TRIUMPH Gil Moore Interview-Reloaded Tour Recap, More Dates? New Documentary Details Revealed

[music] >> Yes, that's how the interview should start, right? With a nice shirt. >> Nice shirt. >> Back Back on the show, Gil Moore. Triumph. Wow. What is this? 50th anniversary reloaded Triumph. Look at this. It looks great, isn't it? >> Amazing. Did you make that yourself or is that official Triumph merch? [laughter] >> You know, I was We caught the last date on tour in Montreal, which was rescheduled due to a hockey game that they lost, right? >> [laughter] >> But it's okay. I I Actually, in retrospect, Gil, I was happy that it was at the end of the tour because you guys were revved up. You guys were like in a groove. So, quickly tell me about the start of the tour. W- Were you prepared? Did you find that you were I know you were working out, doing the vocal exercises, everybody was working out, but did you think you were prepared enough when you started on that first date? >> Uh I didn't think I was prepared enough, but you know, I'm I'm overly uh cautious, so it turns out I was prepared. So, I just didn't know it yet. And uh it turned out like the the the tour for me was actually a breeze, you know? So, I guess all the gym hours and all the drum hours and um you know, all the vocal working I did and everything was it it it paid off because it then became like a lot of my friends said it's like getting back on a bike. And I thought, you know, that's easy for you to say. Uh and I and I knew I'm okay, so I'm getting in with you know, four other guys or five if Mike makes it. But Mike didn't make it. [clears throat] Four guys who play all the time. And I got to, you know, hold my own with them. So it was pretty daunting. But it it Yeah, turned it just turned out like preparation and then um actually what I did on the road, I think, you know, paid off. Just like a a lot of sleep, a lot of sticking exercises and um a lot of the diet stuff that I that I did was really, I think, beneficial. You know, I'm I'm lucky. I've got one of my daughters is a real athlete and she's really dialed into nutrition, so she kept me on the primrose path to to health. >> Were there any like unexpected challenges that you had that you weren't expecting? >> No. >> Expecting. So every you you accounted for every >> It was lucky. I mean, like I said, it was partially the preparation, I think, but you know, as far as drums are concerned, like Brent was a genius the way he laid the drum He laid the drums out. I didn't. He kept saying, "What are we going to do your way?" And I kept saying, "No, no, no, we're going to do it your way." And so we went back We went back and forth on it. And uh I just said, you know, like the technology's improved so much and you're on top of it, like you're you're dialed right in, so let's take advantage of that. >> Yeah. >> And you know, if I see something that I think is is wacky, I'll put my hand up, but there's nothing wacky like Brent's um he's a he's very, very professional and very knowledgeable and very skilled. And so, that in itself, I suppose, was another reassuring factor is that you know, he's been eat eating, sleeping, and drinking this whole thing when I wasn't uh for a while. And uh so, everything I knew or thought I knew from back in the day had changed quite a bit, but he was able to, you know, get me kind of up to speed on a lot of things. So, it was a it was a huge advantage there. And of course, the other the other guys, too. I mean, Rick was very helpful and Phil and and and Todd. I mean, the I I don't know what to say about the guys I played with. Like, so you this another another factor, I suppose, to me. You you go on stage and you realize like, these four guys are really, really playing well. So, uh it's like being on a winning ball team, you know, it's it's you know, I I I guess the you know, the the tide ri- you know, elevates all ships or whatever. That sort of thing. So, it helped me help me out like I felt like, hey, I'm on a winning team, man. I got to get bat. I got to knock one. I got to at least get on second base or whatever. I don't want to get fired. >> [laughter] >> Yeah, I get that. You know what's interesting? Bon Jovi just went out and they did their their opening night. And you know, he's had I mean, it's not the same as you guys. It's different, but the same at the same time, right? >> Yeah, yeah. >> He's got vocal issues. So, he's got a band that has to elevate him, right? And back him and do the back vocals and just elevate the music, right? So, he's kind of like I'm watching the videos online. I'm going, you know what? It's kind of remind me of Triumph, you know, they're they they made it work in their own way, right? It's not 1980 anymore, but they made it work in their own way. I mean, what kind of feedback are you