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Overkill was formed in 1980 from the ashes of the punk band “The Lubricunts”, featuring Rat Skates and D.D. Verni. Verni and Skates placed an ad looking for a guitarist and singer which was answered by singer Bobby Ellsworth and the first incarnation of Overkill was formed.

After rejecting several names, including “Virgin Killer”, the band finally settled on Overkill.

Early covers, especially those done under the “Virgin Killers” name, were punk songs by The Ramones, The Dead Boys and others. By late 1980, the band had recruited two guitarists, and the setlist was made up of songs by bands such as Motörhead (“Overkill”, half of the Ace of Spades album), Judas Priest (‘Tyrant’ was their closer), and Riot. Along with the new influx of heavy metal covers, the band still played a smattering of punk covers, with extra distortion, intensity, and speed, marking Overkill as one of the first thrash metal bands.

In 1981, guitarists Rich Conte and Bobby Gustafson joined the band.

At this point, the band started writing original songs, including “Grave Robbers” (later renamed “Raise The Dead”),

“Overkill”, and “Unleash The Beast (Within)”. More songs would follow, including “Death Rider” (1981) and “Rotten To The Core” (1982). In 1983 Conte left and Bobby Gustafson remained as the sole guitarist.

The band became a staple at New York and New Jersey clubs, such as L’Amours.

Verni gave Ellsworth the nickname “Blitz” due to his over-the-top lifestyle, a lifestyle that once earned Ellsworth an ejection from the band for a few days in 1983.

Around this time, the classic green logo was adopted, which Rat Skates specifically designed to stand out on a poster loaded with red and black logos of the other bands on the bill