This is an article from the Ottawa Sun last weekend (october 4th). After all we've heard about next year's tour looking good, i'm a bit confused after reading this article. I'm wondering though if the writer of this article actually had an interview with Rik or is he just making up this article with no facts ???
http://www.ottawasun.com/Showbiz/Columnists/Armstrong_Denis/2008/10/04/6973791.html
Here's the part that got me a bit confused... (IN WHITE)
And there's Triumph, Emmett's hard-rocking heavy metal trio with drummer and vocalist Gil Moore and bassist Mike Levine. The Canadian band was incredibly popular throughout the late-1970s and 1980s, winning the Juno award for band of the year four times.
Emmett reluctantly reunited with his Triumph mates last year after being inducted into the Juno Hall of Fame. The trio played two gigs, one in Sweden and another in Oklahoma, before calling it quits because they weren't really up to the challenge of being a band again.
Hadn't played a note
"Rehearsals took two months because Gil and Mike hadn't played a note in 20 years, while I've been playing non-stop. Then, all the acrimonies we had when we broke up reappeared. I got tired of tip-toeing around them again."
While he won't dismiss the idea of a full reunion and tour in the near future, don't hold your breath.
"I left Triumph for better or worse and was blamed for breaking up the band. But I'm happy with the way things have turned out. I have new respect for John Lennon."
Interesting, thats like totally the opposite that I've seen everywhere I've read. Even Brendan had said Rik was having a good time with the guys, and Rik's latest myspace blog stated that as well.
I think this guy might be talking out his ass...but who knows...
This is what makes me think he's go no idea what's going on...its from his summer update from myspace...AFTER the sweden/rocklahoma shows...
"That's probably when I'll be getting around to another blog. 'Til then, my friends, make the most of the rest of your summer holidays: Peace, Love, and RAWK & ROOOOLLLLLLLLL ! ! ! ! ! ! [Sweden Rocks and Rocklahoma have awakened the Magic Power of my inner front man craziness, lying dormant lo these many decades ... ] ;-) "
JerseyJim:Seems obvious to me. The guys must have had a bit of a falling out very recently. No one can deny during Hold On, there appeared to be some tension between Rik and Mike on stage. I don't think you can simply bury 20 years of acrimony over two shows. So, who knows what will happen now.
Actually, there was no tension between Rik and Mike during Hold On at Rocklahoma...so don't go starting rumors like that. Rik goes into a long detailed description of the Rocklahoma show on his members forum, and the problem with Hold On had nothing to do with Mike. When Rik turns sidestage during a break in the vocal and yells angrily he's telling anyone nearby who can hear him that there's a HUGE problem with his monitor, which was blasting the click track from I Live for the Weekend, which kinda makes it tough to play Hold On.
Mike just happened to be the closest guy to hear Rik trying to tell them to fix it...so Rik's not yelling at Mike. He's just trying to get the techs to cut off the click for Weekend out of his mointor. For those that were at the show, you might recall after he finished playing Hold On, there was a 30 second or so period where the Weekend click went over the P.A. at about 120 decibels while they were trying to figure out what was going on with the board.
Now, as for the Ottawa Sun article, since that is a very recent article, it could well be that they've had some kind of disagreement recently. But you can't say that there was tension between Rik and Mike at Rocklahoma, because you're basing that on an observation where you don't know the story. Now you do.
knetzke11: Interesting, thats like totally the opposite that I've seen everywhere I've read. Even Brendan had said Rik was having a good time with the guys, and Rik's latest myspace blog stated that as well.I think this guy might be talking out his ass...but who knows... This is what makes me think he's go no idea what's going on...its from his summer update from myspace...AFTER the sweden/rocklahoma shows..."That's probably when I'll be getting around to another blog. 'Til then, my friends, make the most of the rest of your summer holidays: Peace, Love, and RAWK & ROOOOLLLLLLLLL ! ! ! ! ! ! [Sweden Rocks and Rocklahoma have awakened the Magic Power of my inner front man craziness, lying dormant lo these many decades ... ] ;-) "
I also read the summer update (quoted above) and that's why i was confused saturday morning when i saw that article....
JerseyJim:OK fine. It just looked that way on he video. Still sound like all is not well in Triumph-land.
Yeah, well we have something to talk/think about now...although not exactly what I was hoping to be talking about. I wonder what they might have fought over. EVERYTHING...literally everything I have read about the reunion has been positive. They seemed to be having fun and enjoying it. Rik was allowed to use the Triumph name again after the induction. Gil also let him do some mixing for Airtime at Metalworks...actually almost made him it sounds like. Did it for free too I believe. Hmph!! I hope we dont have to wait too long before more light is shed on this.
I noticed, though, that in Rik's Sept '08 Newsletter he doesn't mention Triumph at all.....mentions Trio, Airtime, Troubs, Let It Be Tour....lots of other odds & ends....also notes that these are what IS & WILL BE happening....I would think that any exclusions are NOT happening...at least not in the near future...
But what's weird is how it notes "....he won't dismiss the idea of a full reunion & tour in the near future" -- ??
And - does anyone remember a year or two ago Rik being quoted that he had signed on to work with Gil & Mike for 2 years? Some kind of business arrangement?
Anyway, hopefully it's misquoted / misread / misinterpreted....
Yeah the reunion/tour seems out of place with what the rest of the article was trying to get accross...
Although he doesnt mention Triumph in the newsletter, it would be quite a while before that came into play again since they wouldnt tour until next summer which is quite a ways off. I would imagine he's actively working on the projects he mentions. I know he said that he stopped teaching at Humber college in order to make more time for other things. Until Triumph came into the picture he had all these projects on his tables yet but continued teaching there. I'm hoping its twisted into something thats not as well...I wanna see them in '09!
Old wounds may have not healed completely. I was the first to be surprised when it was announced that Triumph was playing the Sweden Rock Festival. I would never imagine Rik ever reuniting with Gill and Mike.
One cannot always believe what newspapers publish (taken out of context? fabrications?) I hope this article is not true because it would be sad for all of us who could not go to Sweden or Rocklahoma.
Schenker: Old wounds may have not healed completely. I was the first to be surprised when it was announced that Triumph was playing the Sweden Rock Festival. I would never imagine Rik ever reuniting with Gill and Mike.One cannot always believe what newspapers publish (taken out of context? fabrications?) I hope this article is not true because it would be sad for all of us who could not go to Sweden or Rocklahoma.
I'm so pissed at that article that i just emailed the columnist who wrote it.... I asked him if he actually had a person to person interview with Rik or if he was just writing whatever he wanted...
quent:
What???
dsaucier72: Schenker: Old wounds may have not healed completely. I was the first to be surprised when it was announced that Triumph was playing the Sweden Rock Festival. I would never imagine Rik ever reuniting with Gill and Mike.One cannot always believe what newspapers publish (taken out of context? fabrications?) I hope this article is not true because it would be sad for all of us who could not go to Sweden or Rocklahoma. I'm so pissed at that article that i just emailed the columnist who wrote it.... I asked him if he actually had a person to person interview with Rik or if he was just writing whatever he wanted...
Let us know when you hear back.
Hey PJK,
I think it was around the time of the 1st HOF induction. - likely a little before...I can't really remember if it was on this board (likely) or somewhere else...
Anyway, Rick alluded to some kind of business arrangement where he would make himself available to help promote the Triumph brand ....or something like that....I seem to remember the term of 2 years being mentioned...
Does anyone else remember this? More specifics?