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Rik Emmett

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Lay It on the Line: A Backstage Pass to Rock Star Adventure, Conflict and TRIUMPH Paperback – October 10, 2023

by Rik Emmett (Author)

4.1 166 ratings

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From Triumph superstar Rik Emmett comes the thrilling, inspiring story of a life of rock and roll

While describing the impulse driving his life and work, Rik Emmett explains, “I was never in it for the sex and drugs ― ah, but the rock and roll. Creativity was, and still is, my it ― the truth I bet my life on. It was also, always, about play. The play’s the thing …”

Merging memoir, anecdotes, and masterclasses on guitar, songwriting, and the artist’s mindset, Lay It On The Line offers insight and perspective into the many roles Rik Emmett took on. “It” was always a parboiling, psychological gumbo: and this book attempts to finally share the recipe.

It also includes photos from Emmett’s own archives, plus the definitive, detailed reasons behind why he walked from Triumph ― and came back two decades later.

Rock star, it seems, was a character for Rik Emmett to inhabit … a great gig, a catalytic door-opener … it was a role that led to other adventures ― and these are the stories he’s chosen to tell.

Print length

312 pages
Language

English
Publisher

ECW Press
Publication date

October 10, 2023
Dimensions

6 x 0.75 x 9 inches
ISBN-10

1770416285
ISBN-13

978-1770416284
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From the Publisher

Editorial Reviews

Review

“The flow of the writing was entertaining as well...This is a tome that many people should go out of their way to seek out, especially music lovers.” ― Lancewrites blog

“Lay It on the Line is an intimate and revealing account of his journey, offering a more personal perspective on the band's history than what's presented in the documentary.” ― FYI Music News

About the Author

Rik Emmett currently resides in Burlington, ON. The 32 albums of his recording career range from rock and blues to jazz, folk, and classical and got him into a few Canadian Halls and Walks of Fame. He was a guitar magazine columnist for over a dozen years, as well as a college music educator for a few decades. An avowed family man, he’s been married for 46 years. This memoir follows his 2021 book of poetry, Reinvention. Retired from touring, he keeps busy in his studio, writing, recording, and blogging regularly.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ ECW Press (October 10, 2023)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 312 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1770416285
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1770416284
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.75 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #159,308 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #462 in Rock Music (Books)
- #464 in Rock Band Biographies
- #11,381 in Humor & Entertainment (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.1 166 ratings

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4.1 out of 5

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L

Great read but an insanely talented man

Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2024

Verified Purchase

I'm a woman. I remember Triumph's music when I was a young soldier in what was then West Germany. The whole barracks was listening to them. Fast forward, I just happened to be on YouTube and Triumph was in my recommended feed. Aaah, the good old days. Click and watched their video. Listened to their songs then I started googling what and where was Rik Emmett. I found his book, purchased it and read it in two days.

I love that he is a normal human being who happens to be a rock star rock, none of that flashy, trash the room kind of rock star. I thoroughly enjoyed the read and laughed out at some parts of his worst gigs. I created and managed a rock band, even auditioned the players and though successful in the local scene, they were crazy.

There's a book out there by a groupie and I'm not going to mention which book is it but hinted that it might be him about how Rik Emmett did not even give her a second glance although all the groupies were trying so hard. Glad to read that he is solid and true to his lovely wife and family and at the same time insanely talented.

Thanks for your impartations in the book. I screenshot a few of them to remember.

2 people found this helpful

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J. Heiskell

Great read about a great artist and performer.

Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2024

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After years of loving Triumph (especially the early material), when I saw the book was available, I purchased it and was glad I did. Every time I picked it up, I had to force myself to put it down in order to get something done or get some sleep! It was over way too soon!!! Truly enjoyed this read about a great artist and performer. It was awesome to read about a true rock legend that wasn't into sex parties, drugs and alcohol as being the fuel to feed his life, instead focusing on the music composition and performance. No wonder his (and Triumph's) career brought so much enjoyment and inspiration to us.

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

Karl Heinz

Rik is a Philosopher, Professor, and Life Coach!

Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2024

I've always been a Triumph fan, but this was unexpected...The early parts take you through The Emmett Family Tree and 23 and Me...then finally The Triumph stuff...then Rik's take on just about everything from soup to nuts. I give it 4 stars cuz Rik just seems like a genuinely good guy. I was not aware that he had been initially recruited by Gil and Mike to be in Triumph. It is noted that Triumph was Gil's band and that Gil wanted to be the star/front man...sorry dude...when you've got a long haired killer guitarist out in front of the stage singing and writing most of the songs...he's the star...every time!

2 people found this helpful

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Charisse Carchedi

Rik Emmett is a complicated man

Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2024

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I read the book as I wanted it for a gift. Rik is a real complicated man. It was interesting to read of his growing up days and felt sad that he has so much anxiety.
I have every Triumph album and seen them 12 times. I wish he could have been more appreciative of his Triumph career. Its almost like he wants to extract it. Does not complement Gil Moore or Mike Levine as accomplished musicians. He does repeat himself on many topics. Very opinionated on so much stuff that kind of made me cringe. In closing I enjoyed the book somewhat, a little confused and will always believe that Rik, Mike and Gil needed each other to be successful. It wasn't all Rik like it seems to be described.

