently doing the same thing. He's wearing a baseball cap, sunglasses, and appears to have his hair pulled up under his hat. I keep looking at him and finally say "You're Rik Emmett, aren't you?" Sheepishly, he responds "Yeah". I say "Don't worry, I won't say anything. Have a great show!" 2 hours later, I was watching Triumph perform live for the 1st time, and unfortunately the only time. One of the tightest bands live I've ever seen. It was fantastic!

dude's still geek'n on something great that he was involved in . what a passionate guy.

"Rik played his @$$ off". You don't get higher praise from a fellow musician than that.

It is great to see a musician so happy about his music.

Cool to see a musician talking like a fan about a fellow band member - 'that guitar solo'! =D

Foghat opened for Triumph ‘83 Syracuse, NY. Awesome live bands.

Is it just me, or does anyone else really enjoy hearing the pop and hiss of music played off of vinyl?

It's a shame you don't hear music like this on the radio anymore....so many people don't know what there missing.

I love this guy.

Lay it on the Line and Fight the Good Fight were not just great Triumph songs but great 80's songs.

Thank you so much Mike for "laying" this out. I am absolutely obsessed with you guys. THANK YOU for rocking out!!!

He is right, the guitar solo on "Lay It On The Line" is fantastic! I love that song.

My favorite group of all time! They have lifted me up emotionally and spiritually more than any other band. They have literally saved my life more than once.

Mike Levine, one of my favorite bassists.

Best spoken word ever: We all live and then we all go away, it's what you do in that time space that's important...I will tell this to my kids..Love and Peace Mike..

One of the most underrated bands of ALL TIME! 🎸

Triumph is a bad ass band that didn't get noticed enough. THAT is my favorite song.

One of my all-time favorites. Like Y&T, way underrated. "Allied Forces" and "Never Surrender" were 2 outstanding albums. Imho, "Thunder 7" was their best. A 80's rock masterpiece. Still rock that album to this day.

Met Mike and Rik ..back in 85 here in San Diego..great guys! Love their Music! Triumph Rocks!!

You look so energized listening to your song! I love it.How about a reunion?

Second concert I saw as a young man. These guys had one of the BEST LIGHT SHOWS at the time.

This dude is cool .

Love you guys! Criminally underrated band! You guys rock!

“Killer” … yes, yes it is Mr. Levine. Thank you for your contributions to the rock music we love

I could listen to the Triumph guys for days.

Amazing Song n Band and Dope Guitar Solo

That was my favorite Triumph song growing up.

I want to personally Thank You Mike for your contributions to Music and the very important part you played in Triumph! I grew up in Eastern Kansas and we were dedicated Triumph Fans and will be forever! I was a Sophomore in High School when this song came out and it set the World On Fire! Thank You!

Saw Triumph in 86 on Sport of Kings tour, amazing show.

Mike Levine you are a true rock and roller. Your enthusiasm is infectious. Wishing you all the best. Mitch

I had the pleasure of discussing this production with Mike Jones at a friends wedding a few years ago. He was a huge talent and a very gracious man when faced with my fan-boy enthusiasm at the time. R.I.P.

Watching Mike talk about this song was awesome. He acted as if he could walk onto the stage and do a full show. I know that I miss seeing Triumph on tour. I definitely lived the best years of live music. Rock shows will never again live up to the 70s and 80s.

Remember when you sang " Fight the Good Fight" and you said " The good book says it better to give than to receive"? ........THAT WAS AWESOME!!!!

I was 13 when this album came out and not knowing much about Triumph and I bought it. One of my favorite albums next to Allied Forces

Such an awesome interview. such an awesome guy!!

I dont ask for much, the truth will do just fine!

He’s really cool. Love Triumph!

Triumph was one of my rotating 2nd favorite bands (after Zeppelin) and I saw them at the US in ‘83 and the Never Surrender tour. This is by far my favorite Triumph song. The band is Beatlesque and EW&F-esque in the sense that their music is all so positive which is inspiring. I love this band!! Thanks for the music.

Triumph was one of the best rock bands in Canada. By far.

What an awesome guy. Love this band

I sure do miss you guys..... love the music.......

Wow very long time see a Triumph member👏👏👏👏🇨🇦🇨🇦🥁🥁

Good to see him still get excited for the song, especially the guitar solo. It’s as if he is picturing himself on the big stage again.

You can tell this him back... Especially the beginning he was holding tears back , wow

Awesome. Thank you for Triumph music

Still Jam to this Canadian Rock Trio as I did in The 80's . love em

ML was in his late 60s here. The guy looks and sounds great for his age. Plus, he just reminded me of what a great guitar solo Lay It On The Line has.

This dude here was fantastic. So talented jumping over to those keys and the bass hanging around his neck. The back up vocals and his spot on, creative hard hitting bass. His perfect groove with the drummer( also fantastic) They could have been a super group. They did super well either way. Never the less, nobody was better. Not really. Yes, I know..they were radio ready... but try being good at that with 100 other groups dying to have radio friendly hit songs like Triumph. Songs that were so catchy and satisfying . Just completely enjoyable in every aspect.The songs, the fantastic singing..the playing and creativity. Wow!

My favorite band ever! Had all their records...i remember having my first car and after a show my friend and I waited at a downtown Seattle Denny's for their Limo to show up at their hotel..I yelled out the window..."Please. ...Rik Mike!" ...You inspired me to play guitar 🎸 ...CAN I GET YOUR AUTOGRAPHS? Rik let me get his and Mike & Gil didn't look like they were in the best mood...( had a sense they weren't getting along or just real tired) they grabbed their gear out of trunk and went in hotel?) I had on a shirt that was hand-made it was a shredded white t-shirt with black velvet letters saying "Triumph is Triumphant" & Rik Emmett said I like your shirt! I said "Thx!" Made it just for you guys...and I am learning guitar...which I was at the time with my son's father... But i got PG and had to move with my father dying and I ended up slowly slipping away from it. I decided to start playing and learning again.... That's another reason why I like watching these inspiring videos. He's right. Today is just not the same as it use to be. So glad I grew up when I did. I love Triumph and you guys look just as great as you did back in the day... Just a little more grey hair is all. ;)

Triumph live! Didn’t just change my life. It Changed my DNA! None better!

