Lessons from an '80s Guitar god with Rik Emmett of Triumph

Reasonably Happy with Paul Ollinger

Rik Emmett is a vocalist, guitarist and former member of the rock band Triumph, which earned 18 gold and nine platinum records in Canada and the United States in the late 1970s and early’80s. Triumph was known for its BIG live shows featuring lights, pyrotechnics, and lots of spandex (as was appropriate for the era!). Along with Rik's bandmates Gil Moore and Mike Levine, the power trio played loud, guitar-forward tunes with uplifting lyrics. 1981’s Allied Forces sold over a million copies in the US and included the songs “Fight the Good Fight” and “Magic Power,” which—if you haven’t heard it recently—merits a listen on your favorite music app. Eventually, disputes with the record label, the financial stress of touring / recouping advances, and intra-band competition lead to Triumph’s break-up. In his new memoir, Lay It on the Line: A Backstage Pass to Rock Star Adventure, Conflict and Triumph, Rik shares insights into the trials and tribulations of the rock n roll life and how he has found peace as a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. The band and has been inducted into both the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame and the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

In this episode, ’Rik and I discuss:

• How the pressure to churn out hits affects the songwriting process
• Why he started sharing his songwriting royalties with his bandmates
• Triumph’s performance at the 1983 US Festival, which was founded by Steve Wozniak
• How a start-up network called MTV used a Triumph promo video to help fill its schedule
• The cruel arc of celebrity and how an artist deals with "the whimpering disappointment of general disinterest."

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👂Check out the book here and Rik's website here.👂