When COVID hit hard and stay-at-home orders were issued, Anthraxs Charlie Benante found he had all kinds of time to rediscover and fall in love again with music he hadnt listened to in a long time. . Before starting a metal label, Jon grew up in the Bronx in the 1960s loving opera and classical music, and later the Grateful Dead and jazz legend Rahsaan Roland Kirk. Frank Bello Many people ask this question about the money Megaforce Records makes from Facebook. "Marsha Zazula Dies: Cofounder of Influential Megaforce Records Was 68", "Marsha Zazula, Co-Founder of Metallica's Early Label, Megaforce Records, Dies at 68", "JON ZAZULA, Co-Founder of Legendary Metal Label MEGAFORCE RECORDS, Dies At 69", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Megaforce_Records&oldid=1144160499, This page was last edited on 12 March 2023, at 04:15. Sure, there were Megaforce releases before Metallicas Kill Em All (i.e. And he changed all of our worlds.. Well miss you Jonny!, I remember it like it was yesterday- Saturday afternoon, late 82 at Rock & Roll Heaven with Jonny, wrote Anthrax guitarist and co-founder Scott Ian on Instagram. Brian Phillips Named Head Of Promotion & Artist Development At Behold: The album that started it all. Distributed Artists Archives - Megaforce Records Growing both creatively and commercially with each subsequent release, the bands finest hour arrived in the form of The Years of Decay. Alex Skolnick We put Hardwork into generating High Quality and Original articles. The world of rock and metal would not be what it is today without Jon Zazula, wrote Megaforce Records in a tweet on Tuesday announcing his death. Metallica Mourns The Death Of Megaforce Records Co-Founder By Saying Brendon Small - the mastermind behind massive metal band Dethklok and albums The Dethalbum (the highest-charting death metal album ever on the Billboard Top 200 chart), Dethalbum II, Dethalbum III and Metalocalypse: The Doomstar Requiem - has been teasing a new chapter of his popular Galaktikon saga for months. Along with Metallica (whose first two albums the label released), Anthrax, Testament, former Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley, Ministry, Kings X, Overkill and Raven were among the companys biggest acts. The Music. Unable to find store, check your subdomain setting. It has offices in New York City and Philadelphia. He was born on 16 March 1952 in Bronx, New York, United States, he was 69 years old at the time of his demise. And here it is: The greatest album Megaforce ever released. This article about a United States independent record label is a stub. After all, they are my favorite thrash band, and the best albums they ever made were released through Megaforce. The couple quickly became known among local metalheads, including future Megaforce artists like Overkill lead singer Bobby Blitz Ellsworth and Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante, for carrying rare finds from across the Atlantic. In our hearts,shell always be a guiding force. Most fell into the latter, only to be swallowed by obscurity. It was a quantum leap forward in all areas: songwriting, musicianship, arrangement, production. He passed away earlier today (Tuesday, February 1) in Florida surrounded by his family. In the winter of 1982, Jonny Z received an unexpected demo tape from unsigned underground band called METALLICA. Net Worth$2 Million Date of Birth31 March, 1993 NicknameBrooklyn Marital Status Single BirthplaceRedwood City, California, The USA Ethnicity White Religion Athesit ProfessionSinger Nationality American Active Year2009-Present Eye colour Black Hair colour Blonde Online PresenceTwitter, Instagram Horoscope Aeries Up until this point, American bands essentially had two options: Get lucky and sign to a major label, or release it yourself via a small, fly by night, independent label. Jon "Jonny Z " Zazula has died at 69 years old. Before Megaforce Records. That couple was Jon and Marsha Zazula, and their gamble was Megaforce Records: the first American metal label. