A Triumphant Return! Janda chats with Gil Moore and Mike Levine of Triumph

Summary

Podcast Summary: Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles

Episode: A Triumphant Return! Janda chats with Gil Moore and Mike Levine of Triumph
Host: Janda Lane (Gamut Podcast Network)
Guests: Gil Moore & Mike Levine (Triumph)
Date: May 13, 2026

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Main Theme

This episode celebrates the long-anticipated return of legendary Canadian rock band Triumph to touring after three decades away from the road. Host Janda Lane sits down with founding members Gil Moore and Mike Levine to discuss the remarkable series of events that led to their reunion tour, the evolving spectacle of their live shows, and the continuing impact of their classic songs. They also touch on their induction into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame and the enduring loyalty of their fan base.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Road to Triumph’s Return

[02:15 – 05:45]

• The band never planned a formal comeback, but a sequence of events sparked renewed energy:
  • Work on a mixed reality concept with the lighting director.
  • A Triumph documentary prompted a reunion performance.
  • Interest grew, leading to famed producer Mike Clink organizing a tribute album with world-class rock musicians.
  • The NHL began using "Lay it on the Line" during hockey playoffs, even inviting Triumph to play at the finals in Edmonton.
  • Live Nation proposed a full-scale tour following these milestones.
  • Band lineup was reassembled, with new and returning members joining for a "flash rehearsal" before playing live again.
• Quote:

  “So we just decided, you know, it's been such a fun ride, why don't we do it? ...We're on our way back in the plane. And then the next shoe that drops is Live Nation goes, we're taking you guys on a tour.”
  —Mike Levine [03:00]

Picking Up Where They Left Off – With Even More Firepower

[05:45 – 06:54]

• This will be Triumph’s first tour in 30 years; the opening show is in Chicago.
• The new live show is a step up in spectacle:
  • Features two double drum sets (with both Gil and Brent).
  • Dual lead guitars (Phil X and Rick Ammott).
  • Expanded lineup: “first six piece power trio of all time.”
  • Paul Dexter and his team are designing the effects and stage production to be “second to none.”
• Quote:

  “Yeah, we're the first six piece power trio of all time, I guess you'd say. We have a lot of firepower on stage as far as musicians and vocals and in the show itself...”
  —Mike Levine [06:00]

The Evolution of Triumph’s Live Show

[06:54 – 09:55]

• Janda asks Mike about his role in Triumph’s legendary live productions and how technology has changed.
• Mike stresses that it’s not about flashy effects for the sake of spectacle, but about serving the music and narrative:
  • The concert experience is designed with a narrative, based on the positivity, unity, and inspiration that fans have always drawn from Triumph’s songs.
  • He aims for fans to leave uplifted, feeling part of a joyful community, escaping “divisive politics and terrible wars.”
• Quote:

  “We want unity. We want community through music, happiness through music. Let people forget about divisive politics and terrible wars and some of the other horrible stuff... and let music do what music does best.”
  —Mike Levine [09:26]

The Legacy and Physical History of Triumph

[09:55 – 11:44]

• Janda asks if they’ve kept memorabilia from past tours.
• Gil acknowledges they have a vast warehouse of Triumph paraphernalia, much of which may make a return in the new tour.
• The iconic white Triumph lights from the early ’80s might be back—or recreated in an even grander, more modern form.
  • Paul Dexter has plans to potentially outdo the original piece.
• Quote:

  “He's got an idea to recreate it and make it bigger than it was and different than it was and more exotic than it was. So we'll have to see.”
  —Mike Levine [11:17]

Triumph and Their Place in Rock History

[11:52 – 13:21]

• Induction into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame was a particularly meaningful honor for the band.
• Gil reflects on the foundational importance of great songs to every classic record, and how the passage of time has perhaps clouded institutional memory, making the award even more meaningful as a recognition of Triumph’s songwriting legacy.
• Quote:

  “Of all the awards we've won, [the Hall of Fame induction] is the best piece of hardware.”
  —Gil Moore [12:32]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the spontaneous rebuilding of the band lineup:

  “Just get off the airplane, jump into a rehearsal hall, one rehearsal, and then boom, right on the stage. And it was so much fun.”
  —Mike Levine [03:00]

• On the intent behind stage theatrics:

  “If it's not really emphasizing the emotional impact of the lyric or that, you know, musical riff... it just becomes kind of like video noise to me.”
  —Mike Levine [08:51]

• On fan devotion and positivity:

  “They're telling you that the Never Surrender ethos was what Triumph was about. It was about positivity, following your heart...”
  —Mike Levine [08:29]

• On preserving and evolving the band’s legacy:

  “There's some things will make a reappearance to old fans.”
  —Gil Moore [10:40]

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Important Timestamps

• [02:15] — The surprising sequence of events leading to Triumph’s return
• [06:00] — The lineup and spectacle of the new tour
• [08:03] — How concert effects are crafted to serve the band’s story
• [10:33] — The warehouse of Triumph memorabilia and reviving classic stage props
• [12:32] — Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame induction and its meaning

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Episode Tone

Light-hearted, nostalgic, and genuine. Mike and Gil express humility and excitement about reconnecting with fans and share a deep appreciation for the enduring spirit of Triumph's music. The mood is upbeat and celebratory with a clear sense of camaraderie and rock ‘n’ roll fun.

