Lars Ulrich, Metallica Fork out Tribute to Megaforce Records’ Jon Zazula

Lars Ulrich, Metallica Fork out Tribute to Megaforce Records’ Jon Zazula

Lars Ulrich paid out tribute to Jon Zazula, the co-founder of Megaforce Documents which unveiled the initially two Metallica albums, adhering to information of Zazula’s demise Tuesday at the age of 69.

“Thank you, Jonny, for taking a chance on these ridiculous, noisy, uncompromising, and undisciplined dudes from NorCal who didn’t know what was up, down, or sideways, but who had been all set, willing, and a lot more than ready to fuckin throw it all to the wind and go for it,” Ulrich wrote in a collection of tweets.

Megaforce Information, which “Jonny Z” co-founded in 1982 together with his spouse Marsha — who died in January 2021 — was the onetime property to a range of influential metal functions, such as Anthrax, Mercyful Fate and King’s X, as nicely as artists like the Meat Puppets and Bad Brains. Despite the fact that recognized as an East Coastline label, the Zazulas prolonged their get to to the Bay Area on listening to Metallica’s No Existence ’Til Leather-based demos.

“Thank you for giving us a feeling of belonging and ultimately, a perception of self-worth,” Ulrich continued. “I will permanently be grateful for your friendship, suggestions, and blind belief that the music we played could be shared with way much more people today who had been just like us…outsiders, and misfits! Rest In Peace, my pal.”

Jon Zazula died Tuesday from troubles of the rare neuropathic dysfunction CIDP, COPD and osteopenia, just above a yr just after his spouse Marsha died from cancer.

Metallica — which unveiled 1983’s Eliminate ‘Em All and 1984’s Ride the Lightning on Megaforce before signing with Elektra — also honored Zazula Tuesday on social media. “Heavy new music lost just one of its excellent champions right now when Jonny Z left this globe much as well quickly. In 1982, when no 1 wished to just take a likelihood on four young children from California participating in a outrageous model of metal, Jonny and Marsha did, and the relaxation, as they say, is history,” the band wrote.

“He was a mentor, a manager, a label head and a father figure to us all … Metallica would not be who we are or where we are right now without having Jon Zazula and his spouse, Marsha. Our appreciate and sympathy go out to Jonny’s youngsters and his grandchildren, whom he cherished and brought to our exhibits from the time they ended up in diapers. We hope they will be capable to choose some ease and comfort in knowing that he is reunited with Marsha, and that he served deliver so a great deal outstanding audio to so lots of.”