Jon Zazula Net Worth: How Rich was American Record Producer? Their blend of hard rock, prog, psychedelia, soul, funk, and singer/songwriter defied all labels and conventions, and is best demonstrated on their second album, Gretchen Goes to Nebraska. Work with the best artists regardless of the genre.. Megaforce and our artists will never forget her. 2023 Variety Media, LLC. If it werent for one other album that reshaped metal history altogether, this would be #1. A giant was lost today. A giant was lost today. Missi Callazzo, who started as an intern in 1989 and ended up taking over the label, said Marsha and Jon gave me my start in the business while I was still in college. Jons love of music and musicians was unwavering. User comments or postings do not reflect the viewpoint of BLABBERMOUTH.NET and BLABBERMOUTH.NET does not endorse, or guarantee the accuracy of, any user comment. Frank Bello At one point, the label even attempted to launch a classical imprint, though that didnt ultimately pan out (as Jon recounted to Billboard in a 2019 interview). 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. 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. By 2009, MRI had acquired acclaimed blues/jazz label Palmetto Records; more recently, the company has distributed releases by Bjrk, The Black Crowes, Living Colour and Third Eye Blind. Marsha was like a mother confessor She doused fires between me and bands, me and partners, me and the world. Jon Zazula, Megaforce Records Co-Founder Who Discovered Metallica, Dies Legendary artists Bad Brains and legendary artist Shepard Fairey present an alternative cover to the Into The Future album. 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. Check. And here it is: The greatest album Megaforce ever released. Charlie Benante, Ra Diaz To comment on a BLABBERMOUTH.NET story or review, you must be logged in to an active personal account on Facebook. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. He was born on 16 March 1952 in Bronx, New York, United States, he was 69 years old at the time of his demise. 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. Thank you Marsha love and positive energy to the Zazula family.. Available June 4, 2021. Zazula co-founded Megaforce Records with his wife Marsha Zazula in 1982 and was responsible for . Former EQUAL VISION RECORDS Dir./Promotions TAMI MORRISSEY joins MEGAFORCE/MRI ENTERTAINMENT in a similar capacity. How on earth could you not simultaneously mosh and scream along to Time to Kill, I Hate, and the unexpected hit single, Elimination? Charlie Benante, PJ Farley We all know that musicians have a little bit of mental impairment, she laughed. 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. saw Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian and drummer Charlie Benante reunite with original Fistful of Metal bassist Dan Lilker for a band of absurd proportions. Mark Osegueda The cause of death was cancer; she was 68. Through this release, Megaforce cemented its position as the de-facto music label in America for heavy metal. 02/1/2022. He also opened up a mysterious coincidence that happened the night Burton died. Megaforce's roster has also included such artists as ANTHRAX, TESTAMENT, OVERKILL, Ace Frehley, MINISTRY, KING'S X, STORMTROOPERS OF DEATH and RAVEN. John Flansburgh has said that the folks at Megaforce "have a great approach to this challenging 21st century music business". It was a quantum leap forward in all areas: songwriting, musicianship, arrangement, production. The Madness. Metallica paid tribute to Marsha on Instagram Sunday posting a recent photo of founding members James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich with the Zazulas and early Megaforce publicist Maria Ferrero, captioned, Rest In Peace, Marsha. I used it a lot with Jon, too.. Megaforce Records was the record label responsible for the manufacturing and distribution of all releases from Idlewild Recordings in domestic markets from 2013 until 2018.In 2013, Megaforce supplanted Idlewild's previous collaborator, Rounder Records.Megaforce was originally founded in 1982 to publish Metallica recordings. Metallica Mourns The Death Of Megaforce Records Co-Founder By Saying And you're able to jump upon it and ride it," Jonny told Variety. High-quality Independent Trading Company hoodie featuring the iconic Megaforce fist on the front and the official Megaforce logo across the back. The world of rock and metal would not be what it is today without Jon Zazula. 