OVERKILL's BOBBY 'BLITZ' ELLSWORTH: 'If You're Learning, You're Relevant'

Vocalist Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth of New Jersey thrash metal veterans OVERKILL was interviewed on the July 4-6 edition of Full Metal Jackie's nationally syndicated radio show. You can now listen to the chat using the Podbean widget below.

To see a full list of stations carrying the program and when it airs, go to FullMetalJackieRadio.com.

Full Metal Jackie: Bobby, OVERKILL is one of few bands, like MOTÖRHEAD and AC/DC, with remarkable musical consistency. How is that consistency shown most on [the new OVERKILL album] "White Devil Armory"?

Bobby: Well, that is some good company you are putting us in right there. I don't even know if I can justify that with an answer. I do know that the OVERKILL philosophy is we are what we are. I suppose that's like Popeye, isn't it? I am what I am. But in any case, to know what we are, there is no identity crisis. And I think we were put here, this lineup gels, we make good thrash and that's kind of what we continue to do. So I think that's where your consistency and your longevity comes from — no identity crisis, and let's say, that workmanship blue-collar effort from record to record.

Full Metal Jackie: Bobby, what can we hear on this one that best reflects your ability as a master craftsman songwriter?

Bobby: Oh, I like that. You know, what I hear on this record, and I can only compare it to what's recently beendone by us… There seems to be a healthy scene going on out there, there seems to be a high acceptance of this type of metal right now. So I think that we are kind of exploring and taking advantage of that opportunity. And the difference between this and, let's say, the last one is that I think we've dusted off a few more of the tools that we've acquired over the years, whether it be that kind of half-speed, pounding approach, whether it be that new Wave Of British Heavy Metal or traditional heavy metal, whether it be that punk rock that D.D. [Verni, bass] and I grew up on in the New York / New Jersey area when we were kids. If you put that all together and use the pecking order as thrash as the number one element in the pecking order, I think you're gonna have more of an eclectic record from us this time. You're gonna be able to [hear] more of the influences and characteristics that make the band, as opposed to just one or two.

Full Metal Jackie: Bobby, what's the secret to staying vibrant and relevant through metal's ongoing evolution and other changes in musical trends?

Bobby: It's a good question, because I think it's about paying attention. Still following your own path, but paying attention to what's going on. So if you're paying attention, you're learning. If you're learning, you're relevant. I think if you stop learning, we're really talking about what was, as opposed to what is. This may apply to metal, but I think, in reality, this applies across the board to anything you're doing — whether you're a DJ, whether you're a factory worker, an attorney, an accountant or a truck driver. I mean, if you're learning and trying to improve yourself, I think that that's where your relevancy comes from. So it's about keeping the eyes and the ears open, applying what you've learned, let's say, to your own path and your own life, and that's where relevancy or current-day value comes from.

Full Metal Jackie: Bobby, what do you hope up-and-coming bands take from OVERKILL's long standing commitment to metal excellence?

Bobby: I'd like them to say, "Geez, when we played with those guys, they buried us." [laughs] That's about as simple as it is. I love the competitive nature, you know, so I never think in terms of, "Oh, you can learn this from me," or, "You can learn that from me." I go in saying, "Hey, you're a great dude. I like the fact that you're doing a similar style of music that we're doing, but I'm here to win this." And I think somewhere with that attitude comes the relevance we talked about in the last answer to the last question. If you're there to win it, you're probably gonna get good results most of the time. So, competition… The winners in this competition are the people that listen to this music. So that's one of the things that I like very much about this. So I don't know what they're gonna take from it, but I hope they do say, "God, those guys were hard to compete against."