In a candid interview with “Reckless” Rexx Ruger of Pod Scum, Shadows Fall and former Overkill drummer Jason Bittner delved into the motivations behind
forming his newest band, Category 7, and elaborated on his exit from Overkill after being with the band for 7 and a half years — explaining his causes with outstanding transparency.
“If I am being frank, the impetus, for me, was my dissatisfaction with my position in Overkill,” Bittner revealed, (as transcribed by Blabbermouth). “I hadn’t been glad within the band for, like, two f***ing years. It wasn’t a shock that I stop. I would been dissatisfied for a very long time, however I am a workforce participant. I do not like to go away issues. I like the blokes personally. So I simply sort of hung in there, however I used to be not glad the place I used to be career-wise, as an instance, inside the confines of that band. I wasn’t a band member. And that is the primary factor for me to maintain doing this at this level in my life. That is why for Shadows Fall to be again collectively, I am a 20 p.c owner-member. I am concerned within the choices. I simply do not get instructed what’s taking place. I hate that. I am a Capricorn. I am unable to cope with that shit.”
Bittner elaborated on his desire for collaboration and possession within the bands he joins. Reflecting on his profession, he famous that Overkill was a uncommon occasion the place he was merely a session member fairly than a stakeholder within the inventive and operational features.
“For my entire profession, for probably the most half, even like again to the early days, all of the bands both I shaped or I used to be instrumental in getting the blokes collectively, or it was all the time only a one-for-all, all-for-one factor. Overkill was the one band I’ve ever performed in the place I used to be a employed gun. The one exception was Anthrax, however I used to be solely a touring member with Anthrax, and with Prong — solely touring. That is a distinct animal than being, quote-unquote, within the band. Even after I was in Flotsam And Jetsam, I used to be a 20 p.c member-owner. I used to be concerned within the choices. So seven and a half years of that was a very long time for me.”
“My entire profession, I had my ears all the time to the grindstone and I am all the time simply within the combine to know what is going on on, like, ‘Oh, hey, somebody’s in search of one thing.’ Not that I wish to be a ship jumper or something, however I’ve had numerous downtime on my arms within the final variety of years. So something I can play on, play with, be part of, I am gung-ho to do. However for some time with Overkill, I wasn’t like that anymore. I am, like, ‘All proper, that is cool. I am not in search of the rest.; However after some time, I used to be, like, ‘All proper, I want one other outlet,'” Bittner defined.
“For some time it was high-quality, however I wanted to make myself out there for the bands that I am a member of. That is actually what it’s. I could not be tied to Overkill anymore to be their drummer and solely their drummer and ‘that is the schedule for the 12 months and it’s a must to work in no matter you do on this.’ Uh-uh,” he added.
“I do know Blabbermouth is gonna take this and run the mistaken means with what I am attempting to speak about,” Bittner sarcastically mentioned. “My level: I like the blokes, I used to be a workforce participant, I wasn’t leaving, however I used to be dissatisfied and I used to be in search of one thing else.”
Regardless of his exit from Overkill, Bittner emphasised there have been no laborious emotions among the many members, recounting a latest encounter the place he was warmly acquired by his former bandmates.
“Like I mentioned, there is not any animosity. I simply went and noticed everyone final Friday. Overkill simply performed in my yard Friday night time. I went, and I knocked on the bus, Blitz opened the door: ‘Hey, you coming tonight?’ ‘Yeah.’ ‘All proper. Come on in.’ Provides me a giant hug, like I knew he would. I gave his girlfriend a hug. I mentioned hey to a few crew those who I knew. I went inside and gave everyone a hug. D.D. got here up, and slapped me on the again. It is bought nothing to do with our private lives. It is only a enterprise factor.”
As for Category 7, the challenge represents not solely a contemporary inventive outlet but in addition a chance to strike a stability between touring commitments and monetary sustainability. Evaluating his present endeavors along with his time in Overkill, Bittner remarked, “I do know that the persons are already typing away, ‘Sure, however Shadows Fall would not tour the way in which that Overkill did,’ blah blah blah blah. Sure, true — very true. However keep in mind, I’ve one other band, Category 7. Between the 2, we’ll be working simply as a lot. But additionally, the factor to remember right here, too, is I can play 5 reveals with Shadows Fall and make more cash than taking part in 30 with Overkill.”
With Category 7 and Shadows Fall now being his principal focus, appears Bittner is raring to maneuver ahead.
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