D.D. Verni

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.

Career Pre-Overkill bands In 1976, Verni met Rat Skates, who had been learning to play drums since age 15, at New Providence High School. 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 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). He also released a debut album under the name D.D. Verni & The Cadillac Band, Let's Rattle, on September 17, 2021.

Verni released his second solo album, Dreadful Company, on July 26, 2024. It sees Verni move into a punk rock direction.

Discography

Solo 2018: Barricade 2024: Dreadful Company

Overkill 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 2010 The Electric Age Studio album Nuclear Blast 2012 White Devil Armory Studio album Nuclear Blast 2014 Historikill: 1995–2007 Box set Nuclear Blast 2015 Grinding Wheel Studio album Nuclear Blast 2017 The Wings of War Studio album Nuclear Blast 2019 Scorched Studio album Nuclear Blast 2023