getting? >> The feedback we got was unbelievable. Like, um you know, when the tour started, there was the there were there were those fans who were like, "Bring it on. Can't wait." Um you know, any version of Triumph is great by me. And then there were those that were uh the naysayers that were uh you know, the the you know, Rik's not going to show up. Gil's not going to show up. Uh you know, they're going to mail it in or something or it's going to be all on tape. All of which was baloney because uh we proved them all wrong. And one show at a time they were just got knocked down like bowling pins and you can see the social media Anybody can see the social media. It's 99.99% positive. Only guy that was upset couldn't get a parking spot. So, that was a big that was a big change and it was you know, it's a it's a confidence booster for us. But what I think happened with the fans, uh to my way of thinking, was we had a family like we were very close with all the all the cities. That's why Triumph was a touring band. We went to the people. We played for the people. So, we had a close relationship with our fans, which I think nowadays it's it's harder. A lot of these bands they get a hit on streaming or something like that and they never actually meet their fans and then poof, they're gone. So, when we're coming back, it's like it's like old friends getting together. And you know, I looked at our I looked around at you know, Mike and Rik and I go, "Okay, so Mike's been married over 50 years to Rosie. That's what I call love, you know, he's been Rik's been married for 50 years to Jeannette. Just celebrated their 50th anniversary. That's what I call love, right? I've been with Sandy for 35-plus years. My God. So, we have long-term marriages in this band. And we have great relations with our family. So, what happens we go out on the road, first of all, our family comes out with us. So, we have our real families, our kids, our grandkids, our wives, they all support us. But, guess what? The other family, which is our fans, they show up and they show up with the same kind of love. Like, from the stage, you could see people crying. Um you could see people cheering and crying. Like, it was very much like a family reunion is what, you know, this this tour was. And I And I think it it shocked a lot of people that the band was playing at the level that we were now capable of playing at and that we had no backup tapes, everything was live. Nothing was mailed in, everything was real. So, the result was uh it was pretty incredible. I mean, I've been around Rik Emmett my whole life. I've never ever seen him as happy as on this tour. >> You know what? >> It's all over his face. Like, you can see it a mile away. And And like, I was backstage with him and, you know, hugging him. And he's like He's like a He's like a kid. He's like so excited. You know, even the guys in April Wine were excited for us because they could see this thing going on. And I was like talking about the double-barrel shotgun in interviews before the tour. Well, guess what? I was not wrong about that because when Rik and Phil show up downstage, it's like Look out. It's [laughter] a Get out of the way, here it comes. >> You know what? You know what's amazing? It's amazing because, you know, we've interviewed Rik many times, too. And there's always this reluctant a reluctancy to go back with Triumph on stage. Man, he belonged on that stage and he was happy. You could It It just oozed right out of him. Exactly what you said. The fans could feel it. You guys could feel it on stage and we could feel it as part of the audience. It was an amazing experience. And you know what? I'm going to say one more thing, Gil. When the tour started off, we were all watching videos online and you know, there's a couple of tweaks there and the band was sort of just getting in the groove. But as it progressed, you could see the social media reactions going from I'm not sure to yeah, it's okay to like oh my god, this is incredible. Oh my god, this is the best show of the year. It just kind of got better and better as you kept going from city to city, right? It was just That's what I saw online. That's what I saw online. >> I felt the same way. Like uh you know, we went down sort of pre-tour almost to to work with Make-A-Wish because it was such a such a great organization. And um and it was good uh it was an alternative plan how we were going to rehearse. So, we actually played a little early. Like we we weren't fully rehearsed, I guess I'd say. And we ended up we ended up having to change our sound crew. Like we we got so many complaints about the sound. We we had to fire the sound guys. Um which was unfortunate. Uh but you know, I I I the way I see the tour, it's kind of kind of like you know, when you you go to get your lawn mower for