Members of BLACK SABBATH, ANTHRAX, EXODUS, ANVIL, VENOM, MEGADETH and EXCITER are among the musicians who have reacted on social media to the passing of Megaforce Records founder Jon “Jonny Z” Zazula. The 69-year-old died earlier today (Tuesday, February 1) in Florida surrounded by his brother, daughters, granddaughters and friends, according to Variety.

Jon’s wife Marsha, with whom he founded Megaforce, passed away of cancer in January of last year.

Megaforce is widely credited for launching the career of METALLICA by releasing the band’s first two albums, 1983’s “Kill ‘Em All” and 1984’s “Ride The Lightning”, before METALLICA landed a major label deal with Elektra. Megaforce’s roster has also included such artists as ANTHRAX, TESTAMENT, OVERKILL, Ace Frehley, MINISTRY, KING’S X, STORMTROOPERS OF DEATH and RAVEN.

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.

“It’s all a blessing when you work hard and you stay smart and you go into the game and then eventually something comes your way and you’re ready for it. And you’re able to jump upon it and ride it,” Jonny told Variety. “We were very fortunate, Marsha and I, that we have them to choose as a band that became the biggest band in the world. Not to mention a bunch of other great bands that made history.”

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Sad to hear that Jonny Z, a massive legend in the metal world, has passed away. RIP Mr Z pic.twitter.com/6nvDZlq12z
— Geezer Butler (@geezerbutler) February 1, 2022

RIP JONNY Z
— EXCITER (@ExciterBand) February 1, 2022

The world of rock and metal would not be what it is today without Jon Zazula.
Jon’s love of music and musicians was unwavering. A giant was lost today.

Rest In Peace Jon. pic.twitter.com/fiMt444mMn

— Megaforce Records (@megaforce) February 1, 2022

????????????????Goodnight!!! I’ll see you when I get there so wait up!!!! RIP Jon Zazula #devastated #BeyondWords #brokenhearted #RIP pic.twitter.com/JjqFPRxmG9
— Venom Inc (@venom_inc) February 1, 2022

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RIP to my old dear friend Jonny Z. Condolences to his friends and family.
— LIPS ANVIL (@LIPSANVIL) February 1, 2022

So sad to hear of the passing of Jon Zazula. He was east coast and I was west coast in the early days of metal. He worked with so many amazing bands #ripjonzazula
— Brian Slagel (@brianslagel) February 1, 2022

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Manly Bands announce their first collaboration with Fender for a collection of guitar-inspired wedding rings for men.Manly Bands has previously partnered with other brands to capitalize on the interests of typical male consumers, ranging from Jack Daniel’s whiskey barrel materials to cater to whiskey connoisseurs, and MLB inspired rings made with wood from a baseball bat to entice sports fans. Manly Bands is looking to create new markets for couples who are looking for wedding jewelry that reflects their individual personality. Ranging from $495-$850, the Fender Collection is made with the same materials used to create the classic Fender guitars. Real guitar strings are inlaid into the wedding bands, made with a variety of premium woods and metals. The Troubadour is made with Ebony wood and Fender Tweed, inlaid with an Authentic Guitar String to pay tribute to the traditional Fender guitar cases.The Riff is made with Black Zirconium with a Fretboard engraving to pay tribute to the fretboard.The Acoustic is made with Rosewood and inlaid with two Authentic Guitar Strings, to pay tribute to the neck and bronze strings.The 1954 is made with Black Zirconium and Bird’s Eye Maple, inlaid with an Authentic Guitar String to mimic the Black PLAYER STRATOCASTER.The Sonic is made with Mahogany Wood, inlaid with an Authentic Guitar String and hand painted sleeve to mimic the ”Ocean Turquoise” color of the AMERICAN ACOUSTASONIC JAZZMASTER.The Electric is made with Titanium and Ebony Wood, inlaid with an Authentic Guitar String to mimic the Mercury AMERICAN PROFESSIONAL II TELECASTER DELUXE.Manly Bands Co-founder/Co-CEO, Michelle Luchese says, “So many of us connect to music, whether we’re playing it, sharing a favorite song with someone, singing it loud in the shower, or walking down the aisle to a special song! The profound effect it has on us and our relationships seemed like the perfect way to expand our wedding band collection, knowing how far we could go to create such unique expressions of music and its connection to love. We are honored to partner with Fender who has been helping create these connections all these years.”The Fender Collection is available for purchase in the US on the Manly Bands website, with styles starting at $495. For more information and to shop this collection, please visit https://manlybands.com/pages/fender.

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In a new interview with Creative Loafing Tampa Bay, Alice Cooper was asked how his relationship with Ted Nugent is “holding up right now” considering all the stuff that the legendary guitarist has said in the last few years. He responded: “Ted and I grew up together in Detroit, and he’s always been the mouth that roared. When he gets going, nobody can stay with him. I kind of look at him as his own entity.”

