By:  Kreig Marks, January 2026  TRR

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Kreig: Gil thanks for taking time with us. When the idea of a 50th anniversary tour first came up did you think someone was joking or did it feel like the right moment?

 

Gil: I definitely laughed at first. It felt surreal. But once we talked it through we realized how many fans still connect with these songs. It started feeling like unfinished business with a lot of people we grew up with. That made the whole thing feel right.

 

Kreig: Triumph has not toured in more than three decades and now you are heading out for 24 shows. What is the first song you personally want to hit the stage with?

 

Gil: I want to open with “Magic Power.” It has this spark that still hits me. When we wrote it we were pushing forward through challenges and that feeling is still part of who we are.

 

Kreig: You have been a musician a studio owner and a mentor. Which version of Gil shows up at rehearsals?

 

Gil: Rehearsal Gil is an odd mix. A little of the studio guy with coffee in hand a little of the live wire drummer. Mostly I try to be both a motivator and a teammate. It keeps things fun.

 

Kreig: If this 50th anniversary tour had a theme song written by someone else what would you pick?

 

Gil: Probably “Gimme Shelter.” It has that energy of chaos turning into something powerful. That feels like the spirit of getting the band back on the road.

 

Kreig: There have been hints about big production ideas and some surprises. What can fans expect without giving too much away?

 

Gil: I can say that we want the show to feel like an experience. Not just lights behind music but a bit of magic that pulls you in without taking away from the songs. Fans will have moments that feel larger than life.

 

Kreig: You and Rik Emmett have decades of history together. What is something about playing with him again that still surprises you?

 

Gil: Rik always has that spark. You can see it when he digs into a phrase. Even after all these years he reacts to the moment like a kid with a guitar in his hands. That energy is contagious.

 

Kreig: Important question here. What is the one dressing room snack you always request that might catch fans off guard?

 

Gil: I am easy to please. Give me a peanut butter sandwich and a decent cup of coffee and I am good to go. Perfect pre show fuel for a drummer.

 

Kreig: What advice do you give younger musicians who want to stay creatively alive for decades?

 

Gil: Be honest in your music. Technique is great but people connect to truth. Write what you feel. Do not chase perfection. Passion lives in the imperfect moments.

 

Kreig:  Great advice!  You have spent years producing and running sessions. What is one studio moment that still makes you laugh?

 

Gil: We once had a singer who could hit a note that literally vibrated the engineer’s coffee off the console. After the third spill we turned it into a timing game. Sometimes the best memories are the accidents.

 

Kreig: How has the fan reaction to the tour announcement hit you?

 

Gil: It has been overwhelming. People who saw us 30 or 40 years ago are bringing their kids and even grandkids. To know the music became part of family history is humbling. It means the world.

 

Kreig: Is there something you want to do on this tour that you never did in Triumph’s original run?

 

Gil: I want to really absorb the whole experience. Back then things were at such a fast and frantic pace. Now I want to slow down and connect with the crowd. Maybe even bring a fan onstage for a moment if the vibe is right.

 

Kreig: Finally Gil, what is the one feeling you want fans to walk out with after a show on this tour?

 

Gil: I want them to feel that sense of unity that Triumph always stood for. If they walk out smiling feeling lifted up and maybe a little invincible then we have done our job.