Ted Kirkpatrick
drums

As drummer, songwriter and cofounder of Tourniquet since its inception in 1990, Ted's aggressive, musical, and often unorthodox approach to the drums has been recognized by thousands. Ted grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and began to play drums at age 12. By age 14, Ted was playing drums along to the records of many of his early influences like Rush, King Crimson, and ELP. He graduated with honors with a business degree from the University of Texas, Austin, and often finds himself using what he learned in college for the many details of operating the band.

Entirely self taught, Ted began to develop his own drumming style through a variety of influences. Besides the normal influence of other drummers, Ted's unique style developed from other more unconventional sources. As a great admirer of the classical masters, he has incorporated the staccato bursts of Scarlatti's harpsichord sonatas, the counterpoint of Bach's fugues, and the explosiveness of Beethoven's symphonies into his playing.

As a traveler to the jungles of Papua New Guinea, the Amazon Basin of Western Brazil, Malaysia, Taiwan, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, the Solomon Islands and other far off lands in search of butterflies and other insects, the fantastic and repetitive sounds of the jungle have influenced his drumming as well.

Ted's philosophy of treating the drums as a musical instrument - not just a noisy timekeeper - makes sense in light of the fact that he has written the music and lyrics for fifteen of Tourniquet's #1 singles, in addition to the songs that bring out the technical, melodic, and eccentric side of the band. He is well known for his ability to create and execute polyrhythms within the framework of songs, for his advanced double bass technique, and most of all, for bringing a musicality to his playing which is always apparent in Tourniquet songs.

The readers of HM Magazine voted him "Favorite Drummer" for 10 years in a row. Ted has twice been featured in Modern Drummer Magazine and countless drummers now list him as one of their drumming influences.

Since the very first Tourniquet release in 1990 - Stop the Bleeding - Ted has been a strong voice for animal protection and animal welfare. " Anything I can do to help make this planet a happier, less painful, less abusive place for God's creation - the animals, I'm for that." You can hear and feel that passion in songs like "Ark of Suffering", "Stereotaxic Atrocities", and "Going, Going, Gone".

Ted composes his music for Tourniquet on guitar, then writes it out using a bizarre scribbling only he can decipher. "A long time ago, like in high school, I could read music because I played the baritone horn in band. But after looking at the music once or twice, I had the music memorized, so I didn't need to see it anymore. I guess I just sort of forgot how to read music, so I developed this ridiculous scribbling. I just see songwriting aa a great priviledge, and a unique opportunity to share my faith in the Lord through music."

As a fan of ethnic and world music, Ted has played other instruments on Tourniquet albums, including the Greek stringed bazuki, indian flute, banjo, and dulcimer. For the often requested acoustic sets Tourniquet occasionally performs, Ted plays 6 or 12 string guitar.

Ted's Drumming Philosophy:

Learn all you can from watching, listening, and talking to other drummers, then step outside the drumming world and observe... You may be surprised how much non-drumming factors can influence your playing!

Highlights

from the Ted Kirkpatrick DVD "Circadian Rhythms"
Tourniquet - Displacement (Ted Kirkpatrick drum solo)

(on DVD)

  • Circadian Rhythms - The Drumming World of Ted Kirkpatrick
  • Ocular Digital
  • Till Sverige Med Kärlek

(on CD)

Equipment

Ted endorses and plays:

Luke Easter
vocals

Luke grew up and resides in the San Francisco Bay area. He started singing at age 19 and his remarkable vocal ability was evident from his first audition with Tourniquet. He brings life and emotion into every vocal line. As the band's frontman, he always manages to get the crowd involved with the show. A testimony to his talent, many of his vocal lines and harmonies on the band's albums were done in only one take. The 1997 album Crawl To China marked Luke's first writing credits - contributing the lyrics to 3 songs. He continued his lyric writing skills by contributing three songs to Microscopic View of a Telescopic Realm and two more to Where Moth and Rust Destroy.

Aaron Guerra
guitar, vocals
View Aaron's MySpace Profile

When Aaron originally showed interest in the vocalist position for Tourniquet he mentioned that he played guitar. One year later in 1994 he auditioned for the guitarist spot and joined the band just before heading out on the road in support of the soon to be released Vanishing Lessons.

Aaron was born in Reno, Nevada & grew up in the small town of Stagecoach. Music was always a part of Aaron's family (his father's band often rehearsed right in their living room!). Aaron's father taught him how to play guitar at the age of 8 after he first dabbled a little on the drums. In fact, when he moved to LA after joining Tourniquet he was playing in Final Notice, a band he formed with his father. Some of the early influences that really inspired his interest in playing ranged from Zeppelin/The Who/Hendrix/ZZ Top to more modern players such as Angus Young, Dave Mustaine, and Marty Friedman.

Aaron is a very precise rhythm player and his strong sense of melody for leads can be heard on Tourniquet's albums. Over two decades of guitar playing later, his love for music and performing is always evident. Aaron has written the music to six Tourniquet songs — three appear on Crawl to China and three on Microscopic View of a Telescopic Realm (MVTR).

Highlights

Equipment

Guitars:

  • Fernandes "Vertigo"
  • ESP "Viper"
  • Gibson "Explorer"
  • Yamaha FG-345 (acoustic)

Pickups:

  • EMG 81's

Amps:

  • Marshall JCM 800 - modified by Lee Jackson

Cabinets:

  • Carvin 4 x 12

Effects:

  • Dunlop Wah pedal
  • Digitech Whammy pedal
  • Boss Dual Overdrive pedal

Strings:

  • Strings: D'Addario XL Light (.042 - .010)

Picks:

  • Picks: Dunlop Tortex .88mm