the first time in the spring to cut the grass and you forgot to drain the gas out of it. It's got stale gas in it, you know. Uh you know, you didn't clean the underside. Still got some grass clippings from last year. You try to start the thing up and it's like you know, it's [laughter] like it's got a rough go. You finally get the thing going and it's kind of coughing and sputtering. That was kind of like the rock and roll machine, you know, get it getting going. And uh no matter how many rehearsals we had at Metalworks, there's there's no comparison to being on a big stage, right? So, and there was a little bit of you know, when we were playing in Florida, you know, every now and then, you know, we look at each other and the and the look was do you know where I am? Do I know where you are? And so there was this I'll call it the look of uncertainty, right? And also a little bit of comedy in there because it would be like, "Oh my god." You know, like the roller coaster's going and the seat belt's loose. And you know, then we came to Sault Ste. Marie and you got to love Sault Ste. Marie because >> Mhm. >> great people, great venue by the way, GFL. Uh Gardens is a fantastic uh arena they have there. And so we got to kind of settle down, put fresh gas in the tank. And all of a sudden it was like we knew sound guys. Boom, big change in Sault Ste. Marie. Then we come down and we play, you know, uh Scotiabank Arena in Toronto and TD Coliseum in Hamilton. Of course, then cross the border. So, by the time we hit Chicago, you know, and we're going in the Midwest to St. Louis, Kansas City and stuff, all of a sudden things starting to cook. And then by the time we get into Texas, it's boiling. It's on fire now. So, it was like you said, it was a uh jelling of like the musicians, uh a blowing off of some uh you know, cobwebs I'll say or or just not, you know, having adequate rehearsal time or whatever. So, but uh yeah, once once it's uh once it got got going, it was like a well well-tuned machine. >> Yeah. Yeah, I agree. I mean, then there was Phil X, which was at first, when I saw that he wasn't on stage in Montreal, which is the last show again, I was kind of like, "Ah, man, Phil X isn't there. He's such a big part of the band still, right?" But then, you know, Derek Sharp, man, he really did justice. He was a I don't even want to call him a substitute, but he really gelled well. The guy is a great huge talent. So, you pick you man, you know how to pick them, man. You know how to pick them. >> Yeah, I mean uh you know, Phil picked really picked Derek or suggested Derek, and uh he did a great great job. And uh you know, obvi- obviously we you know, Phil's you know, an original band member and he's our guy. But yeah, of course. >> we're working a blow a show out uh because Phil couldn't make it. So, so yeah, I don't know what you call what you call that, but we've got a good bullpen. Uh Derek is a a really great player, as you saw, really talented. Um he's a rock star uh in his own right, and we're we're just lucky to have him. >> Did Did you know >> play some more shows with us. I don't I don't know. >> Well, I'm assuming look, he's got Bon Jovi commitments, right? Phil X, it's obvious, right? He's on tour now, they have to rehearse. So, I'm assuming that kind of played into the sort of planning the Triumph tour, right? What if? I would assume, right? >> Yeah, I mean you know, we can't predict what Bon Jovi's going to do, and I I I get the fact like, you know, Phil's been been loyal to Bon Jovi for many many years. And so uh you know, I can put myself in his shoes. Uh it easily enough, and [snorts] uh you know, Phil's a very loyal guy. So, he loves both bands, and uh we found out a way to make it work. If for some reason there's a conflict that comes up at the last minute, you know, Derek comes in, and uh he is now, you know, rehearsed enough and stuff that uh it it's it's it's tremendous how well you saw it in La Belle, so >> Oh yeah. Oh yeah. >> Yeah, everyone else saw it. >> All right, so so the big question is this the big question, you ready for this? >> Yeah, yeah. I like big >> rock and roll machine continue? >> Well, we're certainly we figured out that we're capable of it. Um and I guess I I kind of look at it like this, you know, like in sports the thing that kills sports teams is a bad dressing room. And you know, we look at a lot of these bands that are out there and they can't get along with each other. >> Yeah. >> You know, or the wives can't get along. Try Triumph's the opposite. So, we've got like a super dressing room where everyone is it's a you know, mutual admiration society I suppose you'd call it. Like everyone gets along great. Everyone's got a great sense of humor, which is imperative. Everyone likes pyro, which is mandatory. Uh Yeah, it couldn't be any