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. We put Hardwork into generating High Quality and Original articles. Struck by their sound, Zazula set about trying to get the band signed but was turned down by every record label he approached. Megaforce released Metallica's debut in 1983, reportedly with a modest budget of $15,000. Marsha Zazula, the co-founder of Megaforce Records, died of cancer on January 10, 2021, at the age of 68. Joining them behind the mixing board was none other than legendary producer Eddie Kramer, who made a name for himself working for such bands as The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Led Zeppelin, and KISS. The Zazulas reputation grew and before long, a demo from a San Francisco-based band called Metallica found its way to them. The then-recently married couples goal was modest: Make a profit on $180 worth of inventory, which was all they had. Official Megaforce Records zipper hoodie. Before Megaforce Records. Marsha was the grand dame of metal, who had style, class and an open heart, and who rallied for all of us misfits, starting with Metallica and the rest is history, she said. By 1985, they had replaced original Rob Halford inspired shrieker Neil Turbin with the Ronnie James Dio meets Steve Perry power vocals of Joey Belladona. People spoke differently to Marsha than they did to me, and that is what kept things going. Check out this great Megaforce Bundle for the Holiday Season. The couple began promoting shows including an early show with the early metal band Anvil in the area. 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. Marsha Zazula, 'Metal Matriarch' of Metallica and Others, Dies at 68 The Madness. 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. After Wall Street, Jonny Z began selling records at a flea market store in 1981 to put food on the table for his family. 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. He then formed the band "Frehley's Comet," which signed a deal with Megaforce Records and . Why AI Has Some Viewers Asking Which Film Actors Are Real. A rampant blitz of speed and precision, Violence & Force saw Exciter upping their intensity level tenfold. Marsha and I almost got divorced over using keyboards on the bands [1985 song] Armed and Dangerous, recalls Jon. I find myself reflecting on what sort of person would actually be so driven as to want to rule over a whole nation, and arent these people by definition the very last people that should be allowed to do so? This was far more than a sign of growth or progression. This was the album where it all came together for the New Jersey Wrecking Crew. Megaforce was originally founded in 1982 to publish Metallica recordings. Megaforce Records - Wikipedia Watch: EXTREME's NUNO BETTENCOURT Performs 'Rise' Guitar Solo Live For First Time, METALLICA's KIRK HAMMETT Is Almost Nine Years Sober, Watch: TOM MORELLO Performs At WAYNE KRAMER's 75th-Birthday Party. He was 69. . Metal pioneer Jonny Z recounts 40 years of Megaforce Records with book While the label lost Metallica to Elektra Records in 1984, shortly after releasing the groups second album, Ride the Lightning, Megaforce remained a powerful force in heavy metal throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, releasing albums by the above artists and many others via distribution deals with Atlantic, Island, Caroline and other labels. Once he heard Metallica, though, his focus both personally and professionally became the burgeoning metal underground. BiographyDaily Private Enterprise - RT Nagar, Bangalore-560032. Score a new zipper hoodie with a classic beanie for just $49.99 while supplies last. We fought for five hours! Jon signed broader hard rock acts, too, like KingsX, Mind Funk and original KISS lead guitarist Ace Frehley. Jonny and Marsha were really a team; she was there for every decision. Joined by fellow Megaforce alums and former tour mates, Raven, Metallica will perform songs from earlier in their career, circa 1983 through 1984, at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, a venue with a capacity of 7,000. Its essentially flat out thrash metal with the hooks, catchiness, and charisma of AC/DC. Zazula told Variety in 2020 Its all a blessing when you work hard, stay smart and go into the game, and then eventually something comes your way and youre ready for it, and youre able to jump up on it and ride it, added We were very fortunate, Marsha and I, to choose a band that became the biggest band in the world not to mention a bunch of other great bands that made history. After the success of Kill Em All, Zazula signed, he worked with other artists including Warren Haynes, Disco Biscuits, Testament, Frehleys Comet, Tad, Overkill, Kings X, Fozzy, Ministry, and Anthrax. She was no bullshitter, always told it like it was. Jon Zazula: Megaforce Founder Pens Memoir | The Big Takeover Jons love of music and musicians was unwavering. Pre-orders are available now. Kings X Gretchen Goes to Nebraska (1989). What was I thinking? he wonders now. The album will be released on June 24th. Jon Zazula, Megaforce Records Co-Founder Who Discovered Metallica, Dies Jon Donias After hearing the demo tape No Life 'Til Leather, he founded the label Megaforce Records to release their work. Sure these bands had the chops and an unrelenting attitude, but what good was it without the proper distribution? 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. I will always remember your first music booth at the Route 18 Flea Market in my hometown of East Brunswick, New Jersey. The couple originally intended to focus on artists such as John Lennon and Jimi Hendrix. He was a mentor, a manager, a label head and a father figure to us all . JON ZAZULA, Co-Founder of Legendary Metal Label MEGAFORCE RECORDS, Dies The Music. UPDATED: Megaforce Records co-founder Marsha Zazula who launched the iconic label, which released the first albums from Metallica, Anthrax and many others, with her husband Jon in 1982 died Saturday in her Florida home, a rep for the label confirms to Variety. Talk about a resume! Metallica, Anthrax & More Pay Tribute to Megaforce Records Co-Founder Henry Flury In late 1982 he got a demo tape from the then unsigned Metallica. The Zazulas left Megaforce in 2001, selling their stake in the label to its former radio director, Missi Callazzo. 