As hundreds of personalities and public relations companies, Adrenaline PR is mourning the loss, yet celebrates the remarkable life, of a legend and champion in the world of heavy metal and hard rock music. Jonathan David Zazula, aka Jonny Z died February 1 at his home in Florida surrounded by his daughters, family and dearest friends. Predeceased by his wife and partner Marsha, Jon is survived by his daughters Danielle, Rikki and Blaire, five grandchildren and the entire heavy metal clan of misfits and headbangers around the world.
As co-founders of Megaforce Records and CraZed Management, Marsha and Jon discovered so many of scene superstars and championed the metal underground by launching the careers of mega-giants Metallica, Anthrax, Testament, Overkill, Ministry, Ace Frehley, Disco Biscuits, Kings X and Raven.
“I am gutted, but have nothing but gratitude and love and appreciation for Jonny Z and Marsha, their whole family and our extended heavy metal family around the world. None of us would be here if it were not for Jonny and Marsha. Rest in Peace my dearest friends” says Maria Ferrero, CEO of Adrenaline PR and the Zazula‘s very first employee. “The Zazulas taught me everything about love, life, tenacity, perseverance, forgiveness and more. I thank them for allowing me to be me.”
Born in 1952, Jonny began his extraordinary journey as a renegade youth who went from living on the streets of the Bronx in New York City, to later working on Wall Street, and eventually (and unexpectedly) transitioning into the music business and discovering Metallica, Anthrax and others.
After Wall Street, Jonny Z began selling records at a flea market store in 1981 to put food on the table for his family. 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. In the winter of 1982, Jonny Z received an unexpected demo tape from unsigned underground band called Metallica. Eager and determined to have the music heard by the entire world, Jonny and Marsha founded Megaforce the following year and released “Kill ‘Em All”. Through this release, Megaforce cemented its position as the de-facto music label in America for heavy metal.
Jon‘s acclaimed autobiography, “Heavy Tales: The Metal. The Music. The Madness. As Lived By Jon Zazula”, was released in October 2019. 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. We interviewed Jon about the book and you can listen to his chat with Rodrigo Altaf HERE.
More than a typical rock n’ roll book, this is a blue collar success story, and it took Jon and Marsha the right amount of craziness and boldness to do what they did. In Jon’s own words, “At one point we were one of the biggest indie record labels in America. With all of the mistakes and all of the successes, we managed to thrive. Readers may learn what to do and what not to do as fledgling industry hopefuls getting started in the business. The book is a hard, brutal unraveling of the truth, and tells it all. I’m putting this book out around Halloween, because there’s nothing scarier than the truth.” Get your copy from here, and learn about the genesis of one of the most important metal genres, from the man who kick-started it all.
In 2001 MegaForce was sold but Jon stayed with his fingers in the business, promoting several concerts and in 2014 he took a stab at managing several acts, including Shattered Sun, Exodus and Soilwork, with his lifelong friends and business associates Metal Maria Ferrero and Testament‘s Chuck Billy. After working with Venom Inc and other projects near to his heart Jon decided to “retire” in 2018.
Jon and Marsha had the distinguished honor of being awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award into the Hall of Heavy Metal History in January of 2019 for their work in reshaping American Heavy Metal during its Golden Era. Together, Jonny and Marsha built a musical dynasty out of modest beginnings unmatched by any other underground heavy metal label, a partnership that stood the test of time, deaths, egos, and grunge.
Everyone raise your horns high, fly your metal flag, crank your tunes!
