Gary Lenaire
Encyclopedia
Gary Lenaire is a guitarist and composer. He is most known for his work with Tourniquet
and the band Echo Hollow. He has released 12 records and was nominated for six GMA Dove Awards. He received HM Magazine's "Guitarist of the Year" award from 1994-1996. He has published over 90 songs world wide. He has more recently self-published a book called Infidel Manifesto.
In 1986 he relocated to Los Angeles with Ritter to form the famed Christian metal Tourniquet (band)
with drummer Ted Kirkpatrick
. The trio signed to Frontline Music Group (Intense Records) in 1989. In 1990 Tourniquet signed with Metal Blade / Caroline Records. After 7 CDs and multiple tours Lenaire departed Tourniquet in August, 1996. According to Lenaire, "By that time the band had gone through numerous member changes. My good friends were no longer in the group. I felt that the band had become somewhat a parody of itself; we were now doing piano ballads and pop tunes. Our first few records were considered by most of our fans as our prime. I knew it was over, at least for me."
In October, 1996 Lenaire and Ritter formed a new Christian band Echo Hollow and went on to release 2 CDs. The first record Diet of Worms was released in 1998 featuring drummer Matt Rosenblum and bassist Matt Fallentine. After hearing the Effusion record Impulse, Lenaire petitioned to add vocalist and guitarist Rafik Oganyan to the group in 1999. Lenaire, Ritter, Rosenblum, Fallentine and Oganyan were the lineup for the second and final Echo Hollow release Superficial Intelligence (2000).
Later in 2000 Lenaire published a compilation of previously unheard songs entitled The Lost Years. In 2002, Lenaire, Rosenblum and Oganyan formed Los Angeles rock band Cripple Need Cane with bassist Tim Cason. In 2005 they recorded The Big Dance. The band was nominated by the Los Angeles Music Awards for Best New Band. The band broke up in July, 2005. In 2008 Lenaire began work on a solo project and released a series of songs via iTunes on October 31, 2009. Lenaire has appeared in many Roland / BOSS Corporation videos since 2001. The company has featured his compositions and guitar playing examples in various products such as the Roland VS-2480 and BOSS Micro-BR.
Tourniquet (band)
Tourniquet is a Christian thrash / heavy metal band that was formed in 1989 by Ted Kirkpatrick, Guy Ritter and Gary Lenaire in Los Angeles, California, USA. They are known for incorporating elements of thrash, neo-classical and progressive metal into their music...
and the band Echo Hollow. He has released 12 records and was nominated for six GMA Dove Awards. He received HM Magazine's "Guitarist of the Year" award from 1994-1996. He has published over 90 songs world wide. He has more recently self-published a book called Infidel Manifesto.
History
In 1985 he co-founded Eugene Oregon's Christian thrash metal band Holy Danger with vocalist Guy Ritter, drummer Darby Budd, guitarists Dan Larson and Dee Harrington.In 1986 he relocated to Los Angeles with Ritter to form the famed Christian metal Tourniquet (band)
Tourniquet (band)
Tourniquet is a Christian thrash / heavy metal band that was formed in 1989 by Ted Kirkpatrick, Guy Ritter and Gary Lenaire in Los Angeles, California, USA. They are known for incorporating elements of thrash, neo-classical and progressive metal into their music...
with drummer Ted Kirkpatrick
Ted Kirkpatrick
Ted Kirkpatrick is an American heavy metal drummer best known for his work with the American Christian metal band Tourniquet.-Biography:...
. The trio signed to Frontline Music Group (Intense Records) in 1989. In 1990 Tourniquet signed with Metal Blade / Caroline Records. After 7 CDs and multiple tours Lenaire departed Tourniquet in August, 1996. According to Lenaire, "By that time the band had gone through numerous member changes. My good friends were no longer in the group. I felt that the band had become somewhat a parody of itself; we were now doing piano ballads and pop tunes. Our first few records were considered by most of our fans as our prime. I knew it was over, at least for me."
In October, 1996 Lenaire and Ritter formed a new Christian band Echo Hollow and went on to release 2 CDs. The first record Diet of Worms was released in 1998 featuring drummer Matt Rosenblum and bassist Matt Fallentine. After hearing the Effusion record Impulse, Lenaire petitioned to add vocalist and guitarist Rafik Oganyan to the group in 1999. Lenaire, Ritter, Rosenblum, Fallentine and Oganyan were the lineup for the second and final Echo Hollow release Superficial Intelligence (2000).
Later in 2000 Lenaire published a compilation of previously unheard songs entitled The Lost Years. In 2002, Lenaire, Rosenblum and Oganyan formed Los Angeles rock band Cripple Need Cane with bassist Tim Cason. In 2005 they recorded The Big Dance. The band was nominated by the Los Angeles Music Awards for Best New Band. The band broke up in July, 2005. In 2008 Lenaire began work on a solo project and released a series of songs via iTunes on October 31, 2009. Lenaire has appeared in many Roland / BOSS Corporation videos since 2001. The company has featured his compositions and guitar playing examples in various products such as the Roland VS-2480 and BOSS Micro-BR.
Solo
- The Lost Years (2004)
- The Lost Years Volume 2 (2007)
- Talking Snakes, Nonogram Zen (2009)
Tourniquet
- Stop the BleedingStop the BleedingStop the Bleeding was the debut album by the Christian metal band Tourniquet, originally released in 1990 on Intense Records. It was remastered and independently rereleased in 2001 on Pathogenic Records...
(1990) - Psycho SurgeryPsycho SurgeryAs a result for Metal Blade Records' distribution, Psycho Surgery made the band more well-known and popular. Following the album's release, the songs "Psycho Surgery," "Spineless," and "Viento Borrascoso" all achieved number 1 positions on several charts. The album was voted as "Favorite Album of...
(1991) (2001 rerelease titled Psychosurgery) - Pathogenic Ocular DissonancePathogenic Ocular DissonancePathogenic Ocular Dissonance was the third album by the Christian metal band Tourniquet, released in 1992. It is the last album to feature vocalist Guy Ritter who left the band after the recording of the album...
(1992) - Intense Live Series, Vol. 2Intense Live Series, Vol. 2This short "live in the studio" disc was part of a series that Intense Records put out in the early 90s. Tourniquet was in a transition period during the recording of this disc as they had recently lost their original vocalist and had not yet hooked up with Luke Easter. Guitarist Gary Lenaire took...
(1993) (also known as Recorded Live, Vol. 2) - Vanishing LessonsVanishing LessonsVanishing Lessons is a 1994 album by Christian metal band Tourniquet. It is the first album to feature vocalist Luke Easter. The album was independently rereleased in 2004 with digital remastering, new artwork and bonus tracks.-Track listing:...
(1994) - Carry the WoundedCarry the WoundedCarry The Wounded is a 1995 EP by Christian metal band Tourniquet. The EP is musically much mellower than Tourniquet's typical releases. "Oh Well" is a Fleetwood Mac cover.- Track listing :# "Carry The Wounded" 5:01# "When The Love Is Right" 4:41...
(1995) - The Collected Works of TourniquetThe Collected Works of TourniquetThe Collected Works of Tourniquet is an album by the American Christian metal band Tourniquet. It is a compilation album that features the two new songs "Perfect Night For A Hanging" and "The Hand Trembler." In addition, "The Skeezix Dilemma" is an edited version, using the bulk of the studio...
(1996)
Musical influences
- Vangelis, The Beatles, David Gilmour, Billie Holiday, David Bowie, Robin Trower, Queen, Elton John, Benny Hill, Maynard James Keenan, James Hetfield