Ted Kirkpatrick
Encyclopedia
Ted Kirkpatrick is an American heavy metal
drummer
best known for his work with the American
Christian metal
band Tourniquet
.
Entirely self taught, Ted began to develop his own unique drumming style through a variety of influences. He is a great admirer of the classical masters and has attended countless classical concerts, and his drumming and songwriting are influenced by the power of Beethoven and Mahler symphonies, the staccato bursts of Scarlatti’s harpsichord sonatas, and the counterpoint of Bach’s fugues, to name a few. His latest solo release (2010) IN THE SHADOW OF THE MASTERS features Ted drumming to classics by Mozart, Beethoven, Rossini, Chopin, Paganini and others. “To me, the fantastic music of the classical masters is in a totally different realm - there simply is no other music to compare it to. I believe it was a time in history that will never be repeated - kind of like when dinosaurs roamed the earth. In drumming to these timeless works as with any music, I always strive to treat the drums as a musical instrument - not just a noisy time keeper.”
Ted is well known for his ability to create and execute poly-rhythms within the framework of songs, for his advanced double bass technique, and most of all for bringing a musicality to his drumming which is always apparent in Tourniquet songs. His approach to the drums as a musical instrument makes even more sense in light of his role as Tourniquet's primary songwriter. He has written both music and lyrics for fifteen of Tourniquet’s #1 singles, in addition to many other songs that showcase the technical, melodic, and eccentric side of the band evident on all 11 Tourniquet albums and his 2 self recorded and produced solo albums.
The readers of HM Magazine voted Ted "Favorite Drummer" 10 years in a row. He has been featured twice in Modern Drummer Magazine, and countless drummers list him as one of their drumming influences. Ted officially endorses DW drums, Paiste cymbals, Vic Firth sticks, and Evans drumheads.
Since the very first Tourniquet release in 1990, Stop the Bleeding, Ted has been a strong voice for animal welfare. "I have a life-long passion for helping God's creation - the animals - and it matters greatly to me how they are treated.” You can hear and feel that passion in songs like "Ark of Suffering", "Stereotaxic Atrocities", and "Going, Going, Gone". His first solo album, released in 2010 – ODE TO A ROADKILL- features "vocals" courtesy of authentic haunting animal sounds, reflecting Ted's deep respect for the animal realm. ODE is a 42 minute hypnotic heavy wall of sound made possible by vintage Orange and Sunn amps. Produced, recorded, and mixed by Ted himself. "I have always wanted to make a record like ODE TO A ROADKILL. I have been a fan of slow “stoner” music for many years, and this album definitely fits that category, with my own influence to it, of course. The title track refers to the sad reality of the millions of animals who die each year on our roadways.”
Ted has a special fascination with butterflies and other insects. He has traveled to many places including the jungles of Papua New Guinea, the Amazon Basin of Western Brazil, Malaysia, Taiwan, Ecuador, The Dominican Republic and the Solomon Islands. The fantastic, repetitive sounds of the jungle have influenced his drumming as well.
As principle lyricist for the band, Ted’s talent for allegory and symbolism, and using unusual and sometimes bizarre examples to convey God’s Word can be found throughout the Tourniquet catalog.
Ted composes music on guitar, and 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 as a great privilege, and a unique opportunity to share my faith in the Lord through music."
A fan of ethnic and world music, Ted has played or included other, less traditional (in terms of metal music) instruments on Tourniquet albums, including the Greek bouzouki, flute, banjo, and dulcimer. For the acoustic sets that Tourniquet occasionally performs, he plays 6 or 12 string guitar.
DW drums and hardware
Paiste cymbals
Vic Firth sticks
Remo drumheads
Impact cases
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
best known for his work with the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Christian metal
Christian metal
Christian metal, also known as white metal, is a form of heavy metal music usually defined by its message in a song's lyrics as well as the band's dedication to Christianity...
band Tourniquet
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...
.
