Rik Emmett, Triumph: BEST DECISION HE EVER MADE 

To me Triumph is the most under rated band of all time! I have been playing guitar for 45+ years and have the right to say Rik Emmett is in the top 5 of all time best guitarists of all time! Rock, folk, clasical, jazz you name it he can play it....nevermind his soaring vocals!

I can listen to Rik no matter what he's doing.He's so intelligent,charming,hip and so aware of social norms.He's polite,well informed,articulate,and has a great sense of humor and I'll say,very easy on the eyes

Rik deserves all the respect as an overall musician !

And have been really rediscovering triumph music, that I fell in love with as a teenager. Rick Emmett is a breath of fresh air in the professional Rock world. What a genuine, humble, and unbelievably talented individual, in an industry that seems to produce its share of blowhards and narcissists.

Allied Forces and Never Surrender just blew me away. Rik is on par with Steve Perry.

I think I was 11 y/o when I first heard Triumph in 1981. Rik's lyrics helped me through adolescence. Much love and appreciation for his great music.

I met Rik at Bogarts in Cincinnati in early 90s. He took all the time in the world to talk to me after the show outside the venue as he was leaving in a minivan. Signed my Never Surrender album and 2 ticket stubs. Nicest guy ever and one of my favorite ever guitar players.

GREAT singer, GREAT guitarist, GREAT songwriter. It's not fair

The VERY best interview I’ve ever heard with Rik Emmett. Just a phenomenal piece! I’ve loved Rik and Triumph from the time I was 13/14 and he was 28/29. I’m 52 and he’s 67 now. I love his complexity and self-analysis. We’ve matured together. Wishing him continued good health and good life with his family.

Magic power has always been the song that I identify with. As early as I can remember in life, music was always a part of my life. No matter your mood, there's always a song for it. Triumph was my first Arena concert in 1984. I feel I was lucky and blessed to have seen Triumph in their peak.

Triumph/RIK the most underrated band/musician in rock. I just finished ripping my Triumph remasters to a digital library.

Best lead guitar player of all time

I could listen to Rik all today !!!

Here's a memory I have, around Oct 76 when I was 15 yrs old was listening to Chum FM and they played a track that really got my attention...Street Fighter by a group called Triumph, a new band I had never heard of. That was an exciting year when I was buying up all these new great lp's (Rush 2112, Aerosmith Rocks, Nugent Free For All, Journey Look Into The Future, Rainbow Rising, Johnny Winter Captured Live etc) and I just had to look for this Triumph lp. Ended up at Sam The Record Man at the local Stoney Creek Ontario Shopping Mall and looked for the lp but no card for them. The store worker then told me to look under T MISCELLANEOUS and there it was. Purchased it right there and then even though the record prices had just jumped up ($6.79!) To date the first 2 triumph lp's are my favorite as they are the heaviest. Much to my delight ended up seeing them in concert at the local Mohawk College in Feb 1978 on their Rock N Roll Machine tour and again at Hamilton Place in 1981 on the Allied Forces tour. The Mohawk College show was my favorite, more intimate and Emmett's guitar seemed much louder and raunchier (Gibson sunburst large body) as opposed to the black doubleneck he had at Hamilton Place. Great memories!

I hope Rik Emmett lives FOREVER! He is directly tied to my youth. Love you RE!

I have followed Triumph and Rik for over 40 yrs. I have seen Triumph many times live,they were my favourite band from 15 on I saw Rik play at Lakeshore Mardis Gras Kipling +Lakeshore. This interview really allowed me to see the real Rik that I never knew. All the best in Retirement enjoy those golden years. God Bless 🙏❤

Love Ric, we really need to get him on Beato for some technical guitar discussion......Hes going to be 69 and just a nice guy and a real talent.

