Can't get enough of Rik Emmett. Such an awesome person. I've watched many interviews with him. Just like his music, he hooks you, and reels you right in, and leaves you wanting more. Thank you Rik and the rest of Triumph for such fantastic music.
I got to hang with Rik quite a bit at NAMM one year when he was a Dean Guitars undorser. We all took a limo to this ritzy steakhouse and Rik had to ride up front to keep from getting car sick!! poor guy!
John, thank you for letting him talk! This is like major ADHD, but it’s fascinating to hear him talk about music, sports, everything. He’s always been one of my musical heroes, and this is perfect!
I was there at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. Triumph, Ted Nugent, Sammy Hagar, ZZ Top, Steve Miller Band, Bon Jovi, and others. It was an awesome day. Spent the night before partying just outside the venue, parked on the grassy lot. Everyone was drinking and partying that night. Then during the day, as the opening bands began to play, the sun wreaked havoc on us. People up front of stage were passing out from the heat. They were hosing the crowd down with water. It was a crazy Rockin’ day. Rik Emmett is a guitar genius. Very underrated. 🎸🤘🏼👍🏻
I remember really wanting to go to San Bernadino for the US Festival! I lived in Little Rock, AR and still do so I ended up driving to the Texas Jam which happened right after the US Festival. Nobody I knew wanted to go so I went by myself. I didn’t give a flip. I wanted go so badly - had to. I saw them both days/nights in Dallas and Houston. It was the best. Too Much Fun.
I clearly understand Rik. He is describing being content and in tune with the situation in the moment! Difficult to describe, but satisfying to your human spirit! So glad that Riks music and lyrics were there for my early adult years! 👍
I've seen him a couple of times during the 80's. He came across as a well rounded guitarist, adept at playing several styles. This was evident during the contrived mandatory live concert guitar solo showcase segment, a staple of the 1980's concert scene. Instead of endless noodling in the pentatonic scale zone with the obligatory hammer-ons, he actually added some excerpts of a Bach fugue, jazz chord melody phrasing, etc. It was a breath of fresh air.
The reason they left was because they cut off alcohol sales and announced it right before Styx went on. Not nearly as sexy of a story. Emmett is an idiot.
@@Alanb_69 yeah but it's different now, they just play the song. They had a whole act and work costumes and it was kind of like a rock musical back then. That did not go over in those shows
I don’t know if Styx would still be able to go on the road and make a living in 2024 if they couldn’t tour behind both Dennis’s and Tommy’s songs. Lawrence Gowan does a nice job handling the vocals, keyboards and stage banter, and he apparently gets along better with the rest of the band, and he has been doing it night in and night out for a couple decades now.
Triumph will always be one my favorite bands, but I don't listen to radio anymore because I can't stand how artist with many great songs are being represented by only 2 or 3 focus tested songs that get play over and over.
All you have to do is watch a recorded Styx show from the past 20 years, hear how unbelievably tight they are, see how much fun they’re having, and finish by listening to “Crash of the Crown” to know, beyond ANY doubt, that Tommy and JY are the soul of Styx and have been since 1976. Dennis made huge contributions, but went in a very different direction with the Broadway stuff, and jt began to show around the time of the Cornerstone album. Not that there’s anything wrong or bad about that, it simply wasn’t compatible with a rock band.
Uh none of their albums have done shit since DDY isn't with them. They've hardly sold and 0 hit records. Happens when you kick the guy out who wrote all the hits.
I was about 30 feet from the stage in Dallas , Triumph was great ! Sammy was great , & I’m no Sammy fan . Styx was horrendous & I’m A Big Styx Fan . The crowd definitely left in droves with the whole Roboto disaster
JHeard so many inter views where a musucian will sit down and right a whole song. Melody , chord changes, bridges ans arrangenents. And they say thet were in some kind of trance, connecting with the universe. Steve Lukather said when he rips out a solo , onetake, and it's perfect for the song, he has no explanation where it came from. And he did that daily for years. Of course he practiced his ass off and delved into so many styles IMHO Luke is in the top 5 ever.
