The following is an excerpt from an interview with TRIUMPH bassist Mike Levine, conducted by Krishta Abruzzini for KNAC.com:

KNAC.com: Triumph has always been compared to that of RUSH, I think partly because you’re all from Canada and a trio. Has that been a frustrating comparison or flattering?

LEVINE: "I’m totally flattered with that (comparison). The real comparison is the fact that, as you alluded to, we’re both from Canada, we’re both from Toronto, both three piece bands. After that, it changes. I’m way better looking than Geddy! (Laughs). Rik’s way better looking than Alex."

KNAC.com: It’s when they stop talking about you that you’ve got to worry. It’s been nearly twenty years since the original lineup all played together, with some turbulent past feelings between Rik Emmett, you and Gil Moore. What brought about the reunion?

Levine: "I guess it all started when the event in Toronto called Canadian Music Week, which is an annual event where hundreds of bands play in clubs. It’s a big industry and fan based thing. The guy that runs it all came to us individually and said that he wanted to put us in the Hall of Fame for Canadian Music Week, but that he needed all three of us, and asked if we’d do it. Eventually he just beat everybody down to the point where he brokered a meeting where we all got together in a coffee shop. We all looked at each other and were like, ‘So, how ya been?’ And so we decided we would do it. We all had such a good time doing interviews together, went for lunches and dinners and just laughed our heads off. It started there. Then we’d get together through email or talking and eventually it came around to, ‘Well, do you think you want to go play some dates?’ We kind of said, ‘Ooookay, what will we play and where?’ We decided we’d play some festival dates over the summer just to see how the band is. Can we still play together? Will we still like each other on stage? Can we travel together? And can we come out of this alive?"

KNAC.com: Will there be any more recordings, new material?

Levine: "Playing live and playing in the studio are two entirely different scenarios. I think we have to get past the going out and playing and see how we’re doing and then address the issues that come out of it. We could go out after the first date and realize that this is never going to work. Or work incredibly well, and when we finish, we may want to do some writing and go into the studio. But I can’t even address that until we get to the next step."

Go to this location for the complete interview.