Man, that US Fest in 83 was the coolest. I wasn't there, but back when Blockbuster was a thing, they had a VHS of their show there. The whole band was amazing, but Rik's solo was insane!!! And in typical Rik fashion, he made it look easy.

rik emmett is so talented , he is my inspiration , what a mentor of mine.....rik emmett is phenomenol

I met Rik at a Wisconsin radio station in 2004. The program director didn’t know a lot of Triumph or Rick’s solo stuff. So, he asked me what he should ask Rik to play on the air. I suggested “Midsummer’s Daydream” or maybe “Hold On”. In the studio, I was privileged enough to sit 6 feet away from Rik watching him sing & play those two songs on his Yamaha acoustic. I could really tell instantly that I was in the presence of greatness. Rik was also such a nice guy. I still have, to this day part of the interview and Rik live......on a CD from the soundboard. I had several photos with him, but lost them over the yrs due to computer crashes, etc.

Triumph we're the rock and roll machine and the best act live you will ever see

My brother was chosen for that Fan Fest ! He said when the curtain opened and everyone there realized that Triumph was going to play together, the place went nuts! Gil said he had to practice for 3 months to play the set because he hadn't picked up a drum stick in decades. My brother said all the fans were super nice, friendly people assembled there because of their shared love of Triumph.

Man, seeing this Rick Emmett makes me feel sooo old. He is absolutely THE most underrated player in classic rock music. Where did the time go?

I would like to hear Gil or Mike's take on the loan MCA gave them on the buyout from RCA. The details are very interesting. Rik does not hold back on these interviews. Good job.

Great interview. I would also love to see Rick sit down with Rick Beato for an interview.

Humble too! Sweetest fella you'd ever want to meet. I am so happy for him, he deserves it!

Great interview, very well done. I grew up not too far from where Rik lived in Mississauga back in the 80's. My mother worked for him briefly as his house keeper. I never got to meet Rik but was a huge Triumph fan, as was everyone at that time. He was bigger than life then and was without a doubt the mastermind of the Triumph music and sound. Great memories this interview brings back.

I went to see Triumph in 1976 and the talent Rik had was just amazing. His vocals and his skill at guitar made me think he was the most talented person I had ever seen

I concur he is the nicest person I have ever met. I would love to tell him. He changed a young man’s life. Rik you are awesome sir

Rik Emmett and Craig Garber are both class acts. This interview is wonderful. It really humanizes Rik beyond his rock star persona.

I've always admired Rik. I saw Triumph in concert several times and was always blown away by his vocals and guitar playing. I was at the US Festival in 83. The crowd was probably larger than 250,000 people- it was vast. Despite having to play in high heat in the middle of afternoon, they were amazing. Other bands were Quiet Riot, Motley Crue, Ozzy, Judas Priest, Scorpions and Van Halen. Triumph were definitely one of the best bands that day.

Rik is the best guitarist on the planet. He has mastered so many styles of guitar playing to perfection. I saw Triumph in the '80's and they were amazing. I was able to see Rik Emmett, sometimes with Dave Dunlop, many time while I lived in Dallas. My Son and I were able to do a meet and greet with photos and he signed all my Triumph albums. This was a great interview. Lots of great questions and answers. Thank You

Great job on this interview. You can tell Rik was very comfortable with you.

All these years I didn't know there was a name for us right handed guitar players with right handed motor skills and left handed strength. wow "dextrosinistral". Great interview ! Never missed a show in the Ottawa area.

From the First Time i Heard 24 Hours a Day I Was Hooked On Triumph and Saw them Play Many Times in Our Local Arena about an Hour west of Rik's Hometown! Awesome Band and a Huge Part of My Teenage Years.Even Got to See Him Play in the Park at Our Local Bluesfest Pre-Covid.Incredibly Talented Player is all I can Say!

I really wish they and all the other big bands of the 80s would get the original lineup together and do a big tour. There are lots of fans from 87-88 who would love to hear some of the greatest music ever recorded played live again.

Rik, We love you!! You are AMAZING and I am so proud of you!! The things you've been able to do vocally are so cool. So grateful for your dedication and faithfulness 😇!! Great personality and outlook. You've made a huge impact on so many!! Thank you Rik😊 Still adorable, after all these years🤭

I Have Always Loved Triumph,,,

Great questions. Great demeanor. A very inspirational conversation and this isn't an "interview" .... this is a conversation. Well done. Love Rik and love how you really approached this conversation.