It’s bizarre when I hear these amazing musicians talk about being good at sports. I was short and stout, so I sucked at sports. BUT! Here I was, a piano player, was really good in the gymnasium… Being short and stout, I could do flips on the parallel bars… but football and baseball… nope. Maybe I missed my calling? 😆 Probably not…! 😂
I've seen all those bands many times. I do agree STYX is better when they are not playing those whimpy songs Dennis wanted to perform. Dennis DeYoung belongs on Broadway, not on hard rock lineup.
It’s a double edged sword with DD,a band needs to make money not just for themselves but the record company as well,the Ballads made them money but the fans of Styx Hated it! Then Roboto was just a disaster but DD had brought in a lot of cash with the grand illusion so his ego just got to big and it still is and the whole thing is what happens when you have a room full of musicians with Opinions,it’s a difficult thing to deal with and it’s the fans who suffer and end up walking away.
Dennis an intregal part of Styx, but Mr Roboto a bad mistake- even the best make them. Especially in the context of this performance Rick talks of. Eye love the term 'precious metal' given to Triumph
@@BrandGuyTim yeah- head scratcher, smh... saw them outside Austin last year. FANTASTIC sound, but realized recorded backing tracks are common in the biz. Still, great set, great performance. Kudos to the band we metal heads at the time would chide egotistically lol
I know i'm in the minority but Rik leaving Triumph was the right decision. Triumph as a unit was far too limiting. Rik just had much more to offer than what Triumph could give him.
it's funny, Rik gets bleeped for the s word in the story about successful people, and John drops the f-bomb a couple of times during the Trooper story! Yes, semi bleeped, but you hear it.
Dennis Deyoung should have watched this video before he did his Whinefest interveiw with Rock History Music!! Tommy and JY were right! Mr. Roboto might have some fans now but it was a death nail to Styx when it came out.
Rik is right, it's not about the money. Styx still tours because they enjoy performing. If all they cared about was money, Tommy and JY would've asked DDY to come back years ago, and be willing put up with DeYoung's drama...
DDY was/is extremely talented but was attempting to change the band into his vision and didn't care who he pissed off. This same scenario has ruined many great bands and birthed many tribute facsimiles.
Were Tommy and JY that pathetic that they just let him do what he wanted? What wimps!! Of course the more realistic answer is that they were all a part of it too.
I suppose if you like the Holiday Inn lounge act version of Styx. However, as I said in a previous comment, personal taste. To each is own, and nobody is wrong.
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Can't get enough of Rik Emmett. Such an awesome person. I've watched many interviews with him. Just like his music, he hooks you, and reels you right in, and leaves you wanting more. Thank you Rik and the rest of Triumph for such fantastic music.
I got to hang with Rik quite a bit at NAMM one year when he was a Dean Guitars undorser. We all took a limo to this ritzy steakhouse and Rik had to ride up front to keep from getting car sick!! poor guy!
John, thank you for letting him talk! This is like major ADHD, but it’s fascinating to hear him talk about music, sports, everything. He’s always been one of my musical heroes, and this is perfect!
I was there at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. Triumph, Ted Nugent, Sammy Hagar, ZZ Top, Steve Miller Band, Bon Jovi, and others. It was an awesome day. Spent the night before partying just outside the venue, parked on the grassy lot. Everyone was drinking and partying that night. Then during the day, as the opening bands began to play, the sun wreaked havoc on us. People up front of stage were passing out from the heat. They were hosing the crowd down with water. It was a crazy Rockin’ day. Rik Emmett is a guitar genius. Very underrated. 🎸🤘🏼👍🏻
Best music ever! What a great blessing to live in those days! Rik was always awesome, so much energy.
Seen triumph first time in 1983 at the US festival in So Cal still the greatest music memory for me
I remember really wanting to go to San Bernadino for the US Festival! I lived in Little Rock, AR and still do so I ended up driving to the Texas Jam which happened right after the US Festival. Nobody I knew wanted to go so I went by myself. I didn’t give a flip. I wanted go so badly - had to. I saw them both days/nights in Dallas and Houston. It was the best. Too Much Fun.
I clearly understand Rik. He is describing being content and in tune with the situation in the moment! Difficult to describe, but satisfying to your human spirit! So glad that Riks music and lyrics were there for my early adult years! 👍
I saw The Paradise Theater show back in the 80's at the Providence Civic Center......fantastic show.
Rik…one of my favorites. Sad I only saw him once …in 1981. Happy for that experience.