better in in the dressing room, right? And then back to our families. Like family support, I mean, we've got family support like no band out there. And that's why I say that the the fans is just an extent a part of the extended family. Like so it's uh when they ask us to do shows Yeah, I suppose it depends on a lot of things um what we might do in the future. Uh definitely going to do another film. So, that's already partially in the can like you and I were talking about before the interview. Uh so, that's going to be neat to have another doc out there. And I think we'll probably play some more shows, but uh until they're you know, they're locked in and everyone's >> Yeah, you don't want to you know >> I don't I don't want to start shooting my mouth off. >> Is Europe a a territory that you'd be interested in as well? Just again, I'm not I'm you're not committing to anything here. I'm just >> Yeah, you know, I I I don't want to I don't like getting ahead of myself. I I just uh you know, I've I've a lot of things that are that I'm equally, you know, passionate about here at Metalworks with our charity uh which by the way Sounds United um was benefited very very very much from the tour, which is another bonus >> Wow, yeah. >> uh for me. Yeah, the charity raised over half a million so far. >> Wow. >> uh on on the on the tour. So, that's great for, you know, the kids that are going to benefit from that. And um that was um Yeah, that was that was great. Um so, I have to think about that. I have to think about what it it entails to, you know, keep the charity rolling. Um So, I have I have a lot of distractions. Um you know, our school is um at Metalworks, our school is expanding like crazy right now. >> Wow. >> Hard to keep up with it. Um there's great management. My son-in-law Craig runs the school and um my daughter Holly is, you know, in charge of all the uh a lot a lot of I guess the other the the yin and the yang. The two of them are are and and they've got great staffs. So, they could probably just kick me to the curb and it wouldn't change anything, which >> [laughter] >> But, I I I I I I like it. I like being involved in it and uh you know, trying to see the young people that have, you know, come into the industry. Um very exciting. You know, yesterday uh Drake's engineer Noel Cadastre, who was uh one of our very very first grads and one of our most successful, obviously, dropped by the studio yesterday driving a brand new Ferrari and >> [laughter] >> he's living the dream, you know. So, it was cool to see him. He's such a humble man, too, for considering how well he's done. So, >> So, what is this documentary? Okay, so the first documentary was basically Triumph, right? The the the the legacy, the history, where you are today. Actually, it was it sort of left off when your first sort of quasi reunion that you had at Metalworks, right? >> Yeah. >> Sort of like uh just getting the band get to getting the band back together for a few songs, right? With the fans. >> Pretty much. >> Where does Does this documentary start from that point going on tour as this reloaded tour? Is that what the What's the direction of it? >> the first documentary doesn't answer what now. You know? It it it sort of culminates in the in the sort of fan super fan fest, I'll call it. At Metalworks and and then you know, the guys ride off into the sunset and it's like who knows? There's no end to this and I get you got me saying I've said for I've been saying for 25 years like I will I'm not going back on the road with Triumph. That will never happen. And I was 100% serious um when I said that. And uh and Rick said more or less the same thing, too. Like I'm not going back on the road. Even his own solo career he retired. I'm not playing anymore. So there was Neither one of us were looking like anything was going to happen, but uh the the the fluke in all this it all is a series of flukes. I mean, the fluke number one was just, you know, do this the thing that happened in the in the hockey playoffs and they you know, hey, come on out to Edmonton. Uh This is from Rogers and and Live Nation. Come on out to Edmonton, guys. Just have a laugh. Bring your family. You know, play let's let's see if we can bring some luck to the Oilers. Um win the Stanley Cup, which of course unfortunately they didn't. The Panthers took it, but uh it just seemed like a a lark. It didn't seem like putting the band back together. And and we really didn't. I mean, we just flew out there. We go into a rehearsal rehearsal hall, rehearse for 2 and 1/2 hours or something like that. And then we went and did it. And I was like I was not in any shape at that point really to play drums. So I I hadn't done any of the preparatory work to to do a tour or anything like that. I was just kind of like, okay, well, let's not make a