Overkill

Biography

Overkill is an American thrash metal band formed in 1980 in New Jersey. The band's lineup has seen numerous changes, with bassist D. D. Verni and lead vocalist Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth remaining as the only constant members. The current lineup includes lead guitarist Dave Linsk, rhythm guitarist Derek "The Skull" Tailer, and drummer Jason Bittner. Overkill is recognized as one of the most successful East Coast thrash metal bands and is often likened to Motörhead. The band features a mascot named "Chaly," a skeletal bat that appears on most of their album covers. Overkill has released eighteen studio albums, one cover album, three EPs, and three live albums. They achieved significant commercial success with their second album, Taking Over (1987), and have continued to enjoy popularity, particularly in Europe and Japan, since signing with independent labels in 2009. As of 2006, they have sold over 625,000 albums in the U.S. and over 16 million worldwide.