He continued: “I don’t ever talk politics… I hate politics. I don’t think rock and roll and politics belong in the same bed together, but a lot of people think it does — because we have a voice, and we should use our voice. But again, rock and roll should be anti-political, I think. When my parents started talking about politics, I would turn on THE [ROLLING] STONES as loud as I could. I don’t want to hear politics, and I still feel that way.

“My music and my show is designed to give you a vacation from CNN, you know what I mean?” Cooper added. “I’m not preaching anything up there, and I’m not knocking anybody. If I do a thing like on ‘Elected’, which we would always do during the elections, and I’d bring out [Donald] Trump and Hillary [Clinton] to fight, and both of them would get wiped out! That’s what was funny about it. If you’re in the political theater, you’d better be able to take a joke. So, that’s okay. I don’t mind the satire of it, but I don’t ever go up there and tell you who to vote for.”

“Elected” was the first single from Cooper’s iconic sixth studio album, “Billion Dollar Babies”. The record reached No. 1 in the U.S. and U.K. and was certified platinum by the RIAA.

In a 2018 interview with The Guardian, Cooper said that he keeps his political opinions to himself. “I don’t like to mix politics and rock ‘n’ roll,” he said. “I don’t look at Bono, Sting and Bruce Springsteen as political. I look at them as being humanitarian. I’ll contribute to anything humanitarian. Helping people who can’t help themselves. But when musicians are telling people who to vote for, I think that’s an abuse of power. You’re telling your fans not to think for themselves, just to think like you. Rock ‘n’ roll is about freedom — and that’s not freedom.”

Six years ago, Cooper said that rock stars offering their political opinions is “the worst idea ever.” “First of all, why do people think rock stars know more than they do?” he said. “That is the biggest fallacy in the world — if anything, we’re dumber. We’re not smarter than anybody else. I mean, why do you think we’re rock stars?

“Trust me, we don’t read magazines you don’t read. Nobody calls us up and gives us as inside information on politics. We know less than you do. If I watch TV, it’s ‘Family Guy’.

“Rock ‘n’ roll was built to go as far away from politics as you could get. When my mom and dad talked about who to vote for, I’d go in the other room and put on THE BEATLES or ROLLING STONES — and I’m still like that.”

Cooper, who considers himself a humanitarian, said that he had no problem with artists using their platform to highlight global issues if it benefited others.

He said: “I think what Bono does and what [Bruce] Springsteen does, Sting and all the people that raise money for others — that’s humanitarian, and I’m all for that. But I don’t think that’s political.”

In a 2016 interview with Rolling Stone, Cooper stated about then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump: “He’s an interesting character. It seems like he shoots himself in the foot every single day and gets more popular by doing it. It’s the weirdest. It’s like [Kurt] Vonnegut: Everything that shouldn’t happen is happening.”

Cooper previously said that he would even go so far as to do the opposite of what everyone else is doing just to make a point. During the 2004 election season, he said: “When I read the list of people who are supporting Kerry, if I wasn’t already a Bush supporter, I would have immediately switched. Linda Ronstadt? Don Henley? Geez, that’s a good reason right there to vote for Bush.”

He also mused about sitting between such political rocker icons as John Lennon and Harry Nilsson while they argued politics and thinking, “I don’t care.”

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A compact multi-power supply offering an 18V DC power supply with exchangeable multi-regional plug adapters.The RockBoard Power Block is a compact multi-power supply for effects pedals and offers 10 power slots for the parallel power supply of up to 10 pedals. With a total of 1,200 mA for the eight 9V connections and a total of 800 mA for the two 18V connections, RockBoard has designed this multi-power supply so modern effects pedal setups can be easily supplied with power. The scope of delivery includes 10 connection cables and an 18V DC power supply (2,000 mA) with exchangeable multi-regional plug adapters.FeaturesMulti-power supply for effects pedals8x 9V DC power slots, grouped, max. 1,200 mA total combined2x 18V DC power slots, grouped, max. 800 mA total combined2.1 x 5.5 mm barrel plug, polarity (-) center8 red LEDs indicate short circuit for each 9V connection separatelyMax. total current output of 2,000 mAInput voltage 18V DCIncl. 10x RockBoard Flat Power Cable, 50 cm (for connecting effects pedals)Incl. 1x 18V DC power adapter (2,000 mA) with exchangeable multi-regional plug adapters (EU, UK, US/CA, AU/NZ)Input voltage 100-240V ACDimensions (L x W x H): 112 x 60 x 22 mm / 4 13/32″ x 2 23/64″ x 55/64″Weight: 150 g / 0.33 lbsU.S. pricing of the RockBoard Power Block is $99.90. For more information, please visit: www.rockboard.de or www.w-distribution.de.

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Hendrix’s ability to “bend notes to a place you could never imagine” drew this heralded sideman and stellar solo artist into the deep waters of guitar.Be sure to check out Eric Krasno’s new album, Always.

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EVANESCENCE’s music video for the group’s breakthrough 2003 hit “Bring Me To Life” has surpassed one billion views on YouTube. The