Triumph co-founder and bassist Mike Levine has been physically unable to join the legendary Canadian rock outfit on its highly anticipated current reunion tour due to ongoing health complications. The band has confirmed that Levine is dealing with an undetermined physical disorder. Despite the setback, the remaining camp stays fiercely optimistic that he will eventually be well enough to step back onto the stage.
Gil Moore Shares an Update on Levine’s Status
In a brand-new interview with WPDH radio personality Tigman, Triumph co-founder, drummer, and vocalist Gil Moore gave a transparent update on his longtime bandmate’s condition, refusing to sugarcoat the situation for the public.
“It’s just an ongoing process, hoping that he’s going to be able to rejoin,” Moore shared. “Thus far he has not. I’d say [there’s] a slim chance we’ll still see him before the end of this run. I don’t want to mislead people, you know? He’s got a struggle that he’s working his way through, health-wise.”
Despite the physical distance, Moore emphasized that Levine remains at the forefront of the band’s thoughts on a daily basis:
“We think about him and we miss him every day,” Moore stated. “The minute he’s physically capable, he’ll have his bass shipped out, and he’ll be on an airplane. It’s just a matter if that’s going to happen or not.”
To keep the connection tight, Moore notes that he speaks directly with Levine every three or four days. Furthermore, the band has found a special way to involve Levine’s family on the road. Levine’s son, Matthew, has been joining the tour approximately every three or four shows. The band frequently brings Matthew out on stage—including during their recent tour stop in the Detroit, Michigan area—where he gets an opportunity to talk directly to the audience while the band keeps their fingers crossed for his father’s recovery.
Mike Levine: “I Wish I Was There”
Separately, the ailing bassist opened up about his perspective in a deeply emotional conversation with UCR correspondent Gary Graff. Speaking prior to the band’s performance in Michigan, Levine confessed that watching his lifelong friends hit the road without him has been a heartbreaking pill to swallow.
“To tell you the truth, I go to bed every night bawling my eyes out at nine o’clock, going, ‘How come I’m not up there on stage now?’” Levine candidly revealed. “I miss it. I wish I was there. There’s a certain camaraderie that existed for a long time, and it’s not there for me. It’s kind of like I might as well just be a fan, which is what I do. I’m like a good support figure.”
Stepping into the role of a fan, Levine has been keeping a close eye on the tour’s progression by watching fan-shot YouTube videos and other performance samples. He admitted to being completely blown away by the current state of the live show:
“I can tell that every show they’re getting better and better,” Levine reported. “These guys are the ultimate professionals. There’s a lot more vitality on stage now. The playing is impeccable; I mean, it’s mind-boggling how good they’re playing.”
Moore echoed those exact sentiments when discussing the overall morale of the current trek. Relying on a sports metaphor, Moore credited the band’s stellar musicianship to their tight-knit off-stage bond:
“The band is really having a blast,” Moore confirmed. “You know, in baseball or in hockey, so much of a team’s success, it comes from the dressing room—and if the dressing room is really strong, the team’s going to play well. Nobody’s got a stronger dressing room than Triumph. I can tell you that.”
The 2026 Reunion Tour Lineup
Triumph’s current reunion run is rapidly approaching its finish line, with dates scheduled to conclude on June 10, 2026, when the band performs a highly anticipated makeup concert date in Quebec.
In Levine’s absence, original mainstays Moore and guitarist/vocalist Rik Emmett have assembled a powerhouse touring lineup to deliver their classic arena rock anthems:
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Todd Kerns: Tapped explicitly to fill in for Levine, handling bass and vocal duties.
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Phil X: The former Triumph guitarist and singer—who also famously tours as the lead guitarist for Bon Jovi—has returned to jam on the 2026 run.
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Brent Fitz: Rounding out the heavy double-drummer and multi-instrumental approach for the 2026 lineup.
