Rik Emmett Diagnosed with Alopecia Areata Following Triumph Reunion Tour
Rik Emmett lost all of his hair after Triumph’s recent comeback tour following a diagnosis of alopecia areata. The guitarist is now preparing for more shows with the band, though he stated that his health and energy levels will dictate the pace of the upcoming schedule.
Triumph returned to the road for the first time in more than 30 years. Emmett initially had reservations about coming out of retirement, but his wife encouraged him to consider the health benefits of getting back into shape.
How the Triumph Comeback Tour Unfolded
Emmett initially called the reunion tour a non-starter before changing his mind, noting that he never imagined he would tour with the band again. Emmett noted that touring would require him to lose 15 to 20 pounds with the help of a personal trainer, prompting his wife to say that getting his health back was reason enough to do it.
The 2026 North American trek featured original members Emmett and drummer-vocalist Gil Moore, joined by guitarist Phil X, drummer and keyboardist Brent Fitz, and bassist Todd Kerns, blabbermouth.net reported. Original bassist Mike Levine did not participate due to a hand issue that affects his playing. Management gradually brought Emmett into the fold, starting with the band’s music being featured during NHL playoffs and appearances at songwriter halls of fame in Canada, while vector management originally explored a hologram tour concept before the live lineup came together.
Emmett stated that he felt great during the tour. However, while he and his wife were celebrating their 50th anniversary, his hair began falling out, leading to his alopecia areata diagnosis.
Future Tour Schedules and Physical Limits
The comeback tour gave Emmett a clearer understanding of his physical limits.
Triumph plans to space out future concerts to allow Emmett time to recover physically and protect his voice, noting formats like two nights on and one off, one on and one off, or two on and four off, after the first leg involved playing four shows in four nights. Regarding his hair loss, Emmett is still figuring out how it will affect his stage appearance and suggested fans might see him wearing hats, but emphasized that he feels physically strong enough to continue performing.