As previously reported, Canadian hard-rock trio TRIUMPH, will be inducted into the Canadian Music Industry Hall Of Fame during Rogers Wireless Canadian Music Week. Music veterans Gil Moore (drums/vocals), Mike Levine (bass/keyboards) and Rik Emmett (guitar/vocals) will accept the honour Saturday, March 10th during the Canadian Radio Music Awards at Toronto’s Fairmont Royal York Hotel.

“This is about honouring good memories of the past, and respecting the spirit of fans and industry friends,” Rik says. There are no plans for a reunion, and the former members will not perform together at the event. A video montage retrospective will cover highlights of Rik’s 13 years in the band, from 1975 to 1988.

Naturally, this announcement generated a lot of questions from the Rik Emmett Network. Here are his replies:

Question: Will this induction be open to the public?

Emmett: "I don't know. I think people buy tickets to different events during CMW: I think you can buy different levels of passes that qualify you for different events during CMW. I think the luncheon is an industry kind of event, but I don't know if they sell some luncheon passes to the public."

Question: Can you share any of the events leading up to this recognition and how it was bestowed upon you and your former band members?

Emmett: "I don't know for sure what led to the invitation. The guy who owns and runs the Canadian Music Week franchise, Neill Dixon, is a guy who used to manage Triumph. for a while in its development days (early Canadian success and the inking of the RCA deal). And he used to manage me for a while back when I was in Act III, before I even joined Triumph. So I think it's fair to say that he's a supporter, and it was his idea. He also acted as the diplomat that brokered the 'peace' talks (and he also has his own interests at heart, obviously. It gives him a legit kind of p.r. headliner for his event, I think it's fair to say.) The honour hasn't been "bestowed" yet. That officially happens on March 10."

Question: Does this mean you can associate your name with the name Triumph again?

Emmett: "As part of the reconciliation, I am now legally clear to associate myself with the name. I now have the freedom to refer to myself as a former member of Triumph, and as "formerly of Triumph", in association with my own promotional activities. It doesn't necessarily mean that I want to go hog-wild about it, but at least a dark cloud has been lifted."

Question: Have you or will you be talking to your former partners before the event?

Emmett: "I went to a meeting earlier today (November 20th), yes. There was paperwork that got signed and exchanged last week, including official apologies. But that was the first face to face, which cleared the way for me to go public with you people here first, then with the general public in the "What's New" feature on the home page. I'm not sure that another meeting is even necessary, but I guess it could happen. We are on speaking terms, and we shook hands at the beginning and the end of today's meeting."

Question: I know you said it will not lead to a reunion, but will you finally be able to use the Triumph name and benefit from all that is attached to the name?

Emmett: "As I said above - yes. I have entered into an agreement whereby I am making myself available to my former partners, to help them promote their Triumph brand and products, for a 24 month window of potential industry awards. I'm not sure what you mean by "benefit from all that is attached to the name": I am deriving benefit, yes, but I think my answer "benefit from all that is attached" would have to be no. I am not in a position where I benefit from everything. I did not seek to be reinstated as a partner, and that's not what's happened. I've agreed to go to an award luncheon. If some other awards and recognition for the past history of the band arise in the next two years, I'm obligated. Other than that, the only other result is that I am free to associate myself for the rest of my life as a guy who was formerly in Triumph. Officially, there are no plans for any reunion gigs, and I have no interest in that."