“When you feel like your hands aren’t doing well, and you’d like to take a day off, that’s the day you try and play more”: How Rik Emmett tackled the Triumph reunion tour, with added Phil X

Rik Emmett of the band Triumph performs at Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre on May 30, 2026 in Sterling Heights, Michigan.

In the late ’70s and into the ’80s, Triumph proved to be a mighty force as a power trio. The Canadian band, which featured Gil Moore on drums and vocals, Mike Levine on bass and Rik Emmett on guitar and vocals, reeled off a string of memorable songs, including Lay It on the Line, Fight the Good Fight, Magic Power and World of Fantasy.

But, despite their sublime blend of hard rock, prog and fantasy-inspired vibes, they never quite reached the heights of Canada’s other beloved power trio, a little band called Rush.