5 people found this helpful

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Ivan Beutell

Best “Rock N’ Roll” Autobiography, ever?

Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2024

Yes!

Expected much more, perhaps too much.

Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2023

Verified Purchase

I've read some good musician based memoir's in my lifetime. My favorites have went into much more analysis. Stories, detailing the accounting and sometimes harsh reality of being a musician are worthwhile reads. Don Felder, David Crosby, Danny Seraphin, Ray Manzarek are just a few of the biographies I have enjoyed written by these musicians.

This book by Rik Emmet falls short on many areas. I feel it's just a scattering of opinions, work ethics and pieces of stories that do not offer any analysis and detail. Example, Rik offers no detail with the Triumph Saga. I didn't feel like he let us into the room when he quit the band. No details as to what he gave up monetarily, or what he may have had to pay as a result of the departure. More analysis of his relationship to Gil. He relates having to be the person in the band without much of a say on the business end and promotional end and here is his time to shine. I just didn't feel he brought us any closer with his lack of story telling. There was little to nothing about the US festival. The book feels like a paragraph by paragraph of short remembrances and no analysis. We have very few examples of Rik not being able to spread his wings in the environment of Triumph. Also very little about his teaching career. He relates how poor of a student he was and was a very poor site reader in music, yet he taught music. I never came to a conclusion of Rik's musical knowledge. Was he mostly a play by ear guitarist with the occasional chord charts? There are countless opinions of his view on things but nothing under the surface. Perhaps this book was just a book of thoughts that could have been better brought out with a secondary ghost writer who could have developed the book more.
I feel the book holds back to tell us more perhaps just to protect those around him, and his former bandmates in Triumph. Triumph never hit it terribly big but may have went further with better material. As far as vocalists to, I much prefer Rik than the Drummer. They stayed in that middle rock type-cast mode and never really had an original voice other than a few straight away rock titles.

I really hope Rik re-visits this book and re-writes it. He may need some help.

13 people found this helpful

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mybearwinner

Music book

Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2024

Verified Purchase

Excellent condition. I had no problems reading the book. Very interesting.

One person found this helpful

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M. Sheridan

Best Singer Songwriter, guitarist ever.

Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2023

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Rik is an awesome Musician who has entertained us folks since the 1970's, and never has disappointed. He's also a Poet (has a book of poetry too), Teacher/Professor at Humber. Baseball total expert. Know's a lot about sports. I'd Never doubt his predictions and has taught many of us non-musicians so much about the music business and industry. How it works, publishing, royalties, songwriting etc. He's not a jack, but a master of so many trades.

5 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

JLG

This book is part autobiography and part academic textbook for budding musicians and songwriters ...

Reviewed in Canada on October 5, 2023

Verified Purchase

I've been a huge fan of Rik's from his earliest days when Triumph was first born.
In fact, I first met him in 1979 when I interviewed him for our college radio station, and a couple of times thereafter. This man was incredibly smart as a youngin' and, as this book illustrates, still incredibly smart now, more so with the benefit of decades in the music biz behind him.
One caveat though is that this book in only part autobiography. The other parts delve very deeply with treatises with respect to songwriting, composition etc. which is why it is a MUST read for budding musicians and songwriters. Rik's days as a college music professor shines through in this book.
So, for anyone looking for crazy and degenerate tales of life on the road with Triumph (i.e. hotel rooms being destroyed, screwing groupies etc,) they will be disappointed because that's not what this book is about. In fact, Triumph did none of that. Rik devotes a total ONE chapter to his days in Triumph, which is great because this man followed a subsequent path and, post-Triumph, released some incredible music. To me, it was his BEST music.
So Rik, kudos to you for writing this great memoir. And kudos to your incredible wife Jeannette too!
Highly recommended read!

5 people found this helpful

John Doyle

Great read

Reviewed in Canada on April 30, 2024

Verified Purchase

A true look into a life of a rock and roll star , I was born in 68 but all my older brothers listen to Triumph so basically grew up on Rock and still listen to them today, awesome job !

Amazon Customer

Good read but not what one might expect

Reviewed in Canada on April 5, 2024

Verified Purchase

This is not a sordid rock'n'roll tell-all but rather one man's treatise on the philosophy of music and life as a musician. It gets a bit stodgy at times as Rik struggles to integrate the various facets of his inner artist with the realities of art in a commercial sense but ultimately the book reveals the man and I appreciate him for it. He's not just 'the guitarist from Triumph' but rather a musician more in the style of mid-century jazz greats or storied composers: one who meticulously crafts. The book carries the flavor of seasoned college professor more than it does reckless road warrior. Thanks, Rik. What they say is true.

Pete

I love Rik, but not this….

Reviewed in Canada on April 13, 2024

Verified Purchase

I love Rik Emmett but this was a bit of a let-down. Half of the book was great (revelations into the musical history of Rik and Triumph) but the other half felt like I was in a college course. Boring crap like how to succeed, etc. just give us a memoir, not a dissertation.

Michael Lloyd

Can’t put this book down!!!! Canadian Rock and Roll!!!

Reviewed in Canada on October 22, 2023

Verified Purchase

What a great read. Rick gives us a fantastic review of his life to date! Such a great guitar player and vocalist. Triumph was the sound track of my youth and now I can clearly see where the lyrics came from.

2 people found this helpful

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