D.D. Verni

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D.D. Verni
Verni with Overkill in 2015
Verni with Overkill in 2015
Background information
Birth nameCarlo Verni
Also known asD.D. Verni, D.D. Blaze
Born (1961-04-12) April 12, 1961 (age 62)
OriginNew Jersey, U.S.
GenresThrash metal, heavy metal
Occupation(s)Musician, producer, songwriter
Instrument(s)Bass, vocals
Years active1979–present
Member ofOverkill, The Bronx Casket Co.

Carlo "D.D." Verni (born April 12, 1961) is an American musician, best known as a founding member, bassist and songwriter of the thrash metal band Overkill. He and vocalist Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth are the only two original members who have remained with the band throughout its entire history. In addition to his work with Overkill, Verni has recorded four albums with his side project the Bronx Casket Co. and released several solo projects. He is also the composer of The Bronx Casket Co.... A New Musical.[1]

Career[edit]

Pre-Overkill bands[edit]

In 1976, Verni met Rat Skates, who had been learning to play drums since age 15, at New Providence High School.[2] They shared the same musical interests in hard rock bands like Kiss, Aerosmith, Ted Nugent, Starz, Black Sabbath, and Rainbow, and were then introduced to punk music such as The Damned, The Ramones, The Vibrators, and Generation X. The three formed a punk group known as The Lubricunts in 1979. The group disbanded in 1980, and Verni, along with bandmate Skates, posted an advertisement for a vocalist and guitarist to join the band. Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth answered the ad, and brought guitarist Rob Pisarek.

Overkill[edit]

After rejecting several names, the band finally settled on "Overkill". Their early covers included punk songs by The Ramones and The Dead Boys. By late 1980, the band had recruited dual guitarists, and the setlist was made up of songs by bands such as Motörhead ("Overkill", half of the Ace of Spades album), Judas Priest ("Tyrant" was their closer), and Riot. Along with the new influx of heavy metal covers, the band still played a smattering of punk covers, with extra distortion, intensity, and speed marking Overkill as one of the first thrash bands.

At this point, the band started writing original songs, including "Grave Robbers" (later renamed "Raise The Dead"), "Overkill", and "Unleash the Beast (Within)". More songs followed, including "Death Rider" (1981) and "Rotten to the Core" (1982). Overkill had experienced a number of member changes by the time of their first demo Power in Black (1983), which featured the "classic" lineup of Verni, vocalist Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth, drummer Rat Skates and guitarist Bobby Gustafson. The band became a staple at New York and New Jersey clubs, such as L'Amours, and Verni gave Ellsworth the nickname "Blitz" due to his over-the-top lifestyle. There have been numerous more lineup changes since the departures of Skates and Gustafson (in 1987 and 1990 respectively), and Verni and Ellsworth are the only remaining original members left in Overkill. Verni has also been the sole songwriter for the band's music since Horrorscope (1991).[1]

Overkill released their first album Feel the Fire in 1985, and along with their contemporaries (including Metallica, Exodus, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax), they helped define a new genre of music, known as "thrash metal". Overkill have released 20 full-length albums as well as two live albums and EPs, and several DVDs. They have done thousands of shows for millions of fans and toured extensively. They have appeared in many major music publications and have sold millions of records worldwide. Verni's signature bass sound is regarded as one of the most definable in heavy metal. He usually plays bass with a pick as opposed to with his fingers.

Work outside of Overkill[edit]

Verni released his first solo album, Barricade, in 2018.[3] He also released a debut album under the name D.D. Verni & The Cadillac Band, Let's Rattle, on September 17, 2021.[4]

Discography with Overkill[edit]

Verni in 2008
Verni at Jalometalli Metal Music Festival 2008
Title Type Label Year
Power in Black Demo Blood Metal Music 1983
Overkill EP Azra / Metal Storm 1985
Feel The Fire Studio album Megaforce 1985
Taking Over Studio album Megaforce/ Atlantic 1987
!!!Fuck You!!! EP Megaforce/ Caroline 1987
Under the Influence Studio album Megaforce 1988
The Years of Decay Studio album Megaforce / Atlantic 1989
Horrorscope Studio Album Megaforce / Atlantic 1991
I Hear Black Studio album Atlantic 1993
W.F.O. Studio album Atlantic 1994
Wrecking Your Neck Live album CMC International 1995
The Killing Kind Studio album CMC International 1996
!!!Fuck You!!! and Then Some EP Megaforce 1996
From the Underground and Below Studio album CMC International 1997
Necroshine Studio album CMC International 1999
Coverkill Covers album CMC International 1999
Bloodletting Studio album Metal-Is 2000
Wrecking Everything Live album Spitfire Records 2002
Killbox 13 Studio album Spitfire Records 2003
ReliXIV Studio album Spitfire Records 2005
Immortalis Studio album Bodog Music 2007
Ironbound Studio album Nuclear Blast Records 2010
The Electric Age Studio album Nuclear Blast Records 2012
White Devil Armory Studio album Nuclear Blast Records 2014
Historikill: 1995–2007 Box set Nuclear Blast Records 2015
Grinding Wheel Studio album Nuclear Blast Records 2017
The Wings of War Studio album Nuclear Blast Records 2019
Scorched Studio album Nuclear Blast Records 2023

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Huey, Steve. "Biography: Overkill". Allmusic. Retrieved March 16, 2010.
  2. ^ Blabbermouth (July 10, 2014). "Former OVERKILL Drummer RAT SKATES Uses HITLER And Holocaust Footage in Bizarre Anti-'Dictator' Video". BLABBERMOUTH.NET.
  3. ^ "OVERKILL's D.D. VERNI Reveals Artwork, Track Listing Of 'Barricade' Solo Album". Blabbermouth.net. August 7, 2018. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  4. ^ "OVERKILL's D.D. VERNI Reveals Artwork, Track Listing Of 'Barricade' Solo Album". Blabbermouth.net. July 13, 2021. Retrieved July 13, 2021.

External links[edit]

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