Ted Kirkpatrick (R.I.P.)

Such sad news…….


This is Cristy, Ted’s wife.  I have some very sad news to share.  My beloved husband went to be with the Lord today, August 19, 2022.  He was surrounded by his family and loved ones. It was a blessing to see first-hand Ted’s amazing passion for so many things that captivated him for life, and it was humbling to stand by and witness his genius, creativity and seemingly never-ending natural talent.  I know many of you are broken-hearted and certainly Ted’s wish would be to celebrate his memory through his music through Tourniquet.
    
About 4 months ago, Ted was experiencing chest pain and unusual shortness of breath.  Up until this point, Ted had not been in a hospital in 40 years and all covid tests came up negative, to the end.  After several doctor visits to a general practitioner, Ted was referred to see a pulmonologist who conducted many tests and an accurate diagnosis was made of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a rare terminal lung disease of which there is no cure.

IPF is a serious disease that causes irreversible scarring of the lungs and progresses, or gets worse, over time.  This scarring makes it difficult to breathe and eventually the lungs can’t inhale enough oxygen for the body to function properly.  Typically, IPF causes severe shortness of breath to where the simplest activities of walking across a room seem nearly impossible.

Ted was able to share a few thoughts the night before he passed.
  
“My life has been so full of adventure and wonderment and for the past 30 years all of you have been a great source of joy as you shared your love for our music, my passion for animals, and my desire to share the love of God with all of you.  I’m forever grateful for the unending loyalty so many have shown through the years and support of whatever talents the Lord gave me on this earth.
  
I leave behind so many wonderful friends, my wonderful family, the greatest family anyone could ask for, my brothers, Doug & Jim, my sister Sue, and my wife Cristy, my forever soul mate, my best friend and the most beautiful person I’ve ever known.

Thank you and I’ll see you sometime on the other side.  Love, Ted”

I’ll appreciate your prayers, Cristy

If you would like to help with Ted’s expensive medical bills, a Go Fund me account has been set up.
https://gofund.me/b64becd2

I'm still in shock. Unreal.

I can’t believe this! It’s so unexpected… 
He was posting here not very long ago and of coarse working on the new album. I can definitely say he was one of my favorite drummers of all time! 

I’m in shock… 

R.I.P. Ted

TZ75 wrote:I can’t believe this! It’s so unexpected… 
He was posting here not very long ago and of coarse working on the new album. I can definitely say he was one of my favorite drummers of all time! 

I’m in shock… 

R.I.P. Ted

He was my number one favorite drummer.

This is all so crazy. 

I'm shocked and deeply saddened by this, but I know he is with the Lord now and we will see him again!

He was a great talent and inspiration. 

It saddens me if he never made peace with Guy and Gary… 

The good news is he is home with God.

Ted Kirkpatrick (R.I.P)

Can't believe I saw this.

Devastated here 

Still in shock mode guys...

Absolutely shocking...

Not the best way to start my 40th birthday...
My biggest musical hero. One of the greatest drummers and songwriters on this earth.

Rest in peace. Lots of strength to Cristy, Aaron and Ted's friends.

According to his wife, his chest pain symptoms started about four months ago. Was there no other indication that something was wrong before that?

Has anyone heard anything from Steve Rowe lately? I hope he is stable and doing okay.

Wow... first Justin Murr, then Michael Bloodgood and now Ted... This has been a rough year. God bless their families.

Stunned. The disease mentioned has no cure and a life expectancy of 4yrs at a maximum. He would have had some idea but not true timetable. He certainly lived to the end. Saddened, amazed, and going to be processing this for awhile. It is a Tourniquet day.

TZ75 wrote:According to his wife, his chest pain symptoms started about four months ago. Was there no other indication that something was wrong before that?

Has anyone heard anything from Steve Rowe lately? I hope he is stable and doing okay.

I talked with Mick Jelenic about him in february and he told me this:

"It was good to catch up again, he is doing well considering what he has been through"

I am completely shocked and devastated. My favorite drummer ever from my favorite metal band ever. 

Rest in the arms of Christ, brother. I’ll see you again.

I’m gonna blast Psycho Surgery and Pathogenic Ocular Dissonance today in Ted’s honor! 

May your final album see the light of day! Thank you for the great music and albums to enjoy throughout the years.

Devastated.  We will see you again.

I thought that Ted would someday write a memoir/biography of his life and testimony. He certainly led a interesting life. In my opinion, he was the heavy metal version of Neil Peart.

R.I.P

I thought the headline was a joke, leading into something else maybe and man, I'm tore up. Ted is now at peace, the race is over, well done.

Shocked for sure, initially thought it could be a joke like Black Rider.

Not sure what to say or what there is to say. Sad for us and for his family/friends, but I just finished a book on Heaven, and Ted's doing very well today.

My friends told me this morning over text.  It's still rather shocking.
I had no idea he was ill but this disease seems to have progressed very quickly.

I greatly appreciated that he took the time to interact with us here.  
He was one of very few very well-known musicians who did that.  

As one of my friends said, he has gone on to his reward.   
And those of us who share his faith will one day meet him in the air.  

Farewell Ted, you were a great light and inspiration to many.

RIP Ted. He was a man of integrity who stood by his beliefs and music until the end. Hope to see him again in glory with Christ.

One of the musicians I had the most respect for in the Christian Metal community. He was true to his vision even when it wasn't popular.

Sad news, indeed.

First we lose Michael Bloodgood and now Ted.

I feel old.

I am absolutely in shock and so sad to hear this. Their first album had a MASSIVE influence on me when I was a young metal head in the early 90's

He was up their with Neal Peart in my opinion.

This is so sad... I'm going to light a candle for him tonight at Church.