Bobby Gustafson is still P.O.'d at Overkill

Sheesh. Bitter much? Let it go already...

Former OVERKILL guitarist Bobby Gustafson says that the band hasn't been the same since his departure from the group three decades ago.

Gustafson joined OVERKILL in 1982 and played on the band first four albums — "Feel The Fire" (1985), "Taking Over" (1987), "Under The Influence" (1988) and "The Years Of Decay" (1989) — before being shown the door in 1990 amid growing tension between him and OVERKILL bassist D.D. Verni.

In a recent interview with J-Rocks Metal Zone 's "That Metal Interview", Gustafson stated about his contributions to OVERKILL: "Basically, the band was a cover band before I joined. They were out a couple of years before me, but they were playing the circuit doing covers. And actually, when I first joined, that's what I was learning — was covers. And I hate it. I just don't like to do cover-band stuff. I'm, like, 'Why would I practice every day of my life to play somebody else's songs?' And I was basically the youngest guy in the band. I think I was 17, and those guys are, like, six years older than me. So, I told them, 'Look, I can write songs. I don't wanna play other people's music. Why don't we become an original band?' We actually had two guitar players, on and off, for a month or two, but no one would stay, for some reason, until I just said, 'Look, let's just keep one. I can handle it.' And we did. So, then we started to write.

"Basically, 99 percent of those first four albums is my riffs and my sound and my songs," he continued. "It's my feel. I was the only guitar player, so there was no one else putting in any other influence, and, basically, the job was left up to me, so that's what I did.

"Once your main songwriter is gone, which is one of the things I presented to Blitz [OVERKILL singer Bobby Ellsworth] when all that crap was going down… I'm, like, 'If you feel strong enough that you wanna lose your main songwriter after four albums, you're not gonna be the same.' But he and D.D. were closer friends before — they kind of started the band together — so it just took a different route.

"I didn't really listen to much of the stuff they did after me — once in a while, if it was on YouTube or it came up on television, on satellite radio, that I listen to — but that's all I hear from people, that the band was not the same and the band they fell in love with completely changed and they kind of lose interest," he added.

"They can have other guitar players come in, but they don't have my mind and they don't have my thought patterns of how a song should be put together. They can play the parts, but they can't duplicate, really, what I did, because everyone is just an individual, and once that's kind of gone, it's gone."

Asked what happened to cause his exit from OVERKILL, Gustafson said: "It's a whole bunch of stuff — it's a little bit of a lot of things — but, basically, the final fight was… There was a show at L'Amours that D.D.wanted to do for Christmas money, and I just didn't see that as being a good idea after we had just sold out Studio 54 in Manhattan, and we were getting ready to do what would have been the fifth album. I didn't feel right about doing a show where our last impression was gonna be half OVERKILL, half covers, half being drunk and having a good time and charging people a regular OVERKILL price to get in. But you're not seeing an OVERKILL show. I said, 'I'm not gonna do this.' I said, 'I don't want any part of that.' And then one thing led to another. And then I didn't hear from him. But then I'm hearing other stuff that they were kind of plotting behind my back because we had some money coming in from a merchandise advance. So it was just a lot of little things that kind of all built up. And I was just getting kind of sick of them not really having much integrity anymore and just using the band for nothing but a profit. They just became greedy. And I'm, like, 'I didn't bust my ass getting us bigger and bigger and bigger and having better songs with each album just so you can have Christmas money.' It's, like, 'Get a fucking job. Don't use my band to do something like that.' I just didn't agree with them on many levels after that. And maybe if we were making money, it would have been a different scenario, but four albums in, we still really weren't making much money, but then when finally we were gonna make some, which would have been the merchandise advance, they kind of found a way to cut me out of it. And the two of them [D.D. and Blitz] have pretty much owned the band ever since. And that's what they wanted. So they got it."

Ellsworth told Invisible Oranges that OVERKILL's decision to replace Gustafson with two guitarists was primarily due to the fact that the group wanted to do something different. "Bobby left the band, and it wasn't the most amicable circumstances," he explained. "There are different stories about what happened, but I wanted to play with D.D. We started the band and I trusted his ethic and songwriting. We knew if we replaced Bobby with one guitarist, we'd get compared to what we were. So, it seemed like to logical thing to bring in two players. We didn't want anyone to say, 'Bobby was better than this new guy.' And we wanted to perform old stuff with two guitars to keep in fresh. We realized that change isn't a bad thing."

