The Official Website Of Triumph

Cool, I was also at Rik's show May 15, 1999 - Worcester MA - Worcester Polytecnic Institute. Still have the picture of Rik & I............great show that night!

FIGHTER 

 

Hank,

Looks like we were at a LOT of the same shows!! Wasn't there also one in Bakersfield in Feb of 83 on the Never Surrender tour? I remember I couldn't go because of some other commitment, or the one at Orange Pavillion in Feb, and I was also bummed when they had to cancel the Long Beach show because of the US Festival.

The reason behind that was that the contract for all the bands that signed on to play the US Festival stated that they couldn't play within like 350 miles of the US Festival site within like 90 days of the festival. That was so they wouldn't dilute potential ticket sales, i.e. why deal with 500,000 people on a blisteirng hot day when I can see Triumph in an arena two months before. I would have done both, naturally, as I'm sure you would have.

I found that out by calling the promoter the next day, which I think was Avalon Attractions? Help me out Hank if you remember, they were the big promoter in SoCal back then I think. And they had a "press 5 for information on the Triumph cancellation" thing on the answering machine! I also asked Rik about that after one of his club shows on the Absolutely tour when I was lucky enough to meet him, and he confirmed. Apparently they had to cancel scheduled shows in Long Beach, San Diego and Phoenix to play the US Festival. Tucson was OK because it was just far enough away, so they added the Tucson gig. He had a little grin when he said that the payday for the US FEstival made it very worthwhile to have to cancel the other shows.

And, yeah Hank, I remember the human crush at Orange Pavillion as well. Was tempted to get way up front but instead stood about 50 feet back where there was air! Hated the low ceiling in that place.

 

I didnt move to Bakersfield until 1992. I had been quoted by friends in the eighties " I would never ever live or even travel to Bakersfield" isn't that funny now that I live here.

I didn't know until now why they cancelled the shows in the LA area in 83. It was Avalon but didnt know about any ph#'s.

I wonder what was the payday was for the US fest ? Do you know ??

I kinda miss the OP, I used to call a airplane hangar. At of all the venues in LA, I could never figure out why anyone would play there. I tried really hard to get a bulb from the chaser lights after the show in 1983. Of course I stayed back away from the front on the next OP shows.

Hank 

 

 

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hrams:

Why did they play Wooster multiple times on the same tours but not back to back dates? I have seen some other cities/tours that they did that.

I haven't got the slightest idea why they toured the way they did, I was just glad I got to see them when I did. But I do know that a lot of planning/work goes into touring and any mismanagement of that can kill a bands potential or literally. That is what happened to Buddy Holly, horrible tour management. For instance:

If you are in Ohio to play a gig at Gund Arena on September 4th and it would seem feasible to play at the Agora Ballroom on September 5th, but the venue is already booked, what do you do? You really do not want to waste time, energy and money going out of the way to another place just to return to that venue. Plus with Triumph managing themselves and wanting to play any and everywhere I can only imagine how that took a toll on them. Yet all eleven times I seen them they were amazing, both musically and light show, which made me respect them as musicians and artists even more. They were the Canadian version of Judas Priest, how them two have not fell over dead from such constant rigorous wear and tear touring is beyond me.

fighter:

Cool, I was also at Rik's show May 15, 1999 - Worcester MA - Worcester Polytecnic Institute. Still have the picture of Rik & I............great show that night!

It's always a great show when Rik performs, no one can pack the amount of energy into one performance than he can. His smaller 'intimate' shows are great because you get to see the same man whose guitar and voice always cut through the Blinding Light Show, though older but just as talented and beautiful.

 

Orange Pavillion, San Bernadino, Ca

First Indoor Triumph concert for me (I think Feb 26th 1983?) $9.75 ticket GA style

 

 The Orange Pavilion is the most popular clear-span building on the grounds. With its large, professional stage, designed with the ability to rig lights and sound to accommodate any need, from concerts to television broadcasts, the Orange Pavilion is the favorite building among event planners. Other features include a permanent concessions stand, a 5,000-person capacity, restrooms, dressing rooms, and a building layout that is also conducive to large-scale banquets, trade shows, car shows, benefit events, and more.

 

 

Hank 

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let's see if I can remember them all.

