The heavy metal world lost a true giant last week on Feb 1st. Johnny ‘Z’ Zazula, founder of Megaforce records, passed away due to complications from COPD, osteopenia and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy. He truly was one of the most influential people in all of heavy music.
In the 1980’s you’d be hard pressed to find a more influential person on the East coast metal scene. He made countless careers of some of the most legendary acts of all time. He convinced Metallica to come to New York and record ‘Kill ‘Em All.’ He also signed Anthrax among countless others including Frehley’s Comet, Testament, Overkill and my personal favorite band King’s X. But originally, Megaforce was founded specifically to release Metallica’s earliest work.
Of course, we all know the historical success of Metallica’s ‘Kill ‘Em All.’ It was the first album of it’s kind to be released. And was considered to be the biggest underground metal album at the time. Solidifying a growing movement that would become American Thrash Metal. Once Megaforce was established, Zazula quickly began developing a name for himself. Gaining the attention of an up and coming local band called Anthrax. Who staked out Zazula and his wife Marsha at an I-Hop in order to get them to listen to their demo. Zazula finally gave in and the rest is history.
As time went on Zazula was key in the second wave of thrash. Working with Overkill and Testament. He would sign a melodic power trio out of Houston entitled King’s X. And while the band should have been his real ace in the hole, for reasons unknown, they never took off like they should have. Zazula remained a key figure in metal for the following decades. And even released an auto-biography entitled ‘Heavy Tales.’ Which I can assume is loaded with some of the greatest stories in all of heavy metal history.
Zazula’s impact will be felt throughout metal for the rest of its existence. His creds with Metallica qualify him instantly. Simply because they would rise to become the biggest metal band of all time. And Johnny ‘Z’ Zazula is the key figure that launched them off the ground. Changing not just heavy metal, but all of popular music forever.