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google, Visit Billboard Pro for music business news, Harbourview Founder/CEO Sherrese Clarke Soares Accepts Trailblazer Award at Billboard Power 100 Event: A Dream of Mine, Los Rolling Stones (y todo su catlogo musical) estn ahora en TikTok, Walter Ulloa, fundador del conglomerado de radio y TV Entravision, muere a los 74 aos. They would bring in all this vinyl that was just un-gettable in the States, unless you knew somebody overseas, says Ellsworth. Published. Check. Keep flying the flag in Heaven. Another tweeted The world of rock and metal would not be what it is today without Jon Zazula. By the late 80s, they started highlighting hard rock acts such as former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley, Prophet, Icon, and one of the most unique bands in the genres history, Kings X. That kind of drastic shift may seem radical, but its just the sort of outside-the-box thinking Jon is remembered for by those who knew him. If it werent for the Zazulas, its very possible that the likes of Metallica, Anthrax, and Overkill among others wouldve met the same fate. Marsha Zazula, the co-founder of Megaforce Records, died of cancer on January 10, 2021, at the age of 68. From the opening aggression of Over the Wall to the neck snapping insanity of Apocalyptic City, The Legacy goes full force from beginning to end. It was a quantum leap forward in all areas: songwriting, musicianship, arrangement, production. Jon Zazula was an American Record Producer and the Co-Founder of Legendary Metal Label Megaforce Records. It has offices in New York City (where the corporate office is located) and Philadelphia. She was this steady hand, a calming force, during these intense moments and there were intense moments! It has offices in New York City (where the corporate office is located) and Philadelphia. Theyd then strive to be picked up by Megaforce, which quickly became the premiere label for this young, fledging genre. Jan. 16, 2021. Mark Sheehan Net Worth: How Rich Was Co-Founder and Guitarist? Megaforce's string of mid-'80s thrash metal hits surpassed the Zazulas' expectations and in 1995, the label spun off a full-service sister company, MRI, that helped pioneer a business model. After Wall Street, Jonny Z began selling records at a flea market store in 1981 to put food on the table for his family. Build Large Height 6 ft 6 in or 199.5 cm Weight 105 kg or 231.5 lbs Girlfriend / Spouse Brian has dated - Melanie Truhett (2000-Present) - Brian married his girlfriend Melanie Truhett on September 4, 2004. Rest in peace with our love. Jon, her husband of 41 years, wrote: No man can ask for a partner like Marsha Zazula: someone who would stand by your side, support you and believe in you to the extend of losing everything in order to make those dreams come true. Interview with Rapper and Youtuber, Who is Karoline Bjornelykke? The label is distributed in the United States by RED Distribution, having previously been distributed . Hopefully theres a great show goin on up there tonight to welcome you! Even so some great times and music . From left: Metallicas James Hetfield, Anthraxs Scott Ian, Jon Zazula (lifting case), and Metallicas Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett and Cliff Burton in London in 1983. Being in the world we live in, she was outnumbered by men, but youd never know it., Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante remembers her as being involved with everything from album artwork decisions to helping manage crises when the artists were on the road. The London native has held the position since 2011 and is . As Lived by Jon Zazula, which recounted the labels pioneering history. Charlie Benantes Silver Linings OUT NOW! I will always remember your first music booth at the Route 18 Flea Market in my hometown of East Brunswick, New Jersey. Courtesy Megaforce Records. In the . That was the cool thing about their relationship, says Ellsworth, was that it doesnt work without both of them., Because of their deeply intertwined history in business and in life, its difficult to consider the Zazulas in isolation and it was likely the same for Jon following the death of his wife just 12 months ago. It was a win-win. In 1981, shortly after marrying Marsha, Zazula began selling vinyl imports and picture discs out of a flea market located along Route 18 in New Jersey. Jons love of music and musicians was unwavering. Thank you for everything., Later on Sunday, Ulrich followed with a statement of his own: Marsha was an incredibly selfless matriarch who had an enormous impact on my life and the lives of countless others. So mustve Exciter themselves, who after seeing the debut releases from Metallica and Anthrax, signed to the label for album #2, Violence & Force. The then-recently married couples goal was modest: Make a profit on $180 worth of inventory, which was all they had. Megaforces horizons expanded a bit over the years, with the Zazulas signing more mainstream hard rock acts like Kings X, Mind Funk and original KISS lead guitarist Ace Frehley. Their music had also evolved as evidenced by their second album,Spreading the Disease. Kwame Brathwaite Net Worth: How Rich