I always loved Mike's bass sound. Great player... great guy!

Love his passion

Still have my originally bought LP.... soundtrack to my youth....

Always loved Rik's guitar tone and yes he played his ass off on this one...

Triumph rocks for sure....

Phenomenal band, incredible song!!

I was looking to hear Ric Emmet tell the story. I'm glad I got to hear Mike Levine tell his story

Love this..sooo cool Mike..always will love Triumph!!♡

Man I always loved that song “Say Goodbye “

To me, that is one of the greatest guitar solos I've ever heard. I've loved it then and I still love it today. 40 years later and it's still as fresh as that day.

Love your passion, after all the years. Rock on man 😎

As an American guitarist, I must say I'm envious a.f. that Canada got blessed with some of the best r&r musicians of the last 40 years! Ric Emmet, Pat traverse, April wine, rush, helix, not to mention Phil x. And so many! Something's in the water up there, way to go Canada.

I've read there has been lots of acrimony between the guys. So, very decent of Mike to compliment Rik's solo here.

We need more Triumph. Killer band

Gotta love these guys, so passionate about there music. I seen Triumph in the 80's at the Philadelphia Spectrum, and it was fanominal. What a group. Great memories. Thanks guys you deserve all the credit and more

he plays two different instruments daily,he is a genius too,talking of another genius vocalist and guitarist,he plays lead bass to hang with rik, watching a guitarist who instinctively knows where every note is and how to vibrate it is amazing to watch,i'm in awe that he is in awe

Terrific performance.

All CLASSIC bands from the 70's should do this 😎🤘

Saw Triumph first time at the Capitol Theater in Passaic, NJ summer of 1980 (and 3 other times before they broke up). The solo in Lay It On the Line is hands down one of the top 5 best guitar solos ever recorded. Its perfect. If you don't think so you're just wrong.

I always find amazing how humble some rock greats can be.

Great interview. I loved Triumph, the Progressions of Power tour was the first time I saw them, and I was hooked after that! Even got my vinyl LP signed before the concert at Kelly's Records in Edmonton! It was a great show! Love you guys!!

Great group with thoughtful song writing. My sister took me to see Triumph at the Des Moines Iowa Civic Center in 1981. It was my first real rock concert and it was unforgettable Like Mike Levine said 'the rest is history.' Thank you Triumph. Continue Fighting the Good Fight.

Just listened to this today. Awesome song!!!

Great reaction mike!!

My favorite band all time. I saw Triumph on 4 consecutive tours in the 80s. Allied Forces, Never Surrender, Thunder Seven, and A Sport Of Kings.

this fella is a rocker through and through wish i had seen them back in the day

one of my favorite Triumph songs. saw you guys with Saxon way back in the day

my favorite band in my youth, Few the proud the elite group of Allied Forces will never die Triumph rules

That was awesome!

Mike is so cool, he's so excited , class act and band one of my favorite bands ever!!!

Great band!!

Thank you for the music. Grew up listening to this tune.. Love it. Thank you for giving us something to jam to..

I'm glad you mentioned payola radio. Its alive and well today.

Nice explanation and enthusiasm. Thanks for sharing

Wow, what a genuine nice guy. Never heard him interviewed before. Loved some Triumph. Saw them at Texxas Jam...

Mike seems really cool and helped put out some terrific music. I got to see them twice and all three of them were very good. Would love to see more from them

“Spooooooot liiiiiiiights, house lights ready to cue..” Saw these guys headline a show in of all places Monroe, LA. Gil Moore is a heck of a vocalist as well.

GREAT band!, this was a great interview with Mike Levine! What a cool dude!

I was 13 in 79 a great deal of my time was spent on the airguitar jamming to this chune!!!

I got to meet Mike a number of times , really nice guy.

I had that same speakers in the 80's. Zenith Allegro's they were. And they rocked. Wish I still had them.

Love these guys...one if my favorite bands of all time...saw them live in the early 80's...just remember saying..."Man they make a lot of noise for just 3 guys"...lol.

Triumph one of the greatest bands without a doubt of all time three guys plan made it sound like 10 people plan absolutely amazing love them

The solo from the US Festival made me into a Triumph fan. Watching Mike play is a treat. He truly looks like he is having fun on stage.

in my world, triumph gets all the recognition they should have received from the rest of the world .. great band

I love these videos . Great to hear them talk about their experiences and memories about recording and their feelings about their work .

This song and many others were are anthems of the 80s. Always grateful for Triumph. Crazy times some of us didn't make it out and this music to this day when i hear it gets cranked and the memories flow sometimes with tears.

Great band they had there nich in the rock world great talent another Canadian great.

Saw these Katz on Night Flight which came on at 2am in the 80's. Very progressive for that time..I was starting guitar and this stoner guitar player took me under his wing and showed me Rock n Roll machine solo...I spent 2 months learning that solo...my first introduction to pentatonic solos. Started to show me me expression on guitar. Quite inspiring for a rookie player ...

Enjoyed this clip!! Triumph was one of my favorite ROCK bands growing up in Iowa, in early 80's, me and my buddies had all their albums. MIKE is very excited here, as u can tell. Great story teller, you can tell how much he loves the song ….and the SOLO! hehe. thumbs up!