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. Porcupine Tree released their single Rats Return off their upcoming full-length release Closer/Continuation, which is out June 24th, along with an accompanying video. 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 . Kids all across the country heard Metallica and were inspired to form their own bands of equal or greater intensity. The Music. Rest In Peace Jon., Heavy music lost one of its great champions today when Jonny Z left this world far too soon, wrote Metallica in a statement posted to Twitter. Legendary Megaforce Records Co-Founder JON ZAZULA Dead At 69 Anthrax Spreading the Disease (1985), A lot changed in a year for Anthrax. 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. After all, they are my favorite thrash band, and the best albums they ever made were released through Megaforce. Jon Zazula, co-founder of the influential metal label Megaforce Records, has died. One can only imagine how much more revered Heavy Metal Maniac would be among the masses had it been released on Megaforce. Get notification with the latest net worth updates for free. She was a mother and mentor to many, and a role model as a woman breaking the glass ceiling in an industry run by men. They make a great gift for the special metalhead in your life or just to treat yourself right. His passion and persistence fueled the careers of arguably the most influential metal bands, and, industry greats of a generation. Score a new zipper hoodie with a classic beanie for just $49.99 while supplies last. Jordan Rudess The label varied its roster during the 1990s and continues to this day. Marsha was one of a kind, and taught the world to be fiercely independent. Hidden comments will still appear to the user and to the user's Facebook friends. Manowars Into Glory Ride), but this was the one that put both parties on the map, and for good reason. Great stuff and history was a little surprised king diamond Abigail not in the running? BLABBERMOUTH.NET uses the Facebook Comments plugin to let people comment on content on the site using their Facebook account. Jennifer Cella 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. Testament guitarist Alex Skolnick tells Variety that Marsha was a nurturing mother figure for many of the labels artists, especially ones whose families may have disapproved of their career choices. . Rest in power Jonny Z. Hellyeah !!! He worked with so many amazing bands #ripjonzazula.. Mary Quant Net Worth: How Rich Was British Fashion Designer? The Black Crowes and Meat Puppets have both received various RIAA certifications in the US. Megaforce's early releases included Metallica 's Kill 'Em All and Mercyful Fate 's Melissa in 1983, Anthrax 's Fistful Of Metal and Metallica 's Ride The Lightning in 1984, and then records. They make a great gift for the special metalhead in your life or just to treat yourself right. 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. It has offices in New York City and Philadelphia. Soloing that borders on neoclassical? Even so some great times and music . Billboard is a part of Penske Media Corporation. . Megaforce and our artists will never forget her. Interview with Natt aka Ian Nattkemper. 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. Today, upon the sudden passing of Jon, we pay tribute to the Zazulas and their contribution to heavy metal with our Top 10 Megaforce Records Releases. He was also the owner of New Jerseys Rocks Roll Heaven record store. That could have been it, remembers Jon. He was born on 16 March 1952 in Bronx, New York, United States, he was 69 years old at the time of his demise. Why Megaforce's Co-Founder Wrote a Book About the Record - Billboard If it werent for the Zazulas, its very possible that the likes of Metallica, Anthrax, and Overkill among others wouldve met the same fate. I never really saw Marsha freak out, he says. Corey Glover The comments reside on Facebook servers and are not stored on BLABBERMOUTH.NET. While Jon brought the fire and the business savvy, the Zazulas relationship was a deeply complementary one, with Marsha holding down some of the more artistic aspects of running the label while reining in some of her husbands wilder ideas. If a new comment is published from a "banned" user or contains a blacklisted word, this comment will automatically have limited visibility (the "banned" user's comments will only be visible to the user and the user's Facebook friends). Paul Cattermole Net Worth: How Rich Was English Actor? Not to mention a bunch of other great bands that made history.". The book tells the story of how the Zazulas ended up signing a band that shaped the sound of heavy metal for decades to come. It's actually a myth about how to make money on Facebook 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. Surprisingly selling 60,000 copies in '84 . The world of rock and metal would not be what it is today without Jon Zazula. Read Next: Ed Sheeran Slams Musicologists Criminal Testimony in Todays Thinking Out Loud Court Hearing. Rounding it all out was Anthrax roadie Billy Milano on vocals. 