Bobby Gustafson
Encyclopedia
Bobby Gustafson is an American guitarist, best known as a member of the New York based thrash metal
band Overkill
.
at 17 years old after an audition, when the band was still playing only covers, coming from the garage band The Dropouts. He stimulated the other members to produce original music and was a key member in the Overkill quartet, having been a composer from the band's debut album Feel the Fire
in 1985 to their most commercially successful album, The Years of Decay
, in 1989.
Gustafson's split from Overkill has been seen through two viewpoints - that he was fired by the other band members Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth and D. D. Verni
(Overkill version) or that he left following Verni trying to remove him from the band though management (Gustafson version). Whatever version is true, his leaving has shown how much Gustafson helped to create the Overkill sound. Instead of Gustafson's guitar work, later Overkill albums featured both a rhythm and a lead guitarist, with Verni taking over the music writing duties.
Following the 1987 Overkill album Taking Over Gustafson was approached by Megadeth
co-founder and band-leader Dave Mustaine
to join Megadeth, following trouble with their current line up. However, Gustafson rejected the proposal, feeling that Overkill was turning big.
Immediately after the split with Overkill Gustafson went on tour with Cycle Sluts from Hell
in Europe.
Gustafson later tried to form a side-project with Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo
called I4NI, but he left before the project became the successful Grip Inc.
He played in the industrial metal
band Skrew
album Shadow of Doubt in 1996, replacing their guitarist for the recording of the album. He then relocated in Florida
and left the music business for a while.
In 2003, Gustafson returned to music with the Florida-based band Response Negative. He currently works for his family plumbing business in Florida.
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
band Overkill
Overkill (band)
Overkill is an American thrash metal band, formed in 1980 in New Jersey. They have gone through many line-up changes, with singer Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth and bassist D.D. Verni remaining from the original lineup. Along with Anthrax , the band is one of the most successful East Coast thrash metal...
.
Career
Bobby Gustafson joined OverkillOverkill (band)
Overkill is an American thrash metal band, formed in 1980 in New Jersey. They have gone through many line-up changes, with singer Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth and bassist D.D. Verni remaining from the original lineup. Along with Anthrax , the band is one of the most successful East Coast thrash metal...
at 17 years old after an audition, when the band was still playing only covers, coming from the garage band The Dropouts. He stimulated the other members to produce original music and was a key member in the Overkill quartet, having been a composer from the band's debut album Feel the Fire
Feel the Fire (Overkill album)
Feel the Fire is the debut album by American thrash metal band Overkill, released by Megaforce Records in 1985.-Overview:The band spent the better part of 1985 and 1986 on the Feel the Fire tour, beginning as a support act for Megadeth's Peace Sells US tour and later in Europe with Anthrax and...
in 1985 to their most commercially successful album, The Years of Decay
The Years of Decay
The Years of Decay is the fourth studio album by thrash metal band Overkill. It was released in 1989 on the Megaforce label, with distribution handled by Atlantic Records...
, in 1989.
Gustafson's split from Overkill has been seen through two viewpoints - that he was fired by the other band members Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth and D. D. Verni
D. D. Verni
D.D. Verni , is an American bassist, best known as founding member and longtime bassist/songwriter of thrash metal band Overkill.-Early years:...
(Overkill version) or that he left following Verni trying to remove him from the band though management (Gustafson version). Whatever version is true, his leaving has shown how much Gustafson helped to create the Overkill sound. Instead of Gustafson's guitar work, later Overkill albums featured both a rhythm and a lead guitarist, with Verni taking over the music writing duties.
Following the 1987 Overkill album Taking Over Gustafson was approached by Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
co-founder and band-leader Dave Mustaine
Dave Mustaine
David Scott "Dave" Mustaine is the founder, main songwriter, guitarist, and lead vocalist for the American heavy metal band Megadeth. Prior to Megadeth, Mustaine was the first lead guitarist and a co-songwriter of the heavy metal band Metallica until he was fired from the band in 1983. In 2009, he...
to join Megadeth, following trouble with their current line up. However, Gustafson rejected the proposal, feeling that Overkill was turning big.
Immediately after the split with Overkill Gustafson went on tour with Cycle Sluts from Hell
Cycle Sluts From Hell
The Cycle Sluts from Hell were an American heavy metal band from the late 1980s to early 1990s. They were only together briefly but are remembered for their name....
in Europe.
Gustafson later tried to form a side-project with Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo
Dave Lombardo
Dave Lombardo is a Cuban American heavy metal drummer best known for his work with American thrash metal band Slayer. He has performed with Slayer on seven albums, including their groundbreaking 1986 release Reign In Blood and their 2006 release Christ Illusion, for which he received critical praise...
called I4NI, but he left before the project became the successful Grip Inc.
Grip Inc.
Grip Inc. is a groove metal band and a side project of drummer Dave Lombardo. The band was formed in 1993, and they are currently signed to SPV Records...
He played in the industrial metal
Industrial metal
Industrial metal is a musical genre that draws from industrial music and many different types of heavy metal, using repeating metal guitar riffs, sampling, synthesizer or sequencer lines, and distorted vocals. Founding industrial metal acts include Ministry, Godflesh, and KMFDM.Industrial metal's...
band Skrew
Skrew
Skrew is an influential industrial metal band. Formed in 1990 and disbanded in 1998, the group announced its return in 2009.-Biography:Skrew was formed in 1990 in Austin, Texas, by Adam Grossman and Danny Lohner...
album Shadow of Doubt in 1996, replacing their guitarist for the recording of the album. He then relocated in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
and left the music business for a while.
In 2003, Gustafson returned to music with the Florida-based band Response Negative. He currently works for his family plumbing business in Florida.