Biography
The official biography of Triumph. Also see the bios on various other fan and media sites linked below.
The Canadian hard-rock power trio Triumph stands out as a visionary, uniquely influential
entity among their fellow brethren. Virtuoso musicianship, soaring melodies and
exceptional songs with a positive perspective and outstanding live shows
made vocalist/guitarist Rik Emmett, bass guitarist/keyboardist Mike Levine and
vocalist/drummer Gil Moore destined for stardom. They defined and epitomized
arena rock.
Individually, Emmett, Levine and Moore received countless accolades for their instrumental
abilities. Their creative prowess manifested itself in other outlets as well.
Levine co-produced some of the band's early work. Emmett became a cartoonist
for Hit Parader magazine. Moore designed Triumph's phenomenal live show,
which consistently evolved over the years and always utilized state-of-the-art
lighting, laser and pyrotechnic effects. In fact, Triumph received the
influential Performance Magazine's "Innovators of the Year"
award in 1981 for the unique way they changed the arena rock landscape.
Triumph formed in Toronto, ON, in 1975 after a chance meeting led Emmett, Levine and Moore to
embark on a marathon jam session. They immediately decided to form a band and
the debut 'Triumph' was released in 1976 on Attic Records. Triumph's gift for
delicate, intricate pieces and blistering raveups was evident on this first
album. Blinding Light Show features mellow acoustic passages but was a
prophetic song title considering the senses-stunning concerts the band was soon
to perfect. "Street Fighter" is a full-bore rocker.
The second album, Rock 'N' Roll Machine, followed in 1977. The title track is a standout due in
large part to Emmett's light-speed guitar solo. Also included are a cover of
Joe Walsh's "Rocky Mountain Way" and the two-part "New York City
Streets" and the adventurous epic medley "The City."
Triumph's initial popularity developed in an unusual way. Both Triumph and Rock 'N' Roll
Machine were first released only in Canada and garnered significant airplay
in Texas. The "Lone Star State" has always been a prime United States
market for hard rock and fans responded so favorably that Triumph specifically
undertook a Texas tour to promote Rock 'N' Roll Machine.
RCA Records signed Triumph on the strength of the positive buzz generated and the band's steadily
increasing notoriety, and in 1978 released a compilation off the first two
albums titled Rock 'N' Machine. In 1979, the album Just a Game
was a commercial breakthrough. It generated the band's first Billboard Top 40
hit single, "Hold On." Another notable single was "Lay It On the
Line," which was a smash at rock radio. Just a Game really
solidified Triumph's relationship with their fans and rock radio. The album was
certified gold, the band’s first in the US.
Next up was 1980's Progressions of Power and its single "I Can Survive." The sizzling
anthem "I Live for the Weekend" was a big hit in the United Kingdom
and a Friday-at-5:00 staple in the US.
1981 saw Triumph explode into the mainstream with Allied Forces. It immediately went gold
and eventually platinum. This album became a critical and commercial smash,
reaching # 23 on the Billboard charts. Its standout song, "Magic
Power," was a hit single and "Fight the Good Fight" was another
fan favorite. Both songs are still staples at rock radio.
Never Surrender followed in 1983 and went gold due in part
to rock radio's airplay of the powerful "A World of Fantasy." It was
during the Never Surrender tour that Triumph took part in the US
Festival in San Bernardino, CA. The band was a cornerstone of what became
popularly known as the festival's "Heavy Metal Sunday" on May 29,
1983. An estimated crowd of 500,000 people rocked along to Triumph as well as
Van Halen, Scorpions, Judas Priest, Ozzy Osbourne, Motley Crue and Quiet Riot.
Triumph and RCA parted ways and the band signed with MCA Records. Thunder Seven --
appropriately titled since it was the band's seventh album -- was released in
1984. Triumph co-produced Thunder Seven with legendary producer and
engineer Eddie Kramer, famed for his work with Led Zeppelin, the Beatles, Jimi
Hendrix, Kiss and others. The album became another gold seller, with the
popular single "Follow Your Heart," and another highlight,
"Spellbound." The tour was arguably Triumph’s most awe-inspiring, as
it was a sold-out trek that showed once and for all that the group was one of
the few arena headlining acts that truly pushed intricate lighting and lasers
to the max.
After a decade together as one of the most popular live acts of the time, the long overdue
double live album Stages was issued in 1985. The songs were recorded on
the road between 1981 and 1985.
1986's The Sport of Kings marked a career high point when the infectious "Somebody's
Out There" reached # 27, becoming a major hit single. "Just One
Night" was a Top 10 smash on MTV's video chart. The muscular "Tears
in the Rain" also thrilled the Triumph faithful. The Sport of Kings
was produced by Mike Clink, who followed this project with Guns 'N Roses' Appetite
for Destruction due in part to his work with Triumph.