Realistic Optimistic. Rik will outlive a lot of us....

Rik was always a major influence on me as a guitarist and writer. And one of the best singers hands down

It’s amazing to me after watching this how lucky Rush were their entire career to be so close to each other and Geddy and Alex have been best friends since high school.

I saw Triumph right around when Allied Forces came out. 1500 seat theater in Miami. Saxon was the opener. Blew me away.

Great show guys thank you!

It was cool that he mentioned Suitcase Blues, this is my favorite song by Triumph, off my favorite album, Just a Game. MASTERPIECE! That some, Suitcase Blues, actually paints a picture in my head, I can see them, in a smokey bar, late at night, up on stage playing this song. Love it!

Triumph’s set at US Festival ‘83 is the best rock set I’ve ever seen on youtube… Rik was so on top of his game it was mind-blowing… Wish I coulda been there 🤟 What a kind-hearted, disarming, thoughtful dude Rik is… Great interview!!!

Great interview...I just heard triumph for the first time yesterday by a mistake. I`ve heard of the bandname. I watched U S Festival with ozzy and so on..and triumph came on before i shut down with allied forces, i thought wow what a great guitarist and a cool song...

This is a really great informed and interesting interview. You let the guest talk without interrupting.

“I wanted to be a jock” THANK YOU FOR NOT BEING A JOCK! Your guitar playing is amazing!!!

Rik's interviews illustrate what a down to earth person he is. His playing, singing, writing in Triumph is incredible, in my opinion. His decision to leave Triumph, nobody can think he made a wrong choice. He is a natural musician, and an inspiration for myself, and all musicians....

This is the first time I've seen Rik other than the Star Tracks video, and I have to say wow. I'm very impressed. Many of my guitar heroes turned out to be assholes, but Rik seems smart, genuine, and is clearly just a great guy. Super video, thanks!

Rik Emmett is probably one of very few guitarists who can play every genre of music. A total talent that’s underrated

Triumph got me through my teens.

Outstanding interview ... although I’ve enjoyed your past guests, Rik Emmett was really interesting.

Brother, Rik EMMETT is one of my favourite musicians and I'm a huge fan of TRIUMPH since 'Thunder Seven'. This is the most comprehensive, honest and transparent interview with Rik EMMETT. This is my favourite interview with Rik. Your interviewing style is unique, in-depth and intelligent. No cookie cutter questions. Bravo! I hope that you can interview Rik after Mr. EMMETT's autobiography is released later this year. Subscribed to your channel based on this most excellent interview with the talented and legendary Rik EMMETT.

I recall hearing these guys, as a grade school (yes, grade school) Rush fan. It was "Oh, cool! another killer Canadian band!" I had many of their records. Rik Emmett was my second exposure, after Steve Howe, to complex, sophisticated fingerstyle solo guitar. He's a world class musician, and yet most people don't know his name. Hearing him explain everything that happened, it's no wonder he eventually left the band and the so-called 'Big Time' to do other things. He got out while the getting was good.

God bless this man.who changed hard Rock to make radio rock...set the bar.as well as a great great player.love his message..met a blue Jay baseball player who has met a got to know Rick some .blue Jay x 3rd baseman k.Gruber who says nothing but great things about him...he's the real real deal..thanksfor the years

Realy great band. They went out while on top.

Hi. Loved the interview. Have been a fan of Rik Emmett and Triumph since the 70's. Seen them 3 times, and each concert was a truly amazing experience. Seen them for the 1st time at St. Dennis Center in Windsor Ontario, Canada. We were all sitting on the auditorium floor. We were not sitting for long. Thanks for the great songs and memories.❤❤🇨🇦❤✌🤘

A great interview. Rik was why I took classical lessons, was a big influence in my playing style for sure

When I began singing I saw thunder 7 tour with Mountain opening act.. Rick was my oh My Gosh I wanna sing like Him!

