This line-up, which recorded the band's first nine studio albums, lasted until 1988, when Emmett left Triumph to pursue a solo career.

The classic line-up of Moore, Levine and Emmett reunited for two live concerts in 2008, at Sweden Rock Festival and Rocklahoma, and again in 2019 for a three-song performance in Toronto.

Before Triumph was a four-piece blues-based band consisting of Fred Keeler (guitar), Peter Young (organ), Mike Levine (bass) and Gil Moore (drums, vocals).

This group, called Abernathy Shagnaster, signed to Canada's Attic Records in 1975 and issued the non-charting single "Hobo"/"Got to Get You Back in My Life".

After jamming with the pair at Moore's house in Mississauga and reviewing the group's existing contracts, Emmett agreed to join the band, now called Triumph.

Moore doubled as lead singer on many of the band's heavier songs and in their later years, some softer ballads; bassist and pianist Levine produced their early albums.

[9] In "oldies" classic-rock format radio stations in the US, it remains the most widely played and recognized song from the Triumph catalogue.

After the shift to MCA, the band began to work with outside producers, and their studio albums became increasingly difficult to replicate onstage.

Triumph eventually added Rick Santers, a Toronto guitar and keyboard player, in 1986 to support their last three tours.

Adding the aforementioned Rick Santers to their line-up, Triumph toured with Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen across the United States in the fall of 1986.

[16] While Gil Moore and Mike Levine remained firmly planted in blues-rock, Rik Emmett took a more modern progressive turn, even involving Dixie Dregs and Kansas guitarist Steve Morse.

The 1988 tour, during which the band members experienced growing disharmony over business decisions and artistic direction, ended with a September 3 show on the Kingswood stage at Canada's Wonderland.

In 1992, the remaining members of Triumph recruited Phil Xenidis, a Canadian guitarist known for his work with Aldo Nova and Frozen Ghost.

Initial reception of the album from American radio seemed quite favourable, until Triumph's recording label, a subsidiary of Polygram, dissolved unexpectedly in 1993.

Nevertheless, Moore and Levine purchased and acquired back their entire album catalogue from MCA and launched their own label TML Entertainment, and they continue to release live recordings and videos from their long career.

Triumph had earlier released this concert on VHS following the Never Surrender tour, featuring two videos from the forthcoming Thunder Seven album.

In 2004, TML released a second DVD concert, A Night of Triumph, filmed in 1987 at Halifax Metro Centre during The Sport of Kings tour.

In the 1980s Moore opened and operated Metalworks Studios in Mississauga, originally for Triumph's exclusive use; more recently the company has been training engineers and sound technicians for Canada's music industry.

On March 10, 2007, Triumph was inducted to the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame in a ceremony at Toronto's Fairmont Royal York Hotel.

On November 16, 2019, Triumph performed together for the first time in eleven years at an invite-only event at Metalworks Studios in Mississauga, Ontario, where they played three songs — "When the Lights Go Down", "Lay It on the Line" and "Magic Power" — in front of approximately 300 "superfans" in attendance.

"[27] On September 10, 2021, Triumph: Rock & Roll Machine documentary debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

Since the group's inception, individually and collectively, Triumph have contributed time, energy, music, facilities, equipment and funds in support of a wide range of charitable, educational and humanitarian causes.

Triumph's largest single charitable contribution was its final appearance at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, January 22, 1987.

[29] Individually, Emmett has also contributed guitars for Kids With Cancer, CNIB Ride For Sight and Barrett House Aids Hospice.

[30] Moore, Levine and Emmett have participated, together and separately, in many major fundraising events, including the latter's appearance on "Tears Are Not Enough",[31] the Canadian music industry single for Ethiopian Famine Release in 1985, which would eventually raise over $3.5 million.

Moore, along with Tom Cochrane and Rush's Alex Lifeson, and others, served on the committee which spearheaded the tsunami relief effort, Canada for Asia, in 2005.

Other causes Triumph and Metalworks have supported and/or sponsored include: MusiCounts,[32] Rock Star for a Day Program, the Children's Wish Foundation, Canada's Walk of Fame Emerging Artist Program,[33] Canadian Music Week National Songwriting Contests, many High School Battle of the Bands,[34] Full Circle, Camp Rock, Bike for Betty, and Friends of We Care – Easter Seals.

[35] The state-of-the-art facilities at Metalworks Studios have also been donated many times to help causes, including the Canadian Live 8 concert, held in Barrie, Ontario on July 2, 2005.

Metalworks Production Group was given the 2014 Sam McCallion Small Business Community Involvement Award by the Mississauga Board of Trade.

Moore has also served on the executive board at Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Science (CARAS) as well as the Toronto Musicians Association (TMA).