Biography
A founding member of the band Tourniquet - drummer, songwriter and lyricist Ted Kirkpatrick’s aggressive, musical, and often unorthodox approach to drumming has been recognized by thousands - critics and fans alike. A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Ted began playing drums at age 12. By age 14, Ted was playing drums along with the records of many of his early influences, bands like Rush, King Crimson, and ELP. He holds a business degree from the University of Texas, Austin, where he graduated with honors, and often finds himself using the skills learned in college in the many facets of successfully operating the band.Entirely self taught, Ted began to develop his own unique drumming style through a variety of influences. He is a great admirer of the classical masters and has attended countless classical concerts, and his drumming and songwriting are influenced by the power of Beethoven and Mahler symphonies, the staccato bursts of Scarlatti’s harpsichord sonatas, and the counterpoint of Bach’s fugues, to name a few. His latest solo release (2010) IN THE SHADOW OF THE MASTERS features Ted drumming to classics by Mozart, Beethoven, Rossini, Chopin, Paganini and others. “To me, the fantastic music of the classical masters is in a totally different realm - there simply is no other music to compare it to. I believe it was a time in history that will never be repeated - kind of like when dinosaurs roamed the earth. In drumming to these timeless works as with any music, I always strive to treat the drums as a musical instrument - not just a noisy time keeper.”
Ted is well known for his ability to create and execute poly-rhythms within the framework of songs, for his advanced double bass technique, and most of all for bringing a musicality to his drumming which is always apparent in Tourniquet songs. His approach to the drums as a musical instrument makes even more sense in light of his role as Tourniquet's primary songwriter. He has written both music and lyrics for fifteen of Tourniquet’s #1 singles, in addition to many other songs that showcase the technical, melodic, and eccentric side of the band evident on all 11 Tourniquet albums and his 2 self recorded and produced solo albums.
The readers of HM Magazine voted Ted "Favorite Drummer" 10 years in a row. He has been featured twice in Modern Drummer Magazine, and countless drummers list him as one of their drumming influences. Ted officially endorses DW drums, Paiste cymbals, Vic Firth sticks, and Evans drumheads.
Since the very first Tourniquet release in 1990, Stop the Bleeding, Ted has been a strong voice for animal welfare. "I have a life-long passion for helping God's creation - the animals - and it matters greatly to me how they are treated.” You can hear and feel that passion in songs like "Ark of Suffering", "Stereotaxic Atrocities", and "Going, Going, Gone". His first solo album, released in 2010 – ODE TO A ROADKILL- features "vocals" courtesy of authentic haunting animal sounds, reflecting Ted's deep respect for the animal realm. ODE is a 42 minute hypnotic heavy wall of sound made possible by vintage Orange and Sunn amps. Produced, recorded, and mixed by Ted himself. "I have always wanted to make a record like ODE TO A ROADKILL. I have been a fan of slow “stoner” music for many years, and this album definitely fits that category, with my own influence to it, of course. The title track refers to the sad reality of the millions of animals who die each year on our roadways.”
Ted has a special fascination with butterflies and other insects. He has traveled to many places including the jungles of Papua New Guinea, the Amazon Basin of Western Brazil, Malaysia, Taiwan, Ecuador, The Dominican Republic and the Solomon Islands. The fantastic, repetitive sounds of the jungle have influenced his drumming as well.
As principle lyricist for the band, Ted’s talent for allegory and symbolism, and using unusual and sometimes bizarre examples to convey God’s Word can be found throughout the Tourniquet catalog.
Ted composes music on guitar, and 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 as a great privilege, and a unique opportunity to share my faith in the Lord through music."
A fan of ethnic and world music, Ted has played or included other, less traditional (in terms of metal music) instruments on Tourniquet albums, including the Greek bouzouki, flute, banjo, and dulcimer. For the acoustic sets that Tourniquet occasionally performs, he plays 6 or 12 string guitar.
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!"Drumming influences
- Simon PhillipsSimon PhillipsSimon Phillips is an English jazz, pop and rock drummer.-Career:Phillips began to play professionally at the age of twelve in his father's Dixieland band for four years. He was then offered the chance to play in the musical Jesus Christ Superstar...
- Carl PalmerCarl PalmerCarl Frederick Kendall Palmer is an English drummer and percussionist. He is credited as one of the most respected rock drummers to emerge from the 1960s...
- Dave WecklDave WecklDave Weckl is a highly acclaimed jazz fusion drummer. Weckl attended Francis Howell High School in St. Charles, MO and graduated in 1978. He majored in jazz studies at the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut...