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Closing Thoughts

Triumph’s return, as described by Mike Levine and Gil Moore, is the product of both fan passion and a renewed sense of purpose. Their reunion tour aims to deliver not just musical nostalgia, but an emotionally resonant, visually stunning celebration of classic rock’s power to unite, inspire, and uplift fans, both old and new.

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Transcript

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[Narrator]

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[Janda (Host)]

I'm Janda and this is behind the song Powered by Chick Fil A. I'm so happy to be joined by Mike and Gil from Triumph who are performing at all State Arena May 13th in a drive 25th anniversary concert event. Welcome guys.

[Mike (Triumph)]

Hey Jana. Nice to be here.

[Gil (Triumph)]

Nice to be here. That's right.

[Janda (Host)]

Wonderful to have you here. And the reason you're here is because of the very exciting news that we all got recently when it was announced that after 30 years, Triumph would be hitting the road again. When I tell you that when we announced this news on the radio here in Chicago, the phones lit up. We immediately started getting people sending us pictures of Triumph tattoos that they'd gotten over the years. It was just totally awesome. It was a great moment, and people in Chicago are very excited to see you guys when you come here on May 13th. How did this happen after all this time? What made you decide to go back out and tour again?

[Mike (Triumph)]

Kind of a series of things, really, Janet. You know, it just didn't happen all at once. We had an idea maybe the band would never perform again. And the lighting director and I started working on, you know, a mixed reality concept. We worked on that for a few years, but the next thing you know, there was a documentary that was made about the band, right, to get together. We ended up playing a show within the documentary. So. And then what kind of sprung at the same time out of that was an interest that led to the great Mike Klink, record producer, who I'm sure you're familiar with, decided he was going to tee up a tribute album and he got some of the, you know, the absolute top players in rock in the world to play on our tribute record. And then so lo and behold, as another left field thing, all of a sudden, the NHL comes along up here in Canada and decides that Triumph's going to start getting played like the national anthem during the hockey playoffs, and then invited us to go to the finals and play a concert at the venue in Edmonton where the finals were being held. And so we just decided, you know, it's been such a fun ride, why don't we do it? So we, you know, we called Phil up and said, hey, Phil, time to get back in the band. You're off loan to Bon Jovi now. Come back. By the way, we'd like you to bring. Mike couldn't come, so would you like you to bring a bass player? And then that led to Todd, and then Todd led, you know, to Brent. And then that led to a, like, flash rehearsal with no, nothing before. Just get off the airplane, jump into a rehearsal hall, one rehearsal, and then boom, right on the stage. And it was so much fun. We just decided, oh, boy, this is pretty cool. We're on our way back in the plane. And then the next shoe that drops is Live Nation goes, we're taking you guys on a tour.

[Janda (Host)]

And you're like, okay, right? Well, I mean, it makes sense from Live Nation's perspective. I can imagine that. You know, obviously recently Rush announced that they're going back out too. So they must have said, hmm, what other three piece arena rock power trio do we know that might do well out there on the road? So that makes sense that they would, they would call you too, once they got wind of all this other stuff that you were doing and after the NHL came calling for Lay it on the Line, I mean, it makes, it makes perfect sense. So actually the date here in Chicago is the first date of the US leg of the tour. So did you ever have that thought, you know, while you were getting this together, like, okay, it's been a while, or was it just sort of like, you know what, this is going to be awesome.

[Gil (Triumph)]

Well, you haven't played a tour in 30 years or so, but we said, you know, we're always the bad that said, what the hell, let's go do it anyway. And so that's what ended up happening.

[Mike (Triumph)]

Well, first of all, you know, the stage setup is going to be massive. And the first thing I guess people will notice is two double drum sets. Because I'm gonna have a drum set and Brent's gonna have a drum set. And you know, on guitars, you've got a double barreled shotgun there with Phil X and Rick Ammott. You know, if Mike's at a show, we've got Mike and we've also got Todd Kearns. So, yeah, we're the first six piece power trio of all time, I guess you'd say. We have a lot of firepower on stage as far as musicians and vocals and in the show itself, like the effects and all the, I'll call it the special candy that we've developed around the idea of bringing the band back after 50 years. Paul Dexter and his team, they've done a massive job there. So I think the show is gonna be second to none.

[Janda (Host)]

Well, I was actually gonna ask you about that because I know that you in particular were always sort of involved in that end of it. You know, the spectacle of triumph and, and you know, the pyro and the lights and all that kind of good stuff. So how has that changed? With all of these advancements that have come along, you know, and especially I would say in the past five years, it must be interesting to get into that and think about what you can do, you know, now with all this new stuff.

