Rock fans, I got to sit down with none other than Rik Emmett from Triumph, and let me tell you, this guy still brings the heat. We covered everything from Triumph’s rise to fame, his insane guitar skills, and his brand-new book, Ten Telecaster Tales. If you’re a Triumph fan—or love great rock stories—buckle up!
On Triumph’s Big Break
Triumph blew up in the States before Canada fully embraced them, and Rik admits that was a game-changer. “Most of my success came because of Americans. Canadians were like, ‘Oh, they made it in the U.S.? Guess they’re legit.’” But not every Canadian band had that same luck. When I brought up The Tragically Hip, Rik had some interesting thoughts: “Gord Downie was our poet laureate, but Americans didn’t really get him. They were like, ‘Who is this guy?’”
From RCA to MCA – The Gamble That Paid Off
Rik shared a wild story about Triumph suing RCA to break free from their contract. “They thought we’d never be bigger than Blue Öyster Cult,” he said. But the band bet on themselves, jumped to MCA, and proved they could roll with the big dogs—Journey, Styx, you name it. “MCA was the weakest label, but Irving Azoff had the most money. So we said, ‘Alright, let’s go!’”
The Guitarist Who Never Got Enough Credit
Look, Rik’s a killer guitarist—no argument there. But did he ever feel overshadowed? “I never saw myself as an Eddie Van Halen-type, but I could hang in that league,” he told me. His time writing for Guitar Player Magazine gave him extra street cred, and he got to jam with legends like Steve Morse and George Benson. But at the end of the day? “It all comes back to the songwriting. You don’t have the songs, you don’t get on the radio.”
Ten Telecaster Tales – More Than Just a Book
Rik’s new book isn’t just another rock memoir—it’s an inside look at his songwriting, guitar playing, and even personal music notation. “I went so deep with the liner notes, they turned into a book,” he said, laughing. It’s loaded with personal stories, insights, and, of course, killer music. And yeah, he’s still got plenty of guitars—about 45 at last count. “At one point, I had 150, but I’ve donated a bunch. Now I just rotate through my favorites.”
Getting Back on Stage
Fans in Canada, get ready—Rik’s playing live again! He’s got a special Q&A-style show in Collingwood on March 21 and two sold-out gigs in Toronto on April 10 and 11. “I didn’t realize there was still this hunger to see me play live. Tickets were gone in 24 hours!” He might even bust out a tux for the occasion—though he’s still debating it.
Rik’s book Ten Telecaster Tales drops on March 25, and trust me, this is one you’ll want to grab. Great stories, deep musical insights, and a closer look at one of rock’s most underrated legends. Cheers to Rik for keeping the spirit of rock alive!
To see my last interview with Rik, click here.