- Terry BozzioTerry BozzioTerry John Bozzio is an American drummer best known for his work with Missing Persons and Frank Zappa.-Biography:Terry Bozzio was born December 27, 1950 in San Francisco, California. He started at age 6 playing makeshift drum sets. At the age of 13 he saw The Beatles premier performance on The Ed...
- Dean Castronovo
- Buddy RichBuddy RichBernard "Buddy" Rich was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. Rich was billed as "the world's greatest drummer" and was known for his virtuosic technique, power, groove, and speed.-Early life:...
Equipment
Ted endorses and plays:DW drums and hardware
Paiste cymbals
Vic Firth sticks
Remo drumheads
Impact cases
Awards and achievements
- Ted was voted "Favorite Drummer" for 10 years in a row, and again in 2003 by the readers of HM MagazineHM MagazineHM: The Hard Music Magazine is an American bimonthly publication focusing on both Christianity and hard rock. Articles include news, album and festival reviews, posters, artists to watch, indie artist reviews, devotionals and interviews with Christian artists...
. - Ted has been featured twice in Modern Drummer Magazine.
with 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) - Crawl to ChinaCrawl to ChinaCrawl to China is the 1997 album by the Christian metal band Tourniquet, released on Benson Records. This album took the band's style to a more simplistic rock sound and, as a result, Crawl to China was critically panned and disappointed many of the band's metal fans. The lyrics of the song "The...
(1997) - Acoustic ArchivesAcoustic ArchivesAcoustic Archives is a 1998 acoustic album by Christian metal band Tourniquet. All of the songs are performed acoustically except for the new song "Trivializing the Momentous, Complicating the Obvious".- Track listing :...
(1998) - Microscopic View of a Telescopic RealmMicroscopic View of a Telescopic RealmMicroscopic View of a Telescopic Realm is an album by Tourniquet. It was released on Metal Blade Records in the year 2000.-Track listing:# "Besprinkled in Scarlet Horror" 7:40# "Drinking from the Poisoned Well" 7:34...
(2000) - Where Moth and Rust DestroyWhere Moth and Rust DestroyWhere Moth and Rust Destroy is an album by Tourniquet. The title is a reference to Matthew 6:19. All guitar solos on this album were performed by former Megadeth guitarist Marty Friedman except tracks 4 and 7 which were done by Bruce Franklin....
(2003)
Videos
- Ark of SufferingArk of Suffering"Ark of Suffering" is a song by the American thrash metal band Tourniquet. One of the band's best known songs from their early years, "Ark of Suffering" is the third track from Tourniquet's 1990 debut album Stop the Bleeding. It is widely known for its stance on animal abuse and the music video...
(1991) - Music Video - Video Biopsy (1992) - VHS
- Pushin' Broom Video (1995) - VHS
- The Unreleased Drum Solos of Ted Kirkpatrick (1997) - VHS
- Guitar Instructional Video (1998) - VHS
- Tourniquet Live in California (1998) - VHS
- Video Biopsy (re-release) (2000) - VHS
- Circadian Rhythms - The Drumming World of Ted KirkpatrickCircadian Rhythms - The Drumming World of Ted KirkpatrickCircadian Rhythms - The Drumming World of Ted Kirkpatrick is a DVD by Tourniquet drummer Ted Kirkpatrick.-Main:# "Intro"# "Hidden Rhythms"# "Piercing the Silence"# "Wings in Motion"# "Nature Speaks"# "Displacement"# "Motivated by Silence"...
(2003) - DVD - Ocular DigitalOcular DigitalOcular Digital is a live concert DVD released by the American Christian metal band Tourniquet in 2003. The "Flevo 2001" tracks were recorded live at the Flevo Festival in Liempde, The Netherlands on August 17, 2001....
(2003) - DVD - Till Sverige Med KärlekTill Sverige Med KärlekTill Sverige Med Kärlek is a live DVD by Tourniquet, released on September 26, 2006 on the band's . It was recorded March 12th, 2005 at the last ever Bobfest, a Christian Rock festival in Linköping, Sweden.-Track listing:#"Intro"...
(To Sweden With Love) (2006) - DVD