mess of it, Gilbert, we'll do our best. And uh but what that sparked of course was a lot of interest from fans and a lot of speculation and and then uh Live Nation all of a sudden plotted a tour and said, you really we really need to do this. Which I still thought was probably not going to happen and was probably um I don't know. What what what what band takes two and a half decades off and then starts playing again? [laughter] Nobody does that. Right? But we did. So that's that's funny that we were able to do that. I I think it's kind of like when we first went to America and we said we're going to headline every show from day one. And they all said, you know, everyone that knew what they were doing said, you guys are crazy, that'll never work. And we made it work. >> Yeah. Yeah. So so is that did you have footage from from Edmonton and on? From the time you got the call to go to Edmonton? So there So this new documentary, and again, I'm sure it's not you haven't figured out all the details, but it's it's starting from Metal Works, that sort of little tiny reunion you had. >> Yeah. >> Going to Edmonton with Live Nation. Going on tour with Reloaded and everything it took to get there. I would assume, right? >> Yeah, I think it would be like having a seat an insider seat and seeing what was going on. There was seeing the uncertainty and seeing like having to put together like the whole concept of double drums on a double drum riser and what that entailed and you know, the incredible job that Brent did um with that. Uh you know, or you know, my journey back into performing. You know, like you know, Rick Rick this is the thing, maybe the band wasn't performing, but Rick was performing. He was performing as a solo artist all this time. I wasn't. >> Yeah. >> So, uh yeah, I was more I was never concerned about Rick. I knew his playing is great. He's going to be fine. Um as long as he feels good, you know, and as long as his his health is solid, like he's going to be he's going to be great. The other guys are obviously great. So, I was most concerned about myself. This is So, it's documents, I think each person's journey. I mean, I think I think Rick it wasn't his playing, but I think there was still a lot of apprehension, a lot of uncertainty, like, should I do this? Should I not do this? You know, I I think it's that does she love me? Does she Does she hate me? kind of stuff that we do to ourselves, you know? >> Were you filming yourselves like throughout this whole sort of behind-the-scenes >> Yeah. >> transition? >> Yeah, our our Metalworks team was doing that. And >> Wow. >> because I said like, win, lose, or draw, even if this thing even if this ship sinks in the harbor before it ever, you know, leaves, we're going to film the whole thing. And so maybe yeah, maybe the the end of Triumph is this the ship sinks. You know? >> I don't know. Yeah, yeah. But but wow. >> Yeah, yeah, we never I don't think anybody could have forecast how well it went. So, when the social media started like doing, you know, and it was and then the and then in the venues, like as you saw, like the the fan reaction, people were just standing up the whole show. It was like, there was nobody that was And then we didn't play any shows that were there wasn't this kind of massive excitement. And it was all I think that was better than yesterday, you know? It was like, we kept Every show was better than yesterday. >> [laughter] >> Really, they weren't they were all the same, you know? It was very very uh en- enlightening, I think, um >> Wow, yeah. >> for all of us to see how this five-piece version of Triumph worked. The splitting up of the drums so that we effectively have Brent playing keyboards and just Gil playing drums or we have Gil singing out front and Brent playing drums or we have Gil and Brent both playing drums and Rik or Phil or Todd singing out front. So, it was kind of this uh relay race of the it's just a different setup than any band I've ever played in. And uh >> Yeah. Have you foreseen have have as I mean it was it's it's it's it's brilliant how you foreseen I don't know if that's the right word. Another story there, right? There's another story. It's like this is the new Triumph, right? Or the reloaded Triumph. I think it's I didn't even know you guys were filming. Like I had no idea. Like this is a great story. It really is. >> My daughter Holly came up with the name for the tour. Uh you know, the Rock & Roll Machine Reloaded and as it turned out to be the right title for the tour because it was like you know, a a reloaded setup. I mean, we had we had hoped initially that Mike might be there and it would still be like that, but we would have been six on stage, not five. And uh you know, unfortunately, he couldn't make it. So, this the reality became this [snorts] five-piece