Was American Photojournalist? . Check. Legendary artists Bad Brains and legendary artist Shepard Fairey present an alternative cover to the Into The Future album. Jordan Rudess Ra Diaz Score a new zipper hoodie with a classic beanie for just $49.99 while supplies last. Hidden comments will still appear to the user and to the user's Facebook friends. Marsha Zazula, who with her husband, Jonny, founded Megaforce Records at the front end of a heavy metal wave and gave Metallica, Anthrax and other pivotal bands their start, died on . Check. Gone were the high speed NWOBHM flavored headbangers. Marsha Zazula, the co-founder of Megaforce Records, died of cancer on January 10, 2021, at the age of 68. Please only use it for a guidance and Megaforce Records's actual income may vary a lot from the dollar amount shown above. Great stuff and history was a little surprised king diamond Abigail not in the running? Score a new zipper hoodie with a classic beanie for just $49.99 while supplies last. She was always kind of mellow. The groupsScott Ian wrote on Sunday: Marsha was an integral part of our career and a force to be reckoned with knocking down (with Jon) whatever doors stood in our way in those early days. Born in Brooklyn, Marsha was a guiding and stabilizing presence at a company which also included Crazed Management whose artists were often as unruly as their music. Copyright 2023 | WordPress Theme by MH Themes, Top 10: Metal Albums of 1989 Defenders of the Faith, Century The Conquest of Time Defenders of the Faith. a sense of self-worth." Marsha was one of a kind and taught the world to be fiercely independent. Tim Bachman Net Worth: How Rich Was Canadian Guitarist? Megaforce Records is an American independent record label founded in 1982 by Jon Zazula and his wife Marsha Zazula to publish the first works of Metallica. While the label continues to operate today, the Zazulas . Soloing that borders on neoclassical? The "Massive News" theme by: Press75.com|Powered by: WordPress. Jonny Z ),died earlier today (January 10) at the age of 68. Thus the metal flowed from coast to coast, filling the ears and minds of headbangers all across the land: All of this because of one mans dream and vision. Copyright Warning: We put Hardwork into generating High Quality and Original articles. Through Megaforce, the couple put out early records by pivotal bands including Anthrax, Testament, Overkill and future mainstream superstars Metallica, whose first two albums triple-platinum. Metallica, Anthrax & More Pay Tribute to Megaforce Records Co-Founder With such crazed cuts as Destructor, Pounding Metal, and the unforgettable title track, this was a headbangers dream come true. But one day, a customer brought by a demo cassette of Metallicas No Life Til Leather and insisted Jon play it on the spot. February 1, 2022. The Madness. A giant was lost today. Through their business at the flea market, the Zazulas had become deeply attuned to the undercurrents bubbling up in metal at the time, and they proved smart and savvy enough to harness it. Dubbed Rock N' Roll Heaven, the store eventually blossomed into a major record store that influenced the heavy metal movement as we know it today. METALLICA & ANTHRAX Members Pay Tribute To Legendary Megaforce Records He was 69. Realizing the group was, as Jon put it, lightning in a bottle, the couple brought the quartet to their home in New Jersey and created Megaforce Records to launch the group. To us he was simply daddy Our father and mother were a powerhouse partnership in love, life, and business. Members of Metallica, Anthrax and other figures in metal took to social media to pay their respects to Megaforce Records Co-Founder Jon Zazula, who passed away yesterday (February 1) at the age of 69. . The world of music owes a debt of gratitude to Marsha Zazula, who along with her husband Jon gave birth to some of the most musically significant artists. That could have been it, remembers Jon. In his interview with Talk Is Jericho, Megaforce Records founder, and Metallica's former producer, Jon Zazula recalled his memories with Metallica's late bassist, Cliff Burton. If I wanted to, I couldve easily made this list half Overkill releases. Jons love of music and musicians was unwavering. BiographyDaily Private Enterprise - RT Nagar, Bangalore-560032. Megaforce's string of mid-'80s thrash metal hits surpassed the Zazulas' expectations and in 1995, the label spun off a full-service sister company, MRI, that helped pioneer a business model. Her husband Jon died a year later, on February 1, 2022, at the age of 69. How did Jon Zazula die? Megaforce Records founder