I've seen him a couple of times during the 80's. He came across as a well rounded guitarist, adept at playing several styles. This was evident during the contrived mandatory live concert guitar solo showcase segment, a staple of the 1980's concert scene. Instead of endless noodling in the pentatonic scale zone with the obligatory hammer-ons, he actually added some excerpts of a Bach fugue, jazz chord melody phrasing, etc. It was a breath of fresh air.
Very enjoyable story. Cheers.
Triumph was awesome seen em a couple of times in Dallas. At the Texas jam , l missed that show, but my buddy said he liked Styx the best.
Speedy recovery Rik
Oh oh I'm trying to remember when I saw triumph?? Definitely had some vinyl
I relayed this story to a Dennis disciple and he claimed it never happened. So I referred him to watch the Rik Emmett story months ago. Crickets…
Oh it def happened look up Tommy's take on the days events....
Yeah the "Dennis only" crowd won't admit the truth. They'll lie, even when others like Rik here say exactly what Tommy said happened...
The reason they left was because they cut off alcohol sales and announced it right before Styx went on. Not nearly as sexy of a story. Emmett is an idiot.
@@dewdew34 vh1 behind the music Styx, that story was told, Tommy telling Dennis we have to rock and Dennis saying no
I bought my epiphone les Paul standard 50s cherry burst because Rick played a gib sd on c.b. at the knob hill hotel & other bars around Toronto
I just got it!😎
fantastic interview
Thanks, I am excited about this book! Bobby Orr's was a letdown!
Weird how things have changed. I saw Styx not long ago and people went crazy when they played Mr Roboto. Back then I hated it. Now I love the song.
@@Alanb_69 yeah but it's different now, they just play the song. They had a whole act and work costumes and it was kind of like a rock musical back then. That did not go over in those shows
There is not a single member of Styx who has the musicianship of a Rik Emmet -
I have always and will always hate Mr Roboto
Personal taste, to each his own, and nobody is wrong. I hated that song back then, and I hate it even more now.
I was nine when it came out so I loved it.
I don’t know if Styx would still be able to go on the road and make a living in 2024 if they couldn’t tour behind both Dennis’s and Tommy’s songs. Lawrence Gowan does a nice job handling the vocals, keyboards and stage banter, and he apparently gets along better with the rest of the band, and he has been doing it night in and night out for a couple decades now.
except that he sucks as a singer.
Tommy had a point, loved Styx in the 70s as a teenager, once Babe and Mr Roboto came out they lost me for many many years.
Triumph rocks
Styx had basically split into two factions even back then..the Texas shows were where everything came to a head (Tommy and JY were right IMO).
Agreed.
Yeah, they wanted to be rockers and DeYoung wanted to be a broadway star. Straight tanked with 'Kilroy'.
Except that DDY wrote and sang 7 of their 8 top 10 hits and the band now performs roboto every night in their first encore. So there's that.
Yeah, that explains why when Tommy quit, JY urged Dennis to replace him immediately. That's how tight Tommy and JY were.
Damn I'm old. I was at the Texxas Jam 83' and we left during Styx.
Triumph will always be one my favorite bands, but I don't listen to radio anymore because I can't stand how artist with many great songs are being represented by only 2 or 3 focus tested songs that get play over and over.
All you have to do is watch a recorded Styx show from the past 20 years, hear how unbelievably tight they are, see how much fun they’re having, and finish by listening to “Crash of the Crown” to know, beyond ANY doubt, that Tommy and JY are the soul of Styx and have been since 1976. Dennis made huge contributions, but went in a very different direction with the Broadway stuff, and jt began to show around the time of the Cornerstone album. Not that there’s anything wrong or bad about that, it simply wasn’t compatible with a rock band.
Uh none of their albums have done shit since DDY isn't with them. They've hardly sold and 0 hit records. Happens when you kick the guy out who wrote all the hits.
Rik had a great band
I was about 30 feet from the stage in Dallas , Triumph was great ! Sammy was great , & I’m no Sammy fan . Styx was horrendous & I’m A Big Styx Fan . The crowd definitely left in droves with the whole Roboto disaster
So was I - you neglect to state that they cut off beer sales and announced it right before Styx started.
JHeard so many inter views where a musucian will sit down and right a whole song. Melody , chord changes, bridges ans arrangenents.
