Rik Emmet on Alex interview

[treeduck]

From that endless source of great Rush information Rushisaband.com:

 

 

This past July, Alex Lifeson was a participant in GuitarWorkshop Plus; a Toronto-based musicians workshop which offers several courses for guitar, bass, keyboard, drums and vocals over 3 summer sessions. Also at the workshop was fellow Canadian musician and founding member of Triumph, Rik Emmett. Power Windows just reported that Emmett published a Q&A about his time spent with Alex Lifeson at the workshop in his September Network Newsletter:

 

Q: "I would love to hear about your time with Alex Lifeson."

 

Rik: He talked about his upcoming Greek holiday [we were in a Greek restaurant]: his love of good food and wine: his friendship with Pink Floyd crew people: how he shares Leaf tickets with Geddy, and is amazed at how people are rabid for them [even though he can take it or leave it, mostly leave it]; he chatted about opening act friendships he'd struck up with Eric Johnson, Morse, about the time he met Jimmy Page, and how he was like a nervous schoolboy, and he also spoke of when Geddy met Robert Plant ... The conversation also came from Brian Murray, who runs the workshop...they talked a lot - a LOT - about golf, since Alex plays a lot but is also a part owner in a course now north-east of the city ... [i don't play - I just listened to most of this] ... Lots and lots of shop talk about guitars & amps, etc. Alex has a new raft of endorsement deals.

 

We played an extended jam on a D tuning he's been writing in, which morphed into a version of 'Norwegian Wood'. After a lengthy Q & A, we played a 12 bar blues-y funk thing [loosely based on the groove of Steely Dan's "Home at Last" feel] ... and then we did a jam for the whole audience [about 160 guitars] on the chord progression of the old Rush classic "Working Man" - and Alex launched into a Geddy Lee vocal impression which brought the house down.

 

[The workshop] went great. Lots and lots of Q & A ... Plenty of jokes and anecdotes. He is a sweet and gentle fellow, and it was quite touching to see how rabid his fans are. Every single person, and the instructors and faculty, all lined up for autographs and photos. The meet & greet lasted over an hour.

 

Q: "Any chance that Uncle Rikky would show up on a future tour for a few shows????"

 

Rik: I dunno ... I kinda sorta doubt it, to be honest. When he talks about stadium shows in South America, and playing the huge halls all over the world: when he [gently, not with any bragging or anything] gives you insight into the privileged world of mega-wealth, and mega-success, the circles that he can travel in, the kinds of choices that Rush makes for itself, because it can afford to pretty much do whatever it likes, in whatever kind of creature comfort surroundings it chooses, you realize that it's a different league, a different set of rules. When they sometimes take on an opening act, an Eric Johnson, or a Steve Morse, it's because the double-bill makes sense in a kind of 'prog' way, or in a high-end Pink Floyd-ish kind of "technical" way: they tend towards the 'monster' musicians who dominate aspects of the guitar magazines. Because I am more of an eclectic singer-songwriter, it puts me into a different category. Besides, they don't really need an opening act in most markets. And if & when they do, they'd probably choose one that enhances their ticket sales by thousands [not hundreds]. A lot of music lovers would like to think that they are very open-minded and liberal in their tastes, but when you get them together in their respective groups, they tend towards a mob mentality of 'exclusion'. And Alex said, more than a few times, that Rush fans are very dedicated, very loyal, and very opinionated about what they don't like. To my perception, the 'core values' of their music [and any 'bill' they might put together for a gig] has to include the gymnastics of odd time signatures, of virtuoso ensemble playing, of lengthy intricate solos, of big riffs & themes, of esoteric lyric writing along social & political themes, etc. It's weird, in a way. They've used cartoons to open shows. They've openly engaged in pure shtick [the washers & dryers on stage instead of amps is a good example]. But they are also a very serious, conscientious band about a very narrow kind of quality, and it's the kind that has to say 'progressive' to a fan of that music..."

[Soni]

I didn't know Alex and Eric Johnson were friends!

Great, two of my all time favorite guitarists are friends!

[Pound of Obscure]

I'm not sure Rik likes us.

[the masked drummer]

Rik supposedly co-wrote "Magic Power", a triumph classic, with Alex. I heard they go way back. At least that's what Rik said in concert like almost 20 years ago.

