Jon “Jonny Z” Zazula, Megaforce Records Co-Founder Who Discovered Metallica, Dead at 69

Sad news for the rock and metal community today, as Jon Zazula, AKA Jonny Z, the co-founder of Megaforce Records who discovered Metallica and helped them record and release their earliest albums, has died. He was 69 years old.

The news was confirmed by Variety, who said that Jon died at his home in Florida, surrounded by his family and friends. As it should have been.

Zazula started his career in Wall Street, a life which he eventually quit to open Rock and Roll Heaven in East Brunswick, New Jersey. Alongside his wife Marsha, who passed away last year, Jon founded Megaforce Records, with which he began distributing titles from then-obscure bands like Venom and Raven.

In this role, he discovered a young Metallica, and then helped them record and release their No Life ‘Til Leather demo, their 1983 debut Kill ‘Em All, and 1984’s Ride the Lightning. With Zazula and Megaforce’s help, the band eventually signed to Elektra, and went on to become the biggest metal band in the world.

Zazula also helped discover and establish several of thrash’s most important bands, including Overkill and Testament. He was also a mentor to many of the scene’s most important personalities, among them SiriusXM host Eddie Trunk and publicist Maria Ferrero.

I had the pleasure of meeting and speaking to Jon in 2019 while employed at Kerrang! U.S., while he was promoting his book Heavy Tales: The Metal. The Music. The Madness. As Lived by Jonny Z. Zazula was forthright but gracious, and even in the autumn of his years showed an appreciation for heavy metal music and culture. Most of all, though, he expressed love for his wife, who’d always been there for him.

“There’s a lot of living I did in my life — and the best part of my life was the 40 years I spent with Marsha,” he told me at the time. “Imagine telling your wife after hearing this cassette that you were going to a phone booth to call this band, and you’ll bring ‘em over here and make ‘em a part of your life?”

Everyone at MetalSucks sends their heart out to Jonny’s family, friends, fans and collaborators during this difficult time.