VERNI, OVERKILL – Interview with D.D. Verni (bassist, guitarist & vocalist)

Most fans of Thrash Metal associate the person of D. D. Verni with OVERKILL. Well, he’s in this band since the beginning and he creates music for the band. In addition, others can associate Vernie with THE BRONX CASKET CO – the band that rotates completely in other climates (gothic) … However, this is not the end of the artist’s musical output. He will release the solo album under the name VERNI at 12th October, as we discussed below. And of course I did not abstain to asking about OVERKILL …

Hello Mr. Verni? 🙂 After OVERKILL, there was time for THE BRONX CASKET CO. But now there is also the idea for the solo project – VERNI. Each of these bands is a completely different style of music. Did you not fulfilled yourself in these bands and because you start your own project?

No I am free to pursue really anything in Overkill or Bronx Casket Co, it’s just the songs that I had did not really fit into either of those. So it was a question of how do I get the songs out there because I really loved them, so a solo album seemed the best idea for that.

Looks like you’re not going to retirement? Judging by your music, have you got still plenty of energy…

No plans for that, I love writing songs and touring etc. All I ever wanted to do my whole life was play in a band, and that’s still true.

… so let’s talk a bit about your VERNI solo project… You chose many good musicians for VERNI. The recording was mainly performed by Andre “Virus” Karkos (guitar) from DOPE and Ron Lipnicki (drums) from OVERKILL. However, apart from them, you have invited the guests such as Jeff Loomis (ARCH ENEMY), Jeff Waters (ANNIHILATOR), Bruce Franklin (TROUBLE), Mike Romeo (SYMPHONY X), Steve Leonard (ALMOST QUEEN), Angus Clark (TRANS SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA), Mike Orlando (ADRENALIN MOB). Why did you create the idea to involve so many people?

I just thought it would be fun and exciting, and thought the fans would love it too. I know as a fan myself I really like when there are guests on records, just makes it kind of special. I love on the Slash record how he had all those different singers, so I thought I’ll ask some player that I really like if they would be up for doing a solo, and everyone was, they were all very cool about it.

But I suspect that you are composer of the songs for VERNI? Besides some solos…

Yes, all the songs on the record I wrote. But if there is a second I would love to write with some other people, that would be a new fun thing for me as well.

You said that in this music there is “some Metal, Punk, classic Rock … from QUEEN through GREEN DAY, to METALLICA”. Are these bands important for you?

I think so. Those 3 bands are probably in my top 10 favortite bands of all time. Queen with the anthem stuff, and the attitude of Green Day and the power of Metallica…I mean probably Black Sabbath in there too, but all those bands had an influence on my writing these particular songs I think.

At October 12, the album “Barricade” will be released. For me, it’s a very energetic album with a lot of lively melodies and easily catchy pieces without losing this rock and metal rapacity. What are the first reactions of press, listeners, etc.?

I guess we’ll see. I have not done any shows yet so it’s hard to see what the fans think, but hopefully there will be some and I can see how it’s recieved. As far as press, I never read any of that so I don’t really have a clue.

Is there any unique song on this album?

Well hopefully all of them hahaha….but I really do love Miracle Drug, kind of combines a lot of the stuff I love punk and metal together and a big catchy chorus. And we just did a video for Night of the Swamp King, which is kind of a mini horror movie, which was so fun and just the kind of thing I love to do.

There could’t to lack of a ballad – “We Were Young” … A very nostalgic song. Ah, I was young too…

Well it’s fun to think back then right?? I mean I look out at the crowds, especially at festivals and you see a lot of young kids running around drinking beer, chasing girls and enjoying the sun and the music and I just think how much of that we did. They did not have a lot of festivals when I was young, but we would have saved all year for the chance to fly to Europe and ptich a tent and go to a three day metal festival!

Did you put all the songs you composed on “Barricade”? Or did you reject something?

I don’t think I did. I generally on anything I do focus on the 10 best songs and stay with them and work them til I’m happy, rather than just doing a lot of material and choosing that way.

You’ve made lyric video for the songs “Fir Up” and “Lost in the Underground”, which is probably one of the first songs you composed for “Barricade”. Now we are waiting for a real music video. Well, you mentioned the video for “Night of the Swamp King“…

Yes, just finishing up the edit for Night of the Swamp King, it’s kind of a mini horror movie. It was shot in Whales and the UK. Very excited about that, so much fun to do. I like video’s and songs that are not about real life or social views etc all the time. I read a lot and read alot of fiction Steven King Clive Barker, I love those kinds of books. So I always try and have at least one fictional story on an album I do, and then the chance to make it a little movie was a lot of fun.

Why did you decide to collaborate with Mighty Music?

Actually Charlie from Bronx Casket Co suggested it to me. I had finished the record and was kind of waiting till I had a little break on Overkill to see who might be interested. Charlie put me in touch with Michael (Mighty Music) and he loved the record and had some cool ideas so it seemed a good fit.

I know that concerts in Europe and the United States with VERNI are being prepared… Do you even still feel stage-fright during concerts?

I don’t think I ever did. I think the fright comes from not being prepared or having enough rehearsals. So as long as I get a chance to do that, going on stage to playing is just a lot of fun.

I can not stop myself and would like to ask you a little about OVERKILL. A band that has always been one of the best thrash-metal bands for me… Over a year and a half ago you released the last album “The Grinding Wheel”. The classic, thrash album – full of power, rapacity and heaviness… What was the reaction of fans for this album?

It was amazing, seemed the fans really loved that one, which is great. It’s like our 19th record and to have them love it as much as some of the older classic ones is great.

From the beginning OVERKILL invariably follows the same stylistic path. However, this is not a copy of previous patents. You are the author of the songs. Where do you get inspiration to invent riffs for OVERKILL?

Overkill is really about energy and attitude. It’s been that way from out first record. So I am still a big fan of metal. So when I start putting stuff together it’spretty obvious the riff that have both those things, and they are what I wind up using for okill.

In 2017 you released a split with KREATOR, where you put “Man in Black” (cover-song of Johnny Cash). Where did the idea come from, the two-track split and why “Man in Black” and why with KREATOR?

Blitz (vocalist) had the idea to do man in black, and so it was just a fun thing to do. I think the magazine (Rock Hard) had the idea to split with Kreator. We had toured with them here in the States and maybe there was connection there (Rock Hard – Nuclear Blast) and so it seemed a good idea to them.

In May 2018 you released “Live In Overhausen”. How do you remember this concert?

Just a great night. So many old friends and fans came. The crowd was amazing sing and yelling all tnight… just a lot of fun.

This year you also played a few concerts in Australia. There was hot…

Crazy hot!! There were a few shows where it was really insane. But the fans were great.

And what is happening in the OVERKILL camp now?

Mixing the new record now. Probably a release next Feb, then back on the road.

For many years you had the opportunity to observe the entire Metal scene (both as a musician and as a fan). A lot has changed… What’s better and what’s worse?

I think it’s like you said, a lot has changed. Some for the better and some things I kind a miss. But that’s the weay with everything right? Things change and you just roll with it.

Thank you very much for the interview and I wish you successes with VERNI (because with OVERKILL you have already achieved it). I leave the last words to You…

Hopefully see you guys out on the road… somwhere