“Rik told me, ‘Don’t hold back. Do your thing. I don’t want people to see a diluted Phil X, so be you.’ He’s right. I’ll be me”: Phil X on taking to the stage with Canadian rock heroes Triumph – and how he’s switching up his Bon Jovi rig for the occasion

Although Canadian rockers Triumph were traditionally a power trio with one guitarist – Rik Emmett – if the band were to add an extra six-stringer for, say, an unexpected but very real spring 2026 tour, Toronto-born Phil X is the guy.

Yes, he can rip it up with the best of them, but – in 1992 and 1993 – he actually was in Triumph, even supplying all the guitars to 1992’s Edge of Excess, the only Triumph album that doesn’t feature Emmett, who had left the band in 1988.

As you can tell from our recent interview, Emmett truly respects X’s playing. Unsurprisingly, the feeling is mutual. “Rik is 72, and sometimes people slow down, but he’s amazing,” X says. “I think to myself, This guy still has it. It’s amazing to see, and he’s fun to talk to and hang out with.”

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X knows Triumph’s augmented 2026 lineup might face scrutiny, but he’s not worried. “We’re going to rise to the occasion,” he says. “The teamwork is mind-blowing. Everybody wants to be great. Rik told me, ‘Don’t hold back. Do your thing. I don’t want people to see a diluted Phil X, so be you.’ He’s right. I’ll be me. Regardless of what people expect, it’s going to be an amazing deal when you see Triumph.”

Given that Triumph was traditionally a power trio, how do you see yourself fitting in?

A friend was filming us doing soundcheck, and I did one lick, and then Rik would go, and then I’d go, and he’d go, and Rik was saying, “Don’t hold back!” So that’s what he wants; I like that, since I once took his spot for a minimal amount of time – and now we’re on the stage together – he’s sort of passing the torch. He wants everybody to know I’m worthy. [Laughs]

Which song are you most excited to play?

Lay It on the Line is a blast. I’m gonna talk to Rik about this because I started my solo for that song, where I’m bending up to G, and that was the intro. And then, come showtime, he started like that… he stole my intro! We’re gonna have a discussion about that. [Laughs]

Rik seems energized by your presence, which is a change, since for a long time, he said he’d never tour with Triumph again.

He’s gung-ho. It’s really cool talking to him. Some of our text threads are like, “What is he saying?!” [Laughs] It’s all coming from enthusiasm, which is amazing. They’re already working on the set, telling me, “This is what we’re going to do,” and “This is where Phil and I will do this and that,” and “Here, we’re going to work on a harmony spot.” It’s crazy-awesome.

It’s an interesting dynamic, since you and Rik are such different players.

I’m a fan of melody. No matter how quick it is, there’s got to be melody. Melody always rules. I think there are more people in the audience who prefer a little feedback and the arm up in the air to pyrotechnics, you know? With that, I just can’t say how excited I am.

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Are your Triumph and Bon Jovi rigs similar?

I’ll bring my Friedman X amp in both situations. I’ll have two with me; one is a spare. And I love blending in a smaller amp, even if it’s a supplied backline. I need a Marshall JCM800 half-stack, a Supro combo or a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe.

I’m a minimal guy, so it’s, “Hey, sound guy! Delay, reverb – that’s you.” [Laughs] I need fewer effects for Triumph than with Bon Jovi, where, for example, I need a Leslie and a talk box.

But either way, I’m straight in. I like it when the sound guy says, “Whatever guitar you plug into your rig, it sounds like that guitar.” I go, “That’s how it should be.” I don’t want to plug in and have a Tele not sound like a Tele or a Les Paul not sound like a Les Paul.

Do you see room for more Triumph in the near-future?

It’s up to them. Gil Moore might be 72, but he’s like a kid in a candy store. This could be the beginning of something. We’ll see.

• This article first appeared in Guitar World. Subscribe and save.