Gary Lenaire Tells Us About the Return of Tourniquet |

“The New Record Is Very Pathogenic In Sound”

I doubt there is a band more original than Tourniquet, at least from the 1990s to the present. If there is one banner they have raised since their first album was released in 1990 (“Stop The Bleeding”), it is the personality and uniqueness they have imprinted on their Speed/Thrash Metal, which has made it difficult to compare them to other bands in the genre. Unfairly ignored and overlooked by most of the specialized Metal media, perhaps because of their Christian faith, the band had a regularity that, as time went by, began to crack until they became simply a trio, with Ted Kirkpatrick (the band’s longtime drummer) always at the helm. After his sad passing in 2022, former band members, vocalists Guy Ritter and Luke Easter, and guitarist Gary Lenaire decided to get back together and breathe new life into Tourniquet, first as a tribute and now as a continuing band.
We had the opportunity to exchange a few words with Gary Lenaire, one of the fundamental pillars of Tourniquet and one of the architects of the band’s best albums. He told us several things that are not relevant to publish here, but what caught our attention the most (a fact we did not know) is that Anna Sentina, who is playing bass in this new phase of Tourniquet, is Argentine, which is no small detail….

It was a real surprise, and at the same time gratifying, that you, Guy Ritter and Luke Easter decided to get back together to play Tourniquet classics, how did the idea come up? Did you expect the response you are getting from the band’s fans?

“Most of us wanted to do a reunion through the years but it never happened. In late 2023 some of my friends were planning to play a music festival. I thought it would be amazing for us to do a show, maybe a festival. I spoke with Guy and Luke about it. We all agreed it was a cool idea. Strangely, Devin Chaulk, the former drummer of the band Haste The Day reached out to me and asked if we were interested in doing a reunion show. We had lunch and talked about it. As a young drummer he was greatly influenced by Tourniquet. I told him we were already in discussions about a reunion. We later accepted an offer to play Immortal Fest in 2024. Devin played drums for us.”

Many musicians passed through Tourniquet, like Erik Mendez, Aaron Guerra or Victor Macias, did you think of some of them for this formation, or at least as guests? Or the band will be already formed as it is now?

“All past band members were invited. Some declined the offer. They are our brothers and that’s more important than a band.”

At the time, both you and Guy Ritter left Tourniquet, leaving Ted Kirkpatrick in front of the band until the end, was there ever any talk between you about the possibility of getting back together as it is happening now?

“There were a few of us interested in the idea. I contacted Ted a couple of times and proposed we do some reunion shows. It just didn’t happen.”

From what we could know, Bill Metoyer would come back to work with you again, does that mean that you are working on a new album? Are there any new songs already prepared? Can you tell us some details about it?

“We are working on a new record. Bill Metoyer is set to produce it.”

Tourniquet had several different stages in your style through the years, which one do you feel more identified with and why? What direction will this new recording you are making take?

“The first three records, in my opinion, defined our sound. Pathogenic Ocular Dissonance being the clearest example of our sound and direction. Vanishing Lessons and Carry The Wounded showed the band’s musical maturity and larger abilities in Rock and even ballads. Luke has a different sound and approach than Guy. Both are awesome singers and those first seven records are very special. That said, the new record is very Pathogenic in sound!”

Ted Kirkpatrick always kept in Tourniquet the awareness about animals and nature, as well as the inclusion of not very common terms in the lyrics of the songs, that legacy will be maintained in this new stage of the band?

“We’re all animal lovers and most of us have family pets. My wife formed and managed a cat rescue in Los Angeles and saved hundreds of cats from starvation, disease, and euthanasia. When we were writing songs for the record Stop The Bleeding, it was a group decision to include a song about animals. Guy and I later included a song about animal abandonment. It’s called My Last Ride. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sw3lsrtPAYk“

The band is currently performing with the two historical vocalists of the band, Guy Ritter and Luke Easter, and it is inevitable to think in Helloween that currently uses its three historical vocalists in its current line-up. Is that the idea or is one of the two just guesting in the band?

“I can’t talk about the other band you mentioned because I’m not familiar with them. In our situation, it was a very natural decision to have Guy, Luke, and I in the band. I think it’s a powerful approach. It’s very meaningful for us as friends and for those who love our music.”

You and Guy Ritter were working together with Flood, will that project continue or will it be paused?

“We are focusing on this band now. It’s possible that FLOOD will reunite in the future.”

You are an old warrior of the White Metal scene since the ’80s, what differences do you find between that time in the late ’80s/early ’90s and nowadays?

“The things we did in the 80s and 90s were very special. There wasn’t a lot of Christian bands in those days, and certainly not one that played progressively peculiar Metal that used medical allegories and discussed the treatment of animals. Now there are thousands of Christian Rock / Metal artists. It’s wonderful to hear that some of those artists were influenced by us. Music styles are subjective. We respect artists that are bold and clear about the biblical Gospel of Jesus Christ. Music in this world is temporary, but salvation in Christ is eternal.”

Have you ever listened to any of the covers that Latin bands have done of Tourniquet? If so, what did you think? Do you know any Latin American bands?

“We love Latin America and those who support us there! I have listened to some of the bands. And some of them are really great. It is an honor for us when other artists play our music.”

Tourniquet is currently playing in several concerts and festivals, is there any specific tour planned? In Latin America, in particular Argentina, we hope the band can come and play live as there are many fans waiting!!!!

“Our bass player, Anna Sentina, is from Argentina and speaks multiple Latin languages. We’re currently focusing on our new record, and we plan to do more concerts in 2026 after the record is released. We hope to play in Argentina!”

Of course, there were a thousand more things to ask and reveal, especially when it comes to a band with as much history as Tourniquet. The most important thing is to know that the band is back in action, with some of its founding members at the helm and, according to Lenaire, with a return to the band’s more classic sound, which we all heard and enjoyed on “Pathogenic Ocular Dissonance,” perhaps the high point of Tourniquet’s discography. To stay up to date with the band’s news, we suggest following them on Facebook at Tourniquet Band, where you can find out everything about upcoming concerts and even the new album that is coming out.