dies year after Metallica decamped for Elektra Records in 1984, but Megaforces successful run with the band allowed the label to grow its roster and sign distribution deals with Atlantic and Island Records, providing a major-label gateway for its artists. Megaforce Records is an American independent record label founded in 1982 by Jon Zazula and his wife Marsha Zazula to release the first works of Metallica, and devoted primarily to hard rock and heavy metal. Ferris Published: September 10, 2019 Jonny Z poses with Metallica and Anthrax members. Top 10: Megaforce Records Releases - Defenders of the Faith Our love and sympathy go out to Jonnys children and his grandchildren, whom he cherished and brought to our shows from the time they were in diapers. Mosh friendly hooks? The label is distributed in the United States by RED Distribution, having previously been distributed by Atlantic Records while Anthrax' recordings from 1985 to 1991 were marketed by Island Reco rds. MEGAFORCE RECORDS Co-Founder MARSHA ZAZULA Dies At 68 The label also launched the careers of many executives who are still working in the industry, including Ferrero, Megaforces first employee, now of Adrenaline PR. View OfficialMegaforceRecordss profile on Facebook. Charlie Benante, Hank Von Hell Independent record label based in NYC that released albums by Metallica, S.O.D. Home Net Worth Jon Zazula Net Worth: How Rich was American Record Producer? Megaforce Records is an American independent record label founded in 1982 by Jon Zazula and his wife Marsha Zazula to release the first works of Metallica, and devoted primarily to hard rock and heavy metal. Kids all across the country heard Metallica and were inspired to form their own bands of equal or greater intensity. The cause of death was cancer; she was 68. By. The comments reside on Facebook servers and are not stored on BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Megaforce and our artists will never forget her. Marsha and Jonny 's daughter Rikki Zazula confirmed . Closure/Continuationwill be available as a seven-track standard CD, standard black vinyl 212 LP, white vinyl 212 LP, transparent blue vinyl 212 LP, limited edition white cassette, and digital download. Tami Morrissey Now Heads Up Promotion At Megaforce Jon Zazula, Co-Founder of Megaforce Records, Dies at 69 - Variety Kings X Gretchen Goes to Nebraska (1989). Greg Kennelty. She has been studying celebrities' Careers, Biographies, Lifestyles, and Net Worth. We will love you to eternity, her family wrote. Charlie Benante. Unrelenting ferocity? Megaforce Records is an American independent record label founded in 1982 by Jon Zazula and his wife Marsha Zazula to publish the first works of Metallica. Zazula offered the band their first opportunity to play in the New York area and organized their first tours with Raven, one of the leading metal bands from the UK at that time. They completely threw a net over it all and captured what was happening, says Benante,who last spoke with Zazula on Saturday and remained close with him over the years. Variety is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Jon's wife Marsha, with whom he founded Megaforce, passed away of cancer in January of last year. Rounding it all out was Anthrax roadie Billy Milano on vocals. Kramer worked the same magic on Anthrax as he did those gods of yore, helping accentuate their brutality without losing the melodic charm of their past two releases. Consumer Electronics & Computers Retail, Retail. Megaforce Records is an American independent record label founded in 1982 by Jon Zazula and his wife Marsha Zazula to release the first works of Metallica, and devoted primarily to hard rock and heavy metal. Marsha was like a mother confessor She doused fires between me and bands, me and partners, me and the world. Having singlehandedly kicked off the thrash revolution five years earlier, it only made sense for Megaforce to usher in the genres second wave in 1987. All Rights Reserved. Jon Donias Jon Zazula: Megaforce Founder Pens Memoir | The Big Takeover Megaforce was originally founded in 1982 to publish Metallica recordings. People spoke differently to Marsha than they did to me, and that is what kept things going. Scott Nixon owns about 924 units of Usana Health Sciences Inc common stock. Jon obliged, and his plans became much loftier: Get Metallica signed. Jon Zazula chronicled much of the labels history in his book, Heavy Tales: The Metal, The Music, The Madness, talking of how he met a sweet girl named Marsha and how their personalities created to a successful marriage and a long-running business partnership. Normally the ad cost for an Instagram ad post is based on the number of followers on the account. This was when labels were still at their height and taking advantage of people," stated Zazula. . The latter scored major label distribution deals with Island and Atlantic. The video features Weird Al, Pat & Joe from Fallout Boy, Patton Oswalt, and others. 