Rick is my favorite canadian rocker triumph is Canada's best rock band. Love you rick cheers

I only was able to see Triumph once- the Allied Forces tour. I never would have guessed that they had any rifts between the members. They seemed to have great chemistry. Still, a great band in my estimation and a testament to Rik's ability to take the high road.

I remember my first girlfriend, back as a teen in the 80s, she had this major crush on Rik Emmett. For some reason it drove me nuts. For me there were a great late 70s sound rock band. it all still holds up great to this day and I think so because it never tried to be metal or anything temporary. It thrived as a solid rock outfit.

If this interview demonstrates the level of professionalism to come as well as top shelf guitarists I can't believe I didn't find it sooner. Mz

2021 and songs still gold,

Thank you both for this amazing insight! Rik you are a good human being 👍🏼🎸💫

I saw Triumph and Rik at the US Festival ll on metal day in 1983. They kicked ass! There were 350,000 metal heads cooking in the sun that day.

This is soo Fantastic. Just an OUTSTANDING interview. Ricks RES9 album is fantastic. Rik & James LaBrie(Dream Theater) are two of my all time favorite singers. The song they did together on Rik's Res 9 album ( I sing) was as perfect of a song that was ever written & performed. Thank you for this great interview.

Rik Emmett...very nice and very talented man on so many levels. :)

under duress... Rik then wrote Triumph's highest charting single "Somebody's Out There".......a fucking great song.

two of the must underrated guitar players imo are ric and billy squier. actually they are two of the most underrated muscians period ric actually sounds like billy when he talks same cadence

Thanks Rik, for all your fingerpicking/classical/jazz tunes which you graced your every album with. I figured them out, little by little, until now being able to play them and impress folks.

Wow.. just wow! Loved this!!

awesome interview rik emmet is such an amazing musician and person this was awesome brotha keep up the cool interviews

Please get triumph back together again

Love it guys , and I remember getting the floppy Beyond Borders out of a guitar mag back in oh gosh 85 or 86? Emmet and Lifeson together and Boyd was it? Love that track so much!!

This is a good interview. I like that you direct the interview but give Rik room to talk. The thing I always liked about Rik’s songs is they had a positive message but still rocked. I would place allied forces in my top 50 albums of all time.

Funny hearing Rick talk about the early days and loading in empty PA cabinets, I remember going to an early Triumph gig at a venue close to where Rick and Gil grew up in Etobicoke at the Olympium. We went to the venue hours before the show to see if we could get in free as we had no money and helped their crew set up and install speakers in empty Kroth PA boxes as they were adding to the PA system and lighting show every gig! Thanks for posting this converation

Man what a great interview....I love Rik Emmett. Great chemistry with him and the interviewer.

Rik is a super nice guy and I’ve been a fan since the early 80’s. I just have to mention that his Star Licks video was a cut above the rest, so it doesn’t surprise me at all that he taught college.

Thank you so much! What a brilliant interview.

Phenomenal interview! It was a pleasure to listen to such a genuine, well spoken and good guy that Rik is, as well as the great calibre of questions asked. I appreciate the wisdom, honesty and nostalgia that was shared. Thank you!!

I am so happy to see that these 3 individuals, who's collective work meant so much to me in the earlier partof my life, have put the past beyond them and have reconciled! Triumph was one of not only the greatest bands of the late 1970's and into the mid 80's, but was one of the greatest rock bands of all time! They truly had a "magic power"!

Great interview, been of fan of his playing and singing. Just loved his honesty in the interview.

Look Rick me as a long time fan me personally I don't care what hurdles and stumbling blocks you indrored to get that chance in the musical industry I think as a kids listening to you with triumph in the late 70s and 80s gave me so much joy in my heart with everything you did on the guitar you blew my mind always evey time I listened on the radio our boom box our stereo love you always your part of the rock gods in my mind heart and soul❤.....

i saw you and your band at maple leaf gardens and kingswood theatre...ty...much LOve...still LOve you

What an amazing interview, on both sides!!!!

