Jon Zazula, Record Label Boss Who Owned Store In East Brunswick, Dies At 69

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — Jon Zazula, the co-founder of Megaforce Records who helped launch careers of Metallica, Anthrax and others from a flea market in East Brunswick, has died. His daughter Rikki Zazula made the announcement on Facebook. He was 69.

"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," Rikki Zazula said in the post.

Zazula and his wife Marsha operated a record store, Rock and Roll Heaven, at Route 18 Indoor market in East Brunswick that specialized in New Wave and metal, and promoted shows in the area. The store later moved to Clark, but remained based in New Jersey through the 90s.

"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," Rikki Zazula said.

The Zazulas started their record label after they heard Metallica’s demo collection in 1982, according to Rolling Stone.

Metallica released their debut, "Kill ‘Em All", on Megaforce in 1983 and the following year released "Ride the Lightning." During the same time, the Zazulas were nurturing other bands like Anthrax.

Metallica paid tribute to Zazula on Tuesday. "Heavy music lost one of its great champions today when Jonny Z left this world far too soon. In 1982, when no one wanted to take a chance on four kids from California playing a crazy brand of metal, Jonny and Marsha did, and the rest, as they say, is history." the band posted on Twitter.

Marsha Zazula died of cancer in Jan. 2021.

On Tuesday, Anthrax paid tribute to Zazula on Instagram. "We are all gutted by today's loss of Jonny Z. If it weren't for Jonny, there might not have been an Anthrax," the band said. "Jonny truly loved metal, and he was truly a pioneer, and as he left an indelible mark in heavy music, his absence will be greatly felt."

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