For rock stars, aging gracefully is often easier said than done. Former Triumph singer-guitarist Rik Emmett, to his credit, has handled it far better than most.
Unlike many of his peers, he has no interest in rounding up his old bandmates, squeezing back into those Spandex pants and touring classic-rock festivals and casinos to bolster his bank balance and ego. Instead, he’s happily backed away from the spotlight and transitioned into life as an academic and author, while keeping one foot in the music world with the occasional new album.
But don’t mistake his slower pace for a lack of drive. In fact, Emmett’s latest project Ten Telecaster Tales — a new book inspired by his love of the classic Fender guitar model, the creation of a Tele-style guitar he recently had custom-built, and the album he wrote and recorded on it — is clearly his most ambitious endeavour in years. Shortly before the book and LP were released, Emmett Zoomed in from home to talk Telecasters, his golden years, what comes next and, yes, Spandex pants with a glove in the crotch. Enjoy. Then read an exclusive excerpt from Ten Telecaster Tales and listen to the album HERE.
