Rik Emmett: "Triumph Was Not Going to Be A Band Like Yes"

[@daniellevstek1789]

I really wish Triumph was more recognized than they were. They deserve to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

[@brianjlevine]

Rik is a really modest guy. He's a phenomenal guitarist and singer. Magic Power and Fight The Good Fight are still two of my favorite songs.

[@Beamshipcaptain]

Exactly. Love Triumph music so much since College in the Early 1980s! Emmet's voice does that John Anderson/Geddy Lee thing, a way high tenor without falsetto. That is not normal, and it sounds incredible. What a guy!

[@akrocuba]

"Never Surrender" is one of my favs!!!

[@landriver1]

Never dreamed back in the day that I would someday be 60 years old watching my Rock n Roll heroes on this thing called KZbin. 😎

[@mtradz]

Jerry Rocks * ain't that the truth!

[@Beamshipcaptain]

It was predicted in science fiction back in the 1960s and 1970s.

[@MillerGenuineDraft1980]

No Kidding lol I’m only 41 but I hear ya

[@michael_caz_nyc]

Rik seems like a really nice guy. He is the Big Winner in Life. (think about it) He is happy, healthy & enjoying life. Not strung-out on drugs, or in poor-health . . . (like some musicians). Good for you brother !!! - I do think Steve Howe is criminally UnderRated. He is a Phenomenal Guitar player. Even his stuff on the 1st Asia album was Fantastic.

[@02R96]

I don't think is was ever underrated. After all, he was voted "Best Overall Guitarist" in Guitar Player magazine five years in a row (1977-1981). I will say I think his time has passed. He really peaked in the 70's and 80's.

[@kevinstaggs5048]

Rik is modest. Rik is IMMENSELY talented.

[@chicken2jail545]

Rick is definitely way more than a modestly talented guitar player. He's fantastic.

[@VangeliRock]

Rik Emmett is as good a guitarist from his era as any. And a great vocalist and a great songwriter.

[@derekclacton]

Although Rik says he’s humble and modestly talented, he is actually modest and hugely talented. To play OR sing like him is amazing - to play AND sing like that is beyond amazing. So glad to have seen Triumph live in 1980 :)

[@romeoalphafoxtrot9517]

This guy is just an outstanding guitar player and singer! Very humble too. Solid guy!

[@landriver1]

Rik could have been in ANY type of Rock band 😎

[@UFOROX]

Always looked forward to the Triumph shows.Mike, Rik and Gil always gave you your money’s worth.. and

[@timothywills7709]

Great interview series with Rik!

[@YAMISOOLD2009]

This is turning in to the best Rik interview I have ever watched. He has hit on so many interesting and behind the scenes aspects of his career. His explanation of his musical eclecticism was fun to hear. And though us fans may feel he is selling himself somewhat short as a guitarist, I like the humble attitude. But I think he still has quite a bit of confidence in what he CAN do and that is a lot. This man is aging pretty gracefully!

[@viewfromthehighchair9391]

I think back to my watching Rik Emmett play guitar and it was like watching someone breathing music. I got the same feeling watching Kim Mitchell and a couple of others. It didn't look like a lot of work or practice was required even though I know they put in hours upon hours playing and practicing. It is a gift they give to all of us.

[@WisconsinWanderer]

I saw Triumph in Texas one of the top bands with Ric’s enormous talent as guitarist and vocalist. He could play with just about anyone!!

[@michaelsteven1090]

This is great! Love his stories!

[@HailRider]

I NEVER liked Yes. I know people fawned all over it, but I couldn't stand it. Now, Triumph I loved and bought every album.

[@JerryTheVeganRockstar]

Thank you for all your interviews. Best on the Internet. Know why? You ask the direct, concise question and get out of the way. Thank you

[@davidseidell1461]

What a great interview! I always liked triumph and Steve Howe is one of my hero’s as well . Rik seems to be an all around good dude and can still sing and play great ! Good on ya Rik 🎸

[@ian1eh944]

I am a huge Triumph fan, and a huge fan of Rik's playing while I was growing up....in fact, I was a 3-chord rocker who could not read or improvise a note at 15 years of age, and I ended up with a music degree, and ARCT-level classical guitar skills, largely because of influences like Rik's! For me, I think Triumph was the PERFECT vehicle for Rik.....the albums were full of influences and styles, as well as hard rock.....and the hard rock was just as much a part of Rik, as any of the other styles. Cheers!

[@rickshearer]

...Very entertaining story telling! I love the philosophy and open mind appreciation for digital music writing!

[@mysterj1]

I remember seeing Triumph in Seattle on Summer Sunday 77. Fantastic Show!

[@nz1229]

Super important video for me - now I know why Yes and RIk Emmett are my two favorite acts! Thank god there are guitar tabs of his solo work on the net. So cool that Yes/Steve Howe in its early days had the same effect on Rik as on a Junior High kid like myself. It is now abundantly clear why he had to stretch out from Triumph on occasion.

[@garo52]

Haha !! Great story Rick !! Love the enthusiasm!!

[@brushman20]

Awesome video! Rik was funny! I like how he mentioned they “indulged” him his little classical pieces, etc. It reminded me of how he introduced “Midsummers Daydream” back in the day during the Thunder 7 tour.

[@YAMISOOLD2009]

I was thinking the same thing! But there might be more than a kernel of truth to this. The band was NOT Rik's. He was one third. Even though he may have written most of the melodies, that did not make him the ruler. So Mike and Gil DID indulge him to some degree.

