Often friends and I will have discussions about which bands we consider to be our all time favorite metal bands. While many of the choices are similar, there are some differences in who are in the Top 5. This led me to think about who my Top 5 are. While there are so many bands I love, these are the ones I never have to put down or get tired of listening to. I’ll start with my #5 all time favorite band and countdown each Wednesday to #1.
OVERKILL
Left to Right: Rat Skates, D.D. Verni, Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth and Bobby Gustafson
Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia
Formed in 1980 in New Jersey, Overkill, who are often called “The Motorhead” of thrash metal, have released 18 studio albums to date and will be touring in 2019 to support their upcoming album which they are currently in the process of recording. Overkill has gone through many different lineup changes throughout their career and singer Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth suffered some health challenges over the years including having a heart attack and surgery for an aggressive nose cancer which he successfully recovered from.
The band who got their name from the title of Motorhead’s second album, are known for their fast and heavy style and and often cited as one of the most important thrash metal bands from the East Coast. Currently “Blitz” and bassist D.D. Verni are the only two remaining original members of the band and Overkill is rounded out by guitarists Dave Linsk and Derek Tailer, as well as drummer Jason Bittner.
I was lucky enough to meet Bobby “Blitz” back in 2003 at the now defunct L’amour’s Brooklyn, NY. I was a bit nervous at the time because I was meeting someone who I had admired for so long. A friend brought me over and introduced him to me and Bobby made me feel totally comfortable…just look at the cheesy smile on my face:
The video below for “Hello From The Gutter” is from their 1988 album “Under The Influence.” The song was inspired by the Son of Sam Killer, David Berkowitz, who killed several young couples, mostly women in New York City during the summer of 1977. Berkowitz was rumored to have written a letter to New York Daily News reporter, Jimmy Breslin, which said: “Hello from the gutters of N.Y.C., which are filled with dog manure, vomit, stale wine, urine, and blood.” Overkill who had spent lots of time in NYC, had remembered the story and all the media coverage at the time. The song is one of many classic songs by the band.
Welcome to the gutter – we’ve been expecting you!
The Metal Wire 