40 years ago, a young couple from New York put all their chips on the table for the music they loved, heavy metal. The older I get, the harder it is for me to believe Ride the Lightning is even the same band who dropped Kill Em All just a year earlier. The label confirmed Marsha's passing, saying "The world of music owes a debt of gratitude to Marsha. The world of music owes a debt of gratitude to Marsha Zazula, who along with her husband Jon gave birth to some of the most musically significant artists, the label said in a statement. The Music. By the late 80s, Megaforce had signed thrash acts like Testament, Overkill, S.O.D., Vio-Lence and Anthrax, the lattermost of which the Zazulas became especially close with. Raymond Sawada Net Worth: How Rich was Canadian Ice Hockey Winger? After he was turned down by every label he approached, Jon decided to start his own; in 1982, he and Marsha co-founded Megaforce Records, which became the imprint for a handful of now-iconic heavy metal acts. Rest In Peace Jon. Dave Brownsound JON ZAZULA, Co-Founder of Legendary Metal Label MEGAFORCE RECORDS, Dies At 69 - BLABBERMOUTH.NET JON ZAZULA, Co-Founder of Legendary Metal Label MEGAFORCE RECORDS, Dies At 69 February 1,. Marsha was one of a kind and taught the world to be fiercely independent. In our hearts, she will always be a guiding force. The Zazulas metal dynasty began in the early 1980s as a small independent record store called Rock and Roll Heaven, located at the Route 18 flea market in East Brunswick, New Jersey. Megaforce Records' Marsha Zazula Has Passed Away - Metal Injection The Madness. This was far more than a sign of growth or progression. Their debut album, Heavy Metal Maniac, was released on June 14, 1983 via Shrapnel Records, just five short weeks before Metallica released Kill Em All. Glad to see Exciter at # 10 Violence n Force Awsome album. Rockers React To Death Of MEGAFORCE RECORDS Co-Founder JON ZAZULA National Basketball Association net worth, Republican Party (United States) net worth, Royal National Lifeboat Institution net worth, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds net worth, New York City Department of Buildings net worth, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines net worth, CORRUPTION: What happened to Grant Solomon? Alongside his wife and Megaforce co-founder Marsha Zazula, who died last January, Zazula was instrumental in launching the burgeoning thrash-metal subgenre that exploded into the culture in the mid-to-early 1980s. We fought for five hours! Jon signed broader hard rock acts, too, like KingsX, Mind Funk and original KISS lead guitarist Ace Frehley. Whether it be the groove-a-licious Everybody Knows a Little Bit of Something, delicately beautiful Summerland, foot stomping Over My Head, or anything in between, there isnt a weak moment on Gretchen. Anthrax Spreading the Disease (1985), A lot changed in a year for Anthrax. Thank you for giving us a sense of belonging and ultimately, a sense of self-worth. Once you're logged in, you will be able to comment. Megaforce Records Company Profile | Management and Employees List Legendary Megaforce Records Co-Founder JON ZAZULA Dead At 69 02/1/2022. The Zazulas future began to reveal itself after a customer brought Metallicas demo cassette No Life Til Leather by the store and insisted Jon play it on the spot. Charlie Benante, *Chloe Dancer / Crown of Horns(MOTHER LOVE BONE), Mark Menghi Surprisingly selling 60,000 copies in '84 . BLABBERMOUTH.NET uses the Facebook Comments plugin to let people comment on content on the site using their Facebook account. Available June 4, 2021. Jons love of music and musicians was unwavering. She was our mother when I had none. Overkill closed out the 1980s with a bang. If it werent for one other album that reshaped metal history altogether, this would be #1. Jon Zazula Net Worth: How Rich was American Record Producer? Megaforce was independent, but they had that major connection, and that was a big step.. Megaforce is stoked to team up with Music for Nations for the first new Porcupine Tree album in 13 years, Closure/Continuation. And no other second wave thrash band hit harder than Testament with their debut album, The Legacy. 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