Verni (born April 12, 1961)[1] is an American musician, best known as a founding member, bassist and songwriter of the thrash metal band Overkill.

[2] In 1976, Verni met Rat Skates, who had been learning to play drums since age 15, at New Providence High School.

At this point, the band started writing original songs, including "Grave Robbers" (later renamed "Raise The Dead"), "Overkill", and "Unleash the Beast (Within)".

The band became a staple at New York and New Jersey clubs, such as L'Amours, and Verni gave Ellsworth the nickname "Blitz" due to his over-the-top lifestyle.

There have been numerous more lineup changes since the departures of Skates and Gustafson (in 1987 and 1990 respectively), and Verni and Ellsworth are the only remaining original members left in Overkill.

[2] Overkill released their first album Feel the Fire in 1985, and along with their contemporaries (including Metallica, Exodus, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax), they helped define a new genre of music, known as "thrash metal".