New Jersey-based thrash metal titans Overkill are delighted to announce they will be returning to the UK and Ireland this April for a run of headline shows entitled the ‘Killfest’ tour.
Enigmatic frontman Bobby ‘Blitz’ Ellsworth had to say on the announcement;
“We are happy to announce we are coming back to the UK, to thrash it up with our cousins across the pond! Yes, yes, yes boys and girls from New Jersey to England, Ireland & Scotland the "Wrecking Crew" comes your way next April, kicking off in Birmingham on the 5th. So let’s mark the dates and remember, I'm easily disappointed! HA! Over the wall boys and give 'em the cold steel!!!”
You can see the ‘Wrecking Crew’ live in the following cities:
April 5th – Birmingham, Rainbow Warehouse
April 6th – Manchester, Sound Control
April 7th – Leeds, Stylus
April 8th – Glasgow, Classic Grand
April 9th – Belfast, Limelight 1
April 10th – Dublin, Academy
April 12th – Bristol, The Fleece
April 13th – London, O2 Islington Academy
Overkill are currently preparing for the release of their first worldwide Nuclear Blast output, an exceptional limited edition box set of 14 CDs entitled: ‘HistoriKill: 1995 – 2007’ which will be released on October 16th. It will include eleven Overkill albums across 13 CDs plus an extra bonus CD (incl. demos, remixes and an unreleased cover song) all in digi sleeves.
Although everybody seems to have a different account of who came first in the world of New York/New Jersey area thrash metal, it seems certain that New Jersey’s Overkill have stayed around the longest, and have never let their fans down by remaining musically consistent and true to their roots for an impressive 35 years with an unprecedented 18 studio albums under their belts.
The massive contribution to thrash by heavy metal partners in crime Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth and bassist D.D. Verni (who cofounded Overkill the same year Ronald Reagan was elected President) is undeniable and remains unchallenged by those in the know. Overkill were formed about one year before Slayer and Anthrax and a couple of years ahead of Metallica, with all of the aforementioned bands pushing forward a new style of music drawing from NWOBHM, hard rock and punk.
Through much hard work and a slew of infamous live performances at New York area clubs like L’Amours, Overkill established a reputation as a blue-collar, working man’s metal band. After the band released a self-financed EP in 1984, Overkill broke onto the scene in 1985 with ‘Feel The Fire’, a crushing thrash assault. The self-proclaimed ‘Wrecking Crew’ - originally consisting of vocalist Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth, bassist D.D. Verni, guitarist Bobby Gustafson, and drummer Rat Skates - were on a tear, borrowing heavily from punk rock roots while adding a venomous metal crunch that allowed them to compete favourably with peers like Testament, Anthrax, and Megadeth. The guys have been part of the Nuclear Blast family now since 2009 and are one of the most successful East Coast thrash bands in history.
“I think it was my niece who asked me recently ‘What do you really do for a living? Are you a Rockstar?’” Blitz remembers with a devilish chuckle. “I told her, ‘I have spent over 30 years of my life alienating the masses. That’s what I do. But I endear myself to a small minority. That small minority loves me and I love them. That’s how it works.” Blitz lets out a big laugh. “I think she’s still at home going, ‘Hmm, I don’t get it!’”