Surveillance hit the streets in 1987. With this album,
Triumph broadened its studio approach by adding guest guitarist Steve Morse
(formerly of the Dixie Dregs and a member of Kansas at the time), who dueled with
Emmett on "Headed for Nowhere".
In 1988, Emmett left Triumph to pursue a solo career. The best-of album Classics was
released in 1989 and still another gold album was added to Triumph's tally.
While there is no denying the greatness of the material included on Classics,
it was a set that was issued to fulfill the group’s contractual commitment with
the label, and as a result, was not all it could have been - especially in the
packaging department.
Levine and Moore recruited new vocalist/guitarist Phil X, a fellow Canadian formerly of Aldo
Nova's band and Frozen Ghost. Triumph contributed the song "Troublemaker"
to the soundtrack of 1992's Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth. In 1993 the
new lineup released Edge of Excess on Victory Music, which featured
"Troublemaker" and "Child of the City."
In 1995 the entire Triumph catalog was remastered and reissued on CD. In the Beginning,
which was the first Triumph album and the original version of Rock 'N' Roll
Machine, appeared that year.
During this era, Levine and Moore were hard at work at the Metalworks Studios facility in
Mississauga, ON, preparing Triumph DVD and CD releases from the vaults. The
band built Metalworks Studios long ago for its own recording use but it has
become a highly revered, in-demand destination for other artists. In fact,
Metalworks Studios was voted the #1 studio countless years in a row at the
Canadian Music Industry Awards.
The legendary US Festival performance has been preserved as well. Live at the US Festival was
released separately on DVD and CD by TML Entertainment Inc. on September 23,
2003. Another vintage Triumph DVD surfaced soon after on March 23, 2004, A
Night of Triumph, which featured a sold out performance filmed on January 16,
1987 at the Halifax Metro Centre in NS.
With the advent of new mastering technologies, all of Triumph’s classic studio albums were
remastered at Metalworks, repackaged and released during 2005 -- as part of the
TML “Millennium Remasters†series, replacing the old catalog.
Upon Triumph being inducted into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame on March 10, 2007, the
classic Emmett-Levine-Moore line-up was reunited once more, with friendships
being rekindled. A year later, fans’ prayers were answered as Triumph united to
play at the Sweden Rock Festival in June 2008, and headlining a night at the
mammoth Rocklahoma Festival on July 11, 2008. The same year, the group was also
inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame as part of the Juno Awards –
joining such luminaries as Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, The Guess Who, Rush and
Bryan Adams.
With Triumph’s music reaching a whole new generation of fans via “Lay It on the Line†being
made available for download for the Guitar Hero 5 video game in late 2009, and
pressure from the existing fans, the time was right for the group to create a
fantastic hits package. Released on May 18, 2010, Greatest Hits: Remixed
includes all of the Triumph classics, but with simply awe-inspiring sonics,
with Rich Chycki (who has previously worked with Aerosmith and Rush), remixing
all of the tracks.
The deluxe, two-disc set, Greatest Hits: Remixed, clearly is just what the fans were
expecting. As well as the remixed CD, it also includes a DVD mixed in 5.1
audio, featuring fourteen promo and live videos in widescreen, the band’s Hall
of Fame Inductions, and comes with a 20-page color booklet, complete with liner
notes, lyrics and chockfull of vintage photos. The fans have spoken, and now
they have what they so rightfully deserve...the ultimate Triumph experience!
35 years after bursting onto the scene one thing is crystal clear: Triumph's legacy lives on.
External Related Links
In 1975, Gil Moore and Mike Levine approached a "brash, loud, and noisy" 21 year old Rik Emmett with a local record company deal...
Triumph's roots date back to 1975 when Rik Emmett, Gil Moore (ex of Sherman & Peabody) and Mike Levine began touring the local Toronto circuit, spreading the word of their...
Rock band, formed in Mississauga, Ont, in 1975 by Mike Levine (bass guitar, keyboards) and Gil Moore (drums, vocals) with Rik Emmett (guitar, vocals). All three contributed...
Triumph. Groupe rock formé en 1975 à Mississauga, Ont., par Mike Levine (guitare basse, claviers), Gil Moore (batterie, chant) et Rik Emmett (guitare, chant). Tous les trois enrichirent...
Triumph began in 1975 with Rik Emmett (guitar, vocals), Gil Moore (drums, vocals), and Mike Levine (bass, keyboard, synth). They started out touring local...
Triumph was a great rock band, and Rik Emmett deserves most of the credit. Triumph had so many great albums back in...