1. Jason Cone McCaslin Stay warm and stylish while rocking the classic Megaforce Records logo. Diabolical atmosphere? He was 69. Megaforce is stoked to team up with Music for Nations for the first new Porcupine Tree album in 13 years, Closure/Continuation. Kwame Brathwaite Net Worth: How Rich Was American Photojournalist? Megaforce Records' Marsha Zazula Has Passed Away - Metal Injection Wanna follow Megaforce Records's net worth? Theyd then strive to be picked up by Megaforce, which quickly became the premiere label for this young, fledging genre. pic.twitter.com/uKdY8spBpj, Megaforce Records (@megaforce) January 10, 2021. This article about a United States independent record label is a stub. 2023 Billboard Media, LLC. Joined by fellow Megaforce alums and former tour mates, Raven, Metallica will perform songs from earlier in their career, circa 1983 through 1984, at the Seminole , Porcupine Tree released their single Rats Return off their upcoming full-length release Closer/Continuation, which is out June 24th, along with an accompanying video. The successful venture eventually led them to open a brick-and-mortar shop, Rock n Roll Heaven, in Clark, New Jersey. That couple was Jon and Marsha Zazula, and their gamble was Megaforce Records: the first American metal label. POSEHN featuring comedian Brian Posehn and Scott Ian, has released a new video for the track New Music Sucks. Rick Wolff Net Worth: How Rich Was American Book Editor? Megaforce Records was originally founded in 1982 by Jon and Marsha Zazula to release Metallica's first album Kill 'Em All. What was Jon Zazula Net Worth? The Madness. The former scored a major label deal with . Together they believed in the unbelievable, their passion, rebel perspective, and persistence built an empire from a box of vinyl in a flea market into a multi platinum selling record label, management company, and publishing house. How did Jon Zazula die? Megaforce Records founder dies year after Jon's wife Marsha, with whom he founded Megaforce, passed away of cancer in January of last year. Jon Zazula Net Worth: How Rich was American Record Producer? Megaforce technically continues to distribute Idlewild releases through The Orchard, but after the release of I Like Fun, TMBG decided not to use the distributor credit nor include Megaforce's logo in their album liner notes and packaging from My Murdered Remains onwards in case they want to find a new distributor. 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. Frank Bello They would bring in all this vinyl that was just un-gettable in the States, unless you knew somebody overseas, says Ellsworth. Brian Phillips Named Head Of Promotion & Artist Development At This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google. Rats Returnis about those who claim to have the interests of the people at heart, but when it comes down to it there is only ego and . Interview with Rapper and Youtuber, Who is Karoline Bjornelykke? In 1995, the Zazulas spun off a full-service sister company, MRI, which helped pioneer a business model that gave artists more control over how they were managed and how their music was distributed. 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. Scott Nixon owns about 924 units of Usana Health Sciences Inc common stock. In the . January 11, 2021 Megaforce Records co-founder Marsha Zazula has passed away at 68 years old. Jonny and Marsha, nearly always side-by-side, were a friendly and familiar presence at metal concerts and events during the era. So mustve Exciter themselves, who after seeing the debut releases from Metallica and Anthrax, signed to the label for album #2, Violence & Force. Sure, there were Megaforce releases before Metallicas Kill Em All (i.e. 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. This was when labels were still at their height and taking advantage of people," stated Zazula. Rockers React To Death Of MEGAFORCE RECORDS Co-Founder JON ZAZULA 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. For all of us who knew and loved him by the way keep it heavy! In our hearts,shell always be a guiding force. The lyrics to United Forces speak for itself: Skinheads and bangers and punks stand as one.. Since then, the company has largely maintained a focus on metal . BiographyDaily.com wants to provide everyone with the best quality reviews, News, and Movie News around the world. To make a decent record cost $12,000-$18,000 back then and some well-known producers were $50,000, it was crazy. Layla Brooklyn Allman Bio, Relationship, Girlfriend, & Net Worth Hopefully theres a great show goin on up there tonight to welcome you! Jon obliged, and his plans became much loftier: Get Metallica signed. The world lost a true legend today Our Dad lived a life as fast, hard, heavy, powerful, and, impactful as the music Posted by Rikki Zazula onTuesday, February 1, 2022. You get S.O.D.! All Rights Reserved. Following the news of Jon Zazulas death, tributes began pouring in online for the music industry executive, with fans offering his condolences to friends and family. Jon "Jonny Z " Zazula has died at 69 years old. 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.