Gustafson is involved in a new band called SATANS TAINT, which released its latest album, "Destruction Ritual", last year. 

Hmm, so he basically was Overkill? Idk maybe I’m reading to much into it.

"Once your main songwriter is gone, which is one of the things I presented to Blitz [OVERKILL singer Bobby Ellsworth] when all that crap was going down… I'm, like, 'If you feel strong enough that you wanna lose your main songwriter after four albums, you're not gonna be the same.'

He's right. After he left, they released one of their best albums EVER in Horrorscope

Seriously though, it's been 30 years. Build a bridge and get the f**k over it already...

I’m torn a bit on this!

While he definitely is my favorite Overkill guitarist and he wrote and played on my two favorite Overkill albums... they did make other great records without him. I figure this is the same sour grapes situation that Mustaine had with Metallica. The bitterness will never completely go away.

I really hope he gets more serious and puts together a better band than Satans Taint. He is a very talented musician and songwriter, so he should get his act together and make a proper comeback on par with his past accomplishments. Maybe this Vio-lence gig will spark something!

Sure,they aren't the same but then what band is after 30 some years. They put out great albums with him, and great albums without him. They haven't suffered without him. Be like Elsa, man, and let it go.

I guess that Cycle Sluts From Hell money ain't paying the bills.

Witchfinder wrote:

I guess that Cycle Sluts From Hell money ain't paying the bills.

In other news (to borrow from FF) water is still wet.

Dude needs to just move on, it's been 30 freakin' years! I know it's hard to do cuz they are still successful and putting out albums every couple of years; if Overkill had folded some time around 1999-2002, Bobby G. probably would have made his peace with it.

So has anyone actually heard Bobby's "Satan's Taint" band? That god-awful name alone is enough to keep me from seeking them out. I don't want that in my Google search history.

Thrasher73 wrote:

Hmm, so he basically was Overkill? Idk maybe I’m reading to much into it.

Rat Skates (original drummer) had the same "I was the straw that stirred the drink" attitude about his time in Overkill. To hear him tell it (in his "Born in the Basement" DVD), he drove the van, printed the shirts, held the other guys' hands, told them where to pee, etc.

I don't doubt that both Rat and Bobby were important to Overkill at one point in time; but I feel as though both suffered from the hubris of thinking they were irreplaceable. And when they were replaced, the band not only didn't miss a beat, but got better and flourish musically to this day.

Fat Freddy wrote:

So has anyone actually heard Bobby's "Satan's Taint" band? That god-awful name alone is enough to keep me from seeking them out. I don't want that in my Google search history.

I’ve heard some of the music, and it’s uninspired to say the least! Not to mention his low standard for vocalists. The guy on his latest release looks like he was plucked from a crowd at a concert and his voice is terrible! The typical “trying to force a shit” shouting.

the sentinel wrote:

I don't doubt that both Rat and Bobby were important to Overkill at one point in time; but I feel as though both suffered from the hubris of thinking they were irreplaceable. And when they were replaced, the band not only didn't miss a beat, but got better and flourish musically to this day.

They also had the feeling they were going to be bigger rock stars than they actually were.

Troublezone wrote:

Fat Freddy wrote:

So has anyone actually heard Bobby's "Satan's Taint" band? That god-awful name alone is enough to keep me from seeking them out. I don't want that in my Google search history.

I’ve heard some of the music, and it’s uninspired to say the least! Not to mention his low standard for vocalists. The guy on his latest release looks like he was plucked from a crowd at a concert and his voice is terrible! The typical “trying to force a shit” shouting.

Yeah, uninspired is a good description of Taint. Just really angry, modern thrash poo. Hard to find iirc.

Of course it is true that Bobby pretty much wrote those early Overkill songs, or at least for the most part, and that era had a distinct flavor that went missing on Horrorscope. Does that mean that Horrorscope is a bad album? Obviously not! One of my top 10 in thrash, actually, and widely revered. It's just a different era for the band, a new sound, a new wave, and that's how Bobby needs to see it, and be happy for the guys.

