When I got on the line with Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth—frontman of thrash metal legends Overkill and one-fourth of the rock revival supergroup BPMD—I wasn’t sure what to expect. But what I got was an honest, energized, and oddly comforting conversation about music, motorcycles, barbecues, and staying grounded when the world feels flipped upside down.
“We're all in this together,” he said early on, and that set the tone for everything that followed.
Finding Normal in a World That Isn’t
Like the rest of us, Bobby’s been navigating the weirdness of the last couple years the best way he knows how—by sticking to a sense of normalcy. That means riding his Harley, tinkering with classic Chevys, eating healthy, and writing music. He’s deep into demo work for the next Overkill album, collaborating remotely with his bandmates but gearing up for a proper, in-person recording session soon.
“There’s comfort in ‘business as usual’ when everything else feels upside down,” he told me.
CBD and Heineken Mornings
As for the so-called “morning rituals,” Bobby doesn’t fall for miracle cures. “No snake oil here,” he laughed, though he admits that CBD has helped ease the wear and tear from decades on the road. Mornings start with fruit, some fresh air, maybe a walk—and by 6 PM, it’s time for a Heineken and some loud metal.
On Superstitions and Labor Riots
While Blitz doesn’t consider himself superstitious, he admits that things like black cats or walking under ladders still get his attention. “Just not something I buy into,” he shrugged.
He shared a wild story from a day off in Lyon, France, when what he thought was a city festival turned out to be a full-on labor riot. “I got off the subway and thought, ‘Oh look, a festival!’ Then people started throwing bottles and rocks. Turns out it was a nationwide labor strike. Welcome to France!”
The BPMD Origin Story
BPMD—Blitz, Portnoy, Menghi, and Demmel—is a powerhouse lineup that revives classic American rock with a metal edge. But the project had humble beginnings: Mark Menghi was flipping burgers in the backyard when his son, Alex, played him a classic rock track and said, “Dad, you’ve got to cover this.” That moment lit the spark.
Blitz said yes without hesitation. “This was the music I cut my teeth on—Van Halen, Blue Öyster Cult, Grand Funk. It felt like time-traveling back to 1970. And I already had the roadmap.”
Choosing Songs—and Letting Loose
Each BPMD member picked two songs, with 22 “community” picks added in. No vetoes, no egos. Blitz’s personal choices? “Never in My Life” by Mountain and “Evil” by Cactus (originally by Willie Dixon). He chose them for the vocal phrasing—techniques that shaped his own singing style over the years.
And when it came to reworking classics like Skynyrd’s “Saturday Night Special,” they didn’t just play it safe. Drummer Mike Portnoy reimagined the rhythm with double bass drums, giving it the chug of a freight train. “That gave me room to open my throat and really run amok,” Blitz said. “We respected the originals, but we made them our own.”
Van Halen Was the Toughest
When I asked which song challenged him the most, Blitz didn’t hesitate: Van Halen’s “DOA.”
“There’s only one David Lee Roth,” he said. “Love him or hate him, you can’t imitate him.” The track was Demmel’s pick, and Blitz dove in with everything he had. It took work, but he calls it one of his proudest moments on the record.
Back to Overkill, Back to Work
Overkill’s already got ten songs demoed for the next album. Blitz’s studio is “blinking at him” while we’re chatting, calling him back to finish up vocals. There’s a sense of momentum behind his words, a spark that comes from doing what he loves—even when the world around him is in flux.
No to Drive-In Shows
I asked about the idea of pandemic-era drive-in shows. The concept didn’t quite land with him.
“Overkill’s live shows are all about connection. The audience is the sixth member of the band. You can’t do a proper thrash show without that energy bouncing back and forth. A crowdless Overkill gig? That’s just not us.”
Seeing the Legends Live
Blitz got to see many of the bands they covered live back in the day: ZZ Top, Ted Nugent, Aerosmith, Van Halen, and Judas Priest—mostly at the old Casino Arena in Asbury Park, NJ. It was the place to be if you were a young rocker growing up in that era. “I probably saw more than half the bands we covered,” he said.
A Final Word: Stay Hopeful
When we wrapped up, I asked if he had anything he’d like to say to fans during these challenging times. His answer was classic Blitz: grounded, no-BS, and hopeful.
“It’s a difficult time—but that doesn’t mean it’s undoable. This country is resilient. Some of our best ideas come out of our darkest moments. Chin up. Stay hopeful. That’s what gets you to the next day.”
Whether he’s roaring through BPMD’s reinventions or building the next Overkill assault, Bobby Blitz is still running at full throttle—and reminding us all to keep it loud, keep it real, and keep moving forward.
Stay heavy. Support the underground. Long live metal.
Want more? Follow BPMD on their Youtube, Spotify, Facebook and catch them when they come to your town.
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