band. And uh it just uh it's it's amazing. Like it went from being loosely formed to being as hard as a piece of granite by the time we were rolling through the Midwest and heading down to Texas, it was like galvanized. >> Yeah. Yeah, I agree. I mean, is there anything else you want to tell everyone? >> Well, I just uh I'm just very thankful, you know, to the fans. Like the reaction uh I I I wouldn't let it go to my head. I I mean, you you you could. All that adoration and everything that we experienced and all the nice comments on social media are really really gratifying and so on, but you know, you get back to you know, kind of how we started. We as I mentioned earlier, like we went we were a band for the people. We went and played before the term indie was invented applying to bands as an indie band. I felt like we were an indie band because we would go and we would play and we did it our way. And we went to the towns that we thought were important, which weren't always the Philadelphia and the New York and you know, Detroit and all the Chicago, LA, all the big ones. Yeah, they're they're great and they're important. Toronto's important. But you know, like what about the people in Sault Ste. Marie, you know? What about the people in Green Bay, Wisconsin? You know, it's uh that's where I think we formed a family that a lot of bands don't have. Uh and that's the change in you know, whether it's the cost of touring or whether it's because of streaming or the number of factors that are in there. Um I still think, you know, music is uh a great thing to bring people together and I think what people felt at a Triumph concert is I think they felt like a like I said, it's like a family reunion. That's the best way I could describe it. And it was a very good family. It still is a really good family. So uh really really thankful to you know, the people that uh you know, made us feel so good. We We We got more pats on the back on that tour than anything I've ever done in my life, I think. So was uh really a great experience for and I know I can I can speak for all the guys when I say that cuz they all felt exactly the same way. It's like, "Have you ever felt like an audience give you this much?" That was a >> [snorts] >> No. Never. Never. So. >> quite the experience. It's quite the experience. >> yeah. >> And two different versions, I love the Reloaded. You know, it really defines the band and who they are today and who you are today. Yeah. Good stuff. I'm really excited to uh hopefully this documentary won't take 5 years to come out, but uh >> [laughter] >> No, I don't think it'll take 5 years, but you know what, Jimmy? I think what a lot of these things, like I said earlier, it's like we didn't plan this. Like we didn't plan the tribute album. You know, it's something that things that kind of just >> Yeah. >> that it comes at a time We didn't plan Edmonton and the NHL and all of that. We didn't So, you know, I've said for a long time, and it's truth, the official plan is there's no official plan. >> [laughter] >> I like it like that. >> Yeah. Maybe it's the best way to do it, right? >> Best way to do it. We'll see what happens, you know? See what happens. See what See what's shaking. See how everybody feels. >> Quick plug on the charity one last time. >> Yeah, I mean, Sounds United, obviously, is um near and dear to my heart and and what Sounds United does provides free music education and music wellness uh over digital digital platform right to your right to your phone. And uh free for all young people in Canada. We're also using it uh in some uh in the dementia area as well for elderly patients and so on. So, uh appreciate everybody that helped the charity uh on the tour. Much appreciated. And uh yeah, we're hoping to grow it over the years into the future and uh use music as a wellness tool for the community, which is uh it's absolutely a great great uh use of music and I think it's becoming more uh uh there's more awareness. I would I was going to say fashionable, it's not fashionable, it's more there's more awareness uh for how impactful music and the is on the brain and the well-being of a human being both both playing it, listening to it, sharing it, uh etc. etc. So, it's a a great legacy piece for a a guy that's uh uh always enjoyed music and you know, wanted to uh say, "Gee, this is a great experience. Too bad everybody can't have it." Well, this is kind of a way. Doesn't You don't have to be a uh musician even to uh you know, get the benefits of uh the wellness aspects of Sounds United. You know, thanks to all those that supported it. >> All right, on that note, Gilmore triumph. Check out the shirt. >> [laughter] >> There's my shirt. Where the heck's my logo? >> Invisible ink. >> [laughter] >> All right, have yourself a wonderful day, Gil. >> You too, brother.