Bobby Ellsworth
The relentless, snarling voice of Overkill, a thrash metal pioneer who has outlasted countless trends with pure East Coast fury.
Born 1959 (age 67)·American singer·Birthday: May 5·Baby Boomers
Biography
Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth is the human air raid siren that has led the charge for New Jersey's Overkill for over four decades, a tenure that makes them one of the most enduring forces in thrash metal. With a stage name earned for his frenetic energy and a vocal delivery that splits the difference between a razor-cut shriek and a streetwise snarl, Blitz, alongside bassist D.D. Verni, has been the unwavering constant. While peers from the 80s metal scene faded or fractured, Overkill, under his watch, built a reputation not on fleeting fame but on a grueling work ethic and a consistent output of aggressive, no-frills metal. His persona is pure theater—the manic eyes, the jackhammer-staccato delivery—but it's backed by a sharp business mind and a deep loyalty to the band's blue-collar roots. In the world of thrash, where the Big Four get the headlines, Blitz and Overkill represent the genre's stubborn, unstoppable heart.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Bobby was born in 1959, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bobby Was Born
The biggest hits of 1959
#1 Movie
Ben-Hur
Best Picture
Ben-Hur
#1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
Bobby's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1959Born
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1964Started school
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1972Became a teenager
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1975Could drive
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1977Could vote
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1980Turned 21
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1989Turned 30
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1999Turned 40
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2009Turned 50
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 60
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 67 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Has remained the lead vocalist and a primary creative force for the thrash metal band Overkill since its formation in 1980.
- Helped guide Overkill to release a steady stream of albums spanning five decades, maintaining a core fanbase without major label support.
- Co-wrote and performed on landmark thrash albums like "The Years of Decay" and "Horrorscope."
- Is one of only two constant members (with bassist D.D. Verni) throughout Overkill's entire history.
Did You Know?
He worked as a stockbroker on Wall Street in the early days of Overkill to fund the band.
His nickname "Blitz" was given to him by a bandmate due to his hyperactive, energetic nature.
He is an avid fan and collector of classic American muscle cars.
He survived a serious motorcycle accident in 2002 that required facial reconstruction surgery.
“I'm not a screamer; I'm a singer who screams.”