For all the Rick / Triumph fans out there - One of the greatest albums he ever did was with the band Airtime "Liberty Manifesto". That's mid-80s Triumph at their best. Absolutely wonderful, hard rocking, melodic. And him of course... ha. Might be the latest rock thing he did. Check it out!

REO, America, deep purple, cream, Hendrix... triumph & more....considered supergroups too. These era of musicians could play 2,3,4,5 instruments.

Oh Yeah I Love this Hearing You talk to my Guitar Hero Rik Emmett about Frank Marino I grew up listening to him and got to him went by my self heard about show last minute Ronnie Montrose opened and Frank Marino I watch him every once in a while on RU-vid and these Young guys who are Great Musicians they are Always Blown Away at me because I am not dressed a Rocker but have Always Been at home going to Hard Rock Bars to see Bands and I tell these young musicians about all these Guitar Greats

I got to see Triumph once and great guitarist and show,I watched the performance of the U S Festival and what a awesome guitar solo

Great interview! Rik has a wonderful recall of memories/stories. I saw them in 1982, they blew the roof off the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa! Subbed for sure!

wow! This is going to be a long entre here. where do I start? Well, I learned the love of Music back in the mid 70's while laying in a Hospital bed with a left hip growing issue. back then I would listen to top 40 rock/pop radio for hours and I remember just loving everything I heard. Then as I grew older, into High School, one day I heard a band on the radio called Rush. Hooked because of the drummer. Yes, the professor's bug caught me BIG TIME. I would try to find friends that would lend me their Rush albums and when they did I would spend hours upon hours in my room with the head-phones on listening to them and the mastery of Neil's playing. It was at that point I knew I had to hit things with sticks. It wasn't until much later in life (my early 20's) when I bought myself my first drum kit. Back on topic. Later on in my High School years a friend of mine turned me onto a band named Triumph. He knew I just loved Rush, a tri out of Canada, and figured I'd like Triumph. Boy was he right. I set the Rush listening aside for many, many months and just listened to their earlier Albums, all the way up to Never Surrender. Once I was out of High School and I had my first car, I don't know how many fucking miles I drove that old Nova around salt Lake City, Utah listening to Triumph on the stereo. It was usually always cranked up blaring into my ears. Ah, those fond memories. I would drive and listen to those albums over and over and over. I memorized every single song, all of the changes, tempo's, lyric's, everything about them. Then, in mid 1980's I bought my first drum kit. It was an all chrome Ludwig Rockers 7 piece kit with Sabian Cymbals. I set those things up in my Apartment and went off on Allied Forces. I was just finishing up with Fight the good fight when I heard pounding on the door. I suppose it's not very neighborly to be pounding on the drums while living in an apartment, lol. The years went by, I had many different living arrangements. Then I finally bought my own house in the late 90's. It was then when I dedicated my free time to drums and figuring out how all of those other great drummers I listened to did what they did. Neil Peart was a HUGE influence. Gil Moore, he was as well. I can honestly say whole heartily, Rik Emmett was and still is the one that wrote the songs to my life's sound track. Rik, I met you once when you come and played here on your Solo act. You was such a class act. Much love to you! Thank you for this interview. I enjoyed every second of it. So happy to see Rik is alive and doing well. And so, with this being put, tomorrow gets to be a Triumph day and I will be playing on my Tama Super Star kit along with those great albums. Thanks again. Love, from Utah, Eric Dean.

Right on jazz is so hard...I had the pleasure of knowing Adam Nussbaum....fantastic drummer. .so hard omg...great Man great drummer..

RIK LIVES FOR EVER.

Cool. I had a 2000 Les Paul Classic. Honeyburst. Due to circumstances I had to sell it to a pawn shop. A few weeks later that pawn shop was running commercials on late night tv. They used that LP in the ad. Broke my heart every time I saw it on tv.

This was a great interview

Triumph,1981 Sault Ste. marie ONT.Harlequin. A KISS sized show in a steeltown. Better musicians than KISS ever was imo. wow.

AWESOME!!!!! Thanks Craig ,Just love Rik ! Stellar Musician/Guitarist !!!