Last time I saw Rik was at a club in 1998, and the audience attendance was embarrassing. I can't see Rik opening for Rush anytime soon. Maybe when they're in their sixties and triumph reforms or something. lol

[thesweetscience]

QUOTE (Pound of Obscure @ Sep 18 2006, 02:00 PM)

I'm not sure Rik likes us.

I agree! I detected a note of jealousy in that interview.

[treeduck]

QUOTE (thesweetscience @ Sep 18 2006, 03:36 PM)

QUOTE (Pound of Obscure @ Sep 18 2006, 02:00 PM) I'm not sure Rik likes us. I agree! I detected a note of jealousy in that interview. Naa not jealousy, more an acceptance of how it is...

[troutman]

QUOTE (treeduck @ Sep 18 2006, 01:48 PM)

QUOTE (thesweetscience @ Sep 18 2006, 03:36 PM) QUOTE (Pound of Obscure @ Sep 18 2006, 02:00 PM) I'm not sure Rik likes us. I agree! I detected a note of jealousy in that interview. Naa not jealousy, more an acceptance of how it is... Thats exactly right. He is just stating the facts. Rik Emmett has nothing to be jealous about. He is a great guitar player and vocalist. And has a wide range of wonderful music. He has just gone down a different road musically "KEEP ROCKIN' RIK"

[Earthshine]

Cool. I have no doubt that Rik has all the respect for Alex in the world.

[Edge of Traction]

QUOTE (Pound of Obscure @ Sep 18 2006, 03:00 PM)

I'm not sure Rik likes us.

I'm not sure if it's jealousy, but you get the impression that Rik doesn't necessarily approve of how fame has changed Rush. Of course, I could be full of bull-pucky, for no man can know the mind of Rik Emmett ('A World of Fantasy'=crappy squared.)

[launchpad67a]

Cool article troutman. Thanks for sharing.

[YYZ Working Man]

QUOTE

Rik supposedly co-wrote "Magic Power", a triumph classic, with Alex. I heard they go way back. At least that's what Rik said in concert like almost 20 years ago. Last time I saw Rik was at a club in 1998, and the audience attendance was embarrassing. I can't see Rik opening for Rush anytime soon. Maybe when they're in their sixties and triumph reforms or something. lol

 

I have met Rik on a few occasions and I do know that Triumph and Rush were and still friends- They were (and are) 2 of canada's best especially in the 80s after recognition kicked in for Triumph- Rush was international at that point.

Rik has a tremendous amount of respect for all the Rush members and I doubt he is jealous of them - He did not put forth the effort or had the long roots with Gil and Mike that Ged and Alex had .

Rik is a perfectionist and has been called arrogant and difficult to work with.

 

last time I seen Rik play was I think about 1998 or 99 as well at the EX in TO -the band shell was however packed but maybe fans sought Triumph.

 

One thing for sure - Hats off to Rik as being a supurb-top notch guitar player,vocalist and stage presence show man- Gill Moore to play drums well and sing

Mike Lavinge -an excellent bass player - very personable guy too

 

The only think Rik would kick himself in the ass for is not maintaining the Triumph's relationship - Rush may edge out Triumph pound for pound technically and musically but Triumph had the fan base and talent enough to go the long haul like the boys did

Imagine a T-30? :

 

 

[Earthshine]

QUOTE (YYZ Working Man @ Sep 20 2006, 10:05 PM)

The only think Rik would kick himself in the ass for is not maintaining the Triumph's relationship - Rush may edge out Triumph pound for pound technically and musically but Triumph had the fan base and talent enough to go the long haul like the boys did Imagine a T-30? :

I agree.

 

But Rik, Mike and Gil never had the same "brotherhood" that Alex, Geddy and Neil did.

 

I also think that Triumph was not "run" as equally as Rush is. And here is no doubt who the most talented member of Triumph was and he was on a much higher level of musicianship than his bandmates. I think this led to a tremendous power-play between Mike/Gil-Rik. The other thing is that Triumph had 2 lead vocalists. More times than not, this just does not seem to work. Look at Journey for example. 3 albums after Steve Perry joined, the excellent founding member Gregg Rolie was "edged out" to be replaced by the non-lead vocalist Jonathan Cain.

 

Triumph just seemed to be a bit too much "business" and "showmanship" for their own good.

 

I like them though!

[kooma]

I really love all the old Triumph albums