Jon Zazula, the founder of Megaforce Records who helped to propel Metallica’s career, has died

Jon “Jonny Z” Zazula, co-founder of the legendary Megaforce Records, has died at the age of 69.

Zazula founded Megaforce Records in 1983 with his wife Marsha (who died last January aged 68). The label released Metallica’s first two albums “Kill ‘Em All” and “Ride the Lightning”, which helped propel the band and thrash metal into the mainstream.

Megaforce Records also released albums by Anthrax, Testament, Overkill, King’s X and dozens of other metal bands.

Megaforce Records had humble beginnings, initially launched as a kiosk in a flea market. When Metallica sold around 3 000 tickets for their August 1984 show at New York’s Roseland Ballroom shortly after the release of “Ride the Lightning”, it was seen as a huge success for both the band and the record company. Reflecting on the band’s “Ride The Lightning” album in his 2019 memoir Heavy Tales, Zazula wrote: “They did it again, those mothafuckas.”

Zazula’s death was first reported by his daughter Rikki Zazula, who wrote the following on the subject:

“The world lost a true legend today… Our Dad lived a life as fast, hard, heavy, powerful, and, impactful as the music he brought to the world. His passion and persistence fueled the careers of arguably the most influential metal bands, and, industry greats of a generation. To us he was simply daddy… Our father and mother were a powerhouse partnership in love, life, and business. 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. Although we are devastated he is gone, they are finally reunited. And it feels impossible to imagine a world without him in it. For all of us who knew and loved him … by the way… keep it heavy! RIP daddy you will truly be deeply missed, but, never forgotten…your LegaZ will live on forever, not only in us and your grandchildren, but, in every headbanger on this planet for all of eternity!”