One wonders what would happen if disgruntled musicians like Bobby were to bury the stupid juvenile hatchet, steer for some humility, and be friendly to their ex-mates. Perhaps reunions? Guest spots? More recognition? Maybe operate a decent side band that doesn't have a stupid name? The ability to forgive and forget opens up a world of possibilities. Hell, I can't believe Dave Mustaine shared the stage with Metallica at that Big 4 event (I know, I know...$$$, but for the sake of argument let's at least pretend he acted in complete integrity and sincerity).

I've grown tired of griping, self-important musicians, and Gustafon--an artist I've admired--is one of the worst. Overkill is renown for their consistency and prolific genius. They're hard-working craftsmen who have always believed that classic thrash is still alive and well. Bobby is just showing the world what a cranky old fart he's devolved into.

Hell, I hope he reads this somehow. Hey Bobby! You're not Jimmy Fucking Page, dipshit!

Every time I see Bobby G's name on Blabbermouth lately, I half expect it to be an announcement that he's formed "Bobby Gustafson's Overkill" and he's about to go on tour playing songs from those first four albums.

Fat Freddy wrote:

Every time I see Bobby G's name on Blabbermouth lately, I half expect it to be an announcement that he's formed "Bobby Gustafson's Overkill" and he's about to go on tour playing songs from those first four albums.

I imagine he’d be smart enough to call the project something like Wrecking Crew to avoid a lawsuit. Or maybe “Minorkill”.  

Troublezone wrote:

Fat Freddy wrote:

Every time I see Bobby G's name on Blabbermouth lately, I half expect it to be an announcement that he's formed "Bobby Gustafson's Overkill" and he's about to go on tour playing songs from those first four albums.

I imagine he’d be smart enough to call the project something like Wrecking Crew to avoid a lawsuit. Or maybe “Minorkill”.  

That would actually be weirdly cooler than what he's doing now. Hell, the band would probably suck but at least he would be putting his bitterness to work and doing something. Actions speak louder than words, Bobby.

[said the bitter and jaded fan lol]

corplhicks wrote:

Troublezone wrote:

Fat Freddy wrote:

Every time I see Bobby G's name on Blabbermouth lately, I half expect it to be an announcement that he's formed "Bobby Gustafson's Overkill" and he's about to go on tour playing songs from those first four albums.

I imagine he’d be smart enough to call the project something like Wrecking Crew to avoid a lawsuit. Or maybe “Minorkill”.  

That would actually be weirdly cooler than what he's doing now. Hell, the band would probably suck but at least he would be putting his bitterness to work and doing something. Actions speak louder than words, Bobby.

[said the bitter and jaded fan lol]

He's actually going to be a fill in guitarist on the upcoming Vio-Lence tour. So pretty soon we'll hear how he guided them.

nevermore wrote:

corplhicks wrote:

Troublezone wrote:

Fat Freddy wrote:

Every time I see Bobby G's name on Blabbermouth lately, I half expect it to be an announcement that he's formed "Bobby Gustafson's Overkill" and he's about to go on tour playing songs from those first four albums.

I imagine he’d be smart enough to call the project something like Wrecking Crew to avoid a lawsuit. Or maybe “Minorkill”.  

That would actually be weirdly cooler than what he's doing now. Hell, the band would probably suck but at least he would be putting his bitterness to work and doing something. Actions speak louder than words, Bobby.

[said the bitter and jaded fan lol]

He's actually going to be a fill in guitarist on the upcoming Vio-Lence tour. So pretty soon we'll hear how he guided them.

Huh.

That's a surprisingly good fit for him.







(vio-lence is still around?)

corplhicks wrote:

nevermore wrote:

corplhicks wrote:

Troublezone wrote:

Fat Freddy wrote:

Every time I see Bobby G's name on Blabbermouth lately, I half expect it to be an announcement that he's formed "Bobby Gustafson's Overkill" and he's about to go on tour playing songs from those first four albums.

I imagine he’d be smart enough to call the project something like Wrecking Crew to avoid a lawsuit. Or maybe “Minorkill”.  

That would actually be weirdly cooler than what he's doing now. Hell, the band would probably suck but at least he would be putting his bitterness to work and doing something. Actions speak louder than words, Bobby.

[said the bitter and jaded fan lol]

He's actually going to be a fill in guitarist on the upcoming Vio-Lence tour. So pretty soon we'll hear how he guided them.

Huh.

That's a surprisingly good fit for him.







(vio-lence is still around?)

They have reformed.