[Mike (Triumph)]

Yeah, it really is. But I think it's, it's less about just being able to have these things that you can do and say, well, why would you do them?

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[Mike (Triumph)]

So Paul and I, we started with the idea that there had to be a narrative, and we had to look at what the bands. What was our trajectory through the world, what did our music mean to people? And we didn't have to figure this out. The fans figured it out for us because they're the ones that came and said, yeah, you mentioned those tattoos, you know, earlier on, and it's like they're telling you that the Never Surrender ethos was what Triumph was about. It was about positivity, following your heart and so on and so forth. And so that just. That was a decision that was made for us. You know, we were kids when we did the songs. We're just getting from one album to the next and trying to finish the album and do a tour. It takes those decades of people telling you what the songs meant to them before you really figure out, you know, that part out. So in terms of the. What I'll call the theatrics around the tour, if they're just gratuitous, and this is what I see a lot of. I see bands and I see, okay, you got a lot of flashing lights. Good for you. If it's not really emphasizing the emotional impact of the lyric or that, you know, musical riff or whatever it is, it just becomes kind of like video noise to me. That's just my personal opinion. So with Paul and I, we try to say, okay, this looks great, but what does it mean with the music at this point? What is it telling us about the music or how is it supporting the music? How's it supporting the theme, the narrative of our concert? To have people leave as we hope they will, with their fists in the air, going, hell, yeah. That was the best thing I've ever seen since sliced bread. That's what we want. We want unity. We want community through music, happiness through music. Let people forget about divisive politics and terrible wars and some of the other horrible stuff they see on the 6:30 news and let music do what music does best.

[Janda (Host)]

You know, Tom Petty said that music is the magic that we have on this earth, and I think he was

so right about that.

And that's basically what you just said, too, you know, in leaving this concert. Like, that's the goal, right? To have fans leave that concert, tell a friend, and then maybe, you know, head to the next town with you and see the next show, which I'm sure you experienced in the past. So, yeah, we're definitely looking forward to that, too. What you do on stage has always been kind of fantastic. So I wonder if you've held on to anything from tours in the past. You know, when you did an album release tour or something like that.

[Gil (Triumph)]

We got all kinds of stuff. Gil has that. A rather large warehouse full of Triumph paraphernalia.

[Janda (Host)]

Yeah.

[Gil (Triumph)]

But, you know, a lot of it is probably unusable, but a lot of it is very usable and a lot of it will get some kind of use during the store. So there's some things will make a reappearance to old fans.

[Janda (Host)]

I was hoping you'd say yes. I've held on to the big white Triumph lights that covered the back of the stage, you know, in like. In like 82 or something. That would be really cool. But maybe you do. He's not saying we do have that. Okay, good. I was hoping you'd definitely have that one.

[Mike (Triumph)]

The funny thing is, our LD Paul, he's got an idea to recreate it and make it bigger than it was and different than it was and more exotic than it was. So we'll have to see. I was like, don't you think we should just use the legacy piece? And he's like, oh, no, I got something up my sleeve that's much more crazy. So I don't know. It's game time decision, I guess. I'm sure they'll have it on the truck.

[Janda (Host)]

So how many trucks do you think you guys are going to be rolling out with? Speaking of which, I mean, Only half

[Mike (Triumph)]

a dozen, I would say.

[Janda (Host)]

Half a dozen, yeah. I want to go back to the fact that you were talking about the NHL and how Lay it on the Line was sort of pivotal in getting to this moment. You were recently inducted into the Canadian Songwriters hall of Fame. And I don't know what the criteria is, you know, for that. I mean, you guys have been an entity for decades now. Obviously, this is the 50th anniversary tour. You've now joined the likes of Joni Mitchell and Neil Young and Gordon Lightfoot. I'm sure you could name many others. That must have been a particularly sweet honor.

[Gil (Triumph)]

That's a great honor because really all great records start with great songs, so you need to have the song to start with. Like, I don't think I've ever heard a great record with bad songs. It's really hard to find one of those. So, you know, we were noted for a lot of great songs. And, you know, because we kind of faded off into the distance a while back, you know, we weren't really front of mind to the quote unquote, boy polloi who make the decisions for that kind of stuff. But not that we really care. But it really is a sensational plus. Of all the awards we've won, it's the best piece of hardware.

[Janda (Host)]

Is it?

[Gil (Triumph)]

It's really a first class piece of hardware. I really like it.

[Janda (Host)]

That's awesome.

You're so right about that.

It's all about the songs.

And on that note, I will say once again, thank you for taking the time to have this little chat. We are really looking forward to seeing

you at All State Arena.

[Mike (Triumph)]

Thank you for having us on. It's been really fun.

[Janda (Host)]

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