10/29/79 I think-Triumph,Gamma,Blackhorse-Free Show(gotta love them kind)Ft.Worth,Texas TCCC

5/02/80-Triumph/UFO and Jackson Highway- Moody Coliseum,Dallas,Tx

12/4/81-Triumph/Survior- Reunion Arena,Dallas,Tx

4/10/83-Triumph/Foghat-Reunion Arena,Dallas,Tx 

 1983 (Dallas - June 18, Houston - June 19)Cotton Bowl-Dallas,Astrodome-Houston

• Styx (Kilroy Was Here tour)
• Sammy Hagar
• Ted Nugent
• Triumph
• Uriah Heep

Trivia: Ted Nugent and Rik Emmett joined Sammy Hagar on stage in Dallas for their version of Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love." Tommy Shaw recalls these shows as being some of the worst of his career. He claims to have feared for his life as his band was performing a play after some of the best hard rock bands of the day had performed.

Don't have the ticket or remember the date for the Thunder 7 tour in 84/85 but I was there.I think it was at Reunion arena in Dallas,Tx.

Also saw the Sport of Kings tour in South Padre Island in Tx,It was around Spring Break if I remember right.

 

Plus one Rik solo show in Dallas at Poor Davids Pub on 7/22/2000 

 

 

 

 

hrams:

I didnt move to Bakersfield until 1992. I had been quoted by friends in the eighties " I would never ever live or even travel to Bakersfield" isn't that funny now that I live here.

I didn't know until now why they cancelled the shows in the LA area in 83. It was Avalon but didnt know about any ph#'s.

I wonder what was the payday was for the US fest ? Do you know ??

I kinda miss the OP, I used to call a airplane hangar. At of all the venues in LA, I could never figure out why anyone would play there. I tried really hard to get a bulb from the chaser lights after the show in 1983. Of course I stayed back away from the front on the next OP shows.

Hank 

 

 

My promoter friend told me it's pretty standard procedure for big festival promoter to have bands sign that kind of "no shows within X amount of miles and days before the festival" contract so as to increase festival ticket sales, so that makes sense to me as to why Triumph had to cancel its LA area gigs before the US Festival.

As for the payday, I remember reading something somewhere about how much the bands got paid at the US Festival...unconfirmed, but I remember the writer talked to Steve Wozniak and asked if the figures were correct and he said something like "well, you're pretty close." If I recall right, the numbers were:

Van Halen--$1 million
Scorpions--$750,000
Triumph--$500,000
Judas Priest--$500,000
Ozzy--$350,000
Motley Crue--$150,000
Quiet Riot--$100,000

 So, yeah, I guess it was worth it to cancel a few arena shows!

My Triumph concert count: 11; all on the Chicago/Milwaukee/St. Louis/Indy legs of their tours from Never Surrender thru Sport of Kings, plus the US Festival. Wasn't lucky enough to catch them on Allied Forces or before.

 

 

 

Twice. Both times in Phoenix, AZ. 'Thunder Seven' Tour. Molly Hatchett opened. Then 'Sport of Kings' tour. Don't remember the opening band. I was disappointed by the crowd turnout at the SoK tour. It was a confirming sign that they were past their peak.

Unfortunately none :(:(:(:(......gotta make up for lost time!!

I consider myself lucky to have seen Triumph 3 times:

Austin, TX - Feb. 15, 1985

Hollywood, FL - Dec. 6, 1986

 South Padre Island, TX - Mar. 17, 1988 (reputed to be one of their last shows)

I have also seen Rik solo 3 times and once with his full band between 2002-2007.

 

i've seen them 6 times in 3 different venues...1. EXHIBITION STADIUM-TORONTO,2. MAPLE LEAF GARDENS-TORONTO,3.CANADA'S WONDERLAND-TORONTO

BEST CONCERT...NEW YEARS EVE-WITH TEENAGE HEAD AND HARLEQUIN OPENING

Was at that one too Stoneguy. Have to agree, kickin' show (except for Teenage Head...thought it was a poor choice for opener)!!!!

Cheers

Brien

was the opening act some air guitar act for thunder seven tour.at least here in l.a it was.any one member(you member)there name.

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GO VIKES

teenage head opened for Triumph atleast twice...they weren't much to look at or listen to.