[@brushman20]

@@YAMISOOLD2009 Agreed! Really liked a lot of the tunes Gil sang. Hes not a bad vocalist himself.

[@travelingaroundtheworld1367]

Triump was more like the first of edition of Rush John Rutsy.. ❤️🇺🇸

[@ralphmarrone3130]

What a great interview. I laughed like hell.

[@terryjohnson5275]

Blinding Light Show/Moonchild has been one of my favourite rock songs to listen to since I first heard it way back in 1979 from the Rock & Roll machine album that was the compilation of their first and second issued in 78. Really enjoy his Resolution 9 album from a few years back - still plays and sings great.

[@davehuneke8472]

I like that 1978 1979 those wer the best rock years journey rush triumph taxi. Those wer the years

[@oclot7177]

One of my favorite people.

[@kevinhay7073]

I'd rather dig holes than play in a band that holds me back.

[@karajalbert6074]

You know Gil is not Buford and Mike is not Squire but they kicked major butt. Artists would kill to work with them. It's like complaining. Guns and Roses isn't Bach.

[@billb.950]

Uhhhh. You obviously dont dig holes for a living.

[@markcar915]

@@karajalbert6074 I love Rik , sometimes he gets those jabs in on his bandmates. Not too cool. Why is it always the other guys limit Rik. I'm happy for Rik that he can do whatever he wants but don't make the comments that sound like digs. Just saying...

[@GMHG777]

Met Rik after a solo (well, duo w/ Dave Dunlop) acoustic show. Quite honestly one of the nicest coolest "rock stars" I've ever met. Put on a stellar, and funny, show. He is being incredibly modest here.

[@BatMite19]

"Triumph was never going to be a band like Yes. We didn't have a drummer like Bill Bruford or a bassist like Chris Squire." No offense, Gil and Mike. :o

[@markcar915]

I love Rik and been a Triumph fan since Just A Game. I appreciate Gil Moore and Mike Levine contributions. What I don't appreciate is Rik backhand slapping those guys with his comments. They all needed each other to get as far as they did. Rik's solo career is diverse but didn't come anywhere close to his success in Triumph. Nice guy who trashes his bandmates is not very charming.

[@davidryan7386]

rush should have hired him as singer / 2nd guitarist.

[@timlamb9428]

I like triumph better than yes.

[@stevenaustin8274]

Someone has to I suppose

[@rubicon-oh9km]

Well Tim, I honestly don't know what to say. Triumph put out some awesome music but it really wasn't ever on the level of Yes.

[@mikeware1002]

Awesome rik

[@ronmyers2317]

Rick seems to be selling himself short here. I have heard his stuff and I think it's guitar work is epic. And he's got a fantastic first tenor vocal range. The triumph years we're fantastic. He also said that he is held up by his limitations at times. But that speaks for all of us. I guess we tend to be our own worst critic. I know I have been many times when it comes to my musical Talent.

[@Samana009]

So true...

[@JC-fm9ps]

Lay it on the line Rik😁 seen them many times, him and his white outfit🤣 Rocking Roll machine was my favorite. 🤟🤟✌

[@anakina1]

Love these so much. Rik is so much fun. It's two chords, it's shit. But mom liked it! He's so natural.

[@katprince5528]

Rik,I love your natural high,man.Have you ever considered stand-up comedy?

[@lastdaysguitar]

Steve Howe is a role model for many many many guitarists.

[@tenbroeck1958]

Rik Emmett would be more famous had Triumph not debuted between Rush, Zeppelin and Van Halen. It caused them to be overlooked somewhat, which is a shame, because they were great. He plays some of the most awesome Bebop Jazz stuff, that I would give my left leg to be able to come close to playing.

[@arthurbrucecrawford6896]

Is it true that Rik missed a chance to play in Asia as a replacement for Steve Howe? Dunno whether it is a rumor or not,

[@davidmaurice5992]

He was asked to be in Damn Yankees, as well.

[@markcar915]

@@davidmaurice5992 Boston as well.

[@MSmith-Photography]

Rik is hilarious 🤣

[@fernandomartincom]

Rik says he had limitations?!?!?!?! He did amazing things as guitarist, singer, and composer!!!!!!!!!

[@DavidLazarus]

Well, yeah, but you're talking 27 year old Rik versus 67 year old Rik. Apples and Oranges. Let me use Robert Fripp as another example. Phenomenal guitarist, but Robert spends 80% of his time rehearsing Fracture and 20% all of the other songs in the set. I'm not sure the same was true 25 years ago; let alone the 70s.

[@Beamshipcaptain]

Rick is a fantastic guitarist, but he's no Steve Howe, or even Alex Lifeson... Listen to THE CLAP from THE YES ALBUM, which is performed LIVE on that album, and you'll hear what I mean.

[@patrickmoreau7592]

I never heard of Nathan

[@joebloggs4754]

oh dear,,,their loss man....

[@davep8221]

Ah,true humbility, a rare and much appreciated trait. But he needs to switch to decaf.

[@YAMISOOLD2009]

ha. I think he has always been "Rocket Rik". He is just high energy.

[@scott917]

to the quote in the title - Thank god. Because I dont like YES.

[@rubicon-oh9km]

Don't like Yes? Didn't know that was possible. You probably hate King Crimson as well.

[@mikes11220]

Rik was Triumph - a bit distracting shoving all the subscribe and links to twitter across the interview. Later!

[@davidrice3337]

Triumph just had better songs -