DD Verni and the Cadillac Band
D.D. Verni is the founding member/songwriter/producer and bassist for heavy metal pioneers OVERKILL. A legendary band that has sold millions of records and headlined venues and festivals worldwide for over 35 years. Together with their contemporaries Metallica, Motorhead, Megadeth, etc., they are widely credited with creating a new genre of music “Thrash Metal” a blend of Heavy Metal and punk rock. They have released 19 studio albums from the present dating back to their debut album in 1985.
While Verni is a legend in his own right, he has always dreamed of creating a Swing/Big Band, and so began DD Verni & the Cadillac Band. He started by writing an album full of the kinds of songs he loved, a blend of rockin big band and swing, with a new contemporary edge.
Next Verni recruited longtime Brian Setzer Orchestra upright bassist, John “Spazz” Hatton to do horn arrangements and play slap bass on the album. From there LA based band, Phat Cat Swinger supplied the horns, as well as former Brian Setzer Orchestra drummer and current Doobie Brothers member, Tony Pia on drums. Add Jazz pianist Dave Moscoe on piano and hot rod guitarist Damian Bacci ,and you have a star-studded line-up of big band greatness that makes this album shake and swing.
Their debut record “Lets Rattle” was released in Sept to overwhelming response. The first video “Cadillac Man” featured a rockin roarin video of the band on stage showing the live energy of the group. Their second video “Olivia…that’s Who” saw the band using stills to create a new storyboard idea for a video.
The 13 piece band did their debut show at The Vogel Theater in Red Bank NJ and featured, players from Trans Siberian Orchestra, Overkill, Kingston and Greystarr, Waiting On Mongo as well as top Broadway horns and players. More touring is planned thoughout 2022, so get out your dancing shows and prepare for a great swingin night out.
The completed album, which features 13 tracks, was produced by Verni and mixed by Greg Reely (Coldplay, Sarah McLachlan,) and recorded in LA and New Jersey.