And they say thet were in some kind of trance, connecting with the universe.
Steve Lukather said when he rips out a solo , onetake, and it's perfect for the song, he has no explanation where it came from.
And he did that daily for years.
Of course he practiced his ass off and delved into so many styles
IMHO Luke is in the top 5 ever.
It’s either spirituality or playing Mr. Roboto
Strange title. Good interview.
It’s bizarre when I hear these amazing musicians talk about being good at sports. I was short and stout, so I sucked at sports. BUT! Here I was, a piano player, was really good in the gymnasium… Being short and stout, I could do flips on the parallel bars… but football and baseball… nope. Maybe I missed my calling? 😆 Probably not…! 😂
no audio book?💙😎
Texas Jam
I was here. Texas Jam 83. Styx was booed and made fun of. Dallas Texas!
So was I and the beer sales ending were what was booed.
i like that styx story.
I've seen all those bands many times. I do agree STYX is better when they are not playing those whimpy songs Dennis wanted to perform. Dennis DeYoung belongs on Broadway, not on hard rock lineup.
Fine. But the biggest hits Styx had were all Dennis DeYoung tunes
The Barry Manilow of rock.
You're clueless.
@@rkenseth I agree
It’s a double edged sword with DD,a band needs to make money not just for themselves but the record company as well,the Ballads made them money but the fans of Styx Hated it!
Then Roboto was just a disaster but DD had brought in a lot of cash with the grand illusion so his ego just
got to big and it still is and the whole thing is what happens when you have a room full of musicians with
Opinions,it’s a difficult thing
to deal with and it’s the fans
who suffer and end up walking away.
Dennis an intregal part of Styx, but Mr Roboto a bad mistake- even the best make them. Especially in the context of this performance Rick talks of. Eye love the term 'precious metal' given to Triumph
Except that it was a #1 record and is now played as their first encore... They haven't had a song nearly as big since.
@@BrandGuyTim yeah- head scratcher, smh... saw them outside Austin last year. FANTASTIC sound, but realized recorded backing tracks are common in the biz. Still, great set, great performance. Kudos to the band we metal heads at the time would chide egotistically lol
Dennis was ahead of his time. Roboto was just in the wrong era and under appreciated
'Kilroy' is a farce, still today.
It was a huge song. How many hits have Tommy and JY had without Dennis. Hint - it begins with a "Z."
I know i'm in the minority but Rik leaving Triumph was the right decision. Triumph as a unit was far too limiting. Rik just had much more to offer than what Triumph could give him.
it's funny, Rik gets bleeped for the s word in the story about successful people, and John drops the f-bomb a couple of times during the Trooper story! Yes, semi bleeped, but you hear it.
Dennis Deyoung should have watched this video before he did his Whinefest interveiw with Rock History Music!! Tommy and JY were right! Mr. Roboto might have some fans now but it was a death nail to Styx when it came out.
Yeah a gold single that hit #1 on a number of charts. How many of those have they had since?
There is never going to be a consensus on Dennis DeYoung so why go there?
Rik is just talking about what a lot of the Dennis zealots try and deny happened. Nothing wrong with the truth...
Dennis DeYoung was not smart. This proves it.
He thought he was the leader because he had the most hit songs
Yeah - he was only responsible for 7 of their 8 top 10 hit singles. Maybe it is you that isn't smart.
Rik is right, it's not about the money. Styx still tours because they enjoy performing. If all they cared about was money, Tommy and JY would've asked DDY to come back years ago, and be willing put up with DeYoung's drama...
Well since they basically play bars and state fairs without him, you might have a point.
DDY was/is extremely talented but was attempting to change the band into his vision and didn't care who he pissed off. This same scenario has ruined many great bands and birthed many tribute facsimiles.
Were Tommy and JY that pathetic that they just let him do what he wanted? What wimps!! Of course the more realistic answer is that they were all a part of it too.
Dennis is/was Styx
I suppose if you like the Holiday Inn lounge act version of Styx. However, as I said in a previous comment, personal taste. To each is own, and nobody is wrong.
Hell yes he is. Emmett is a moron.
A genius, but not always typical rocker.
Mr. Roboto was so horrible, I think it had killed off the band.
Styx sux.
Ask him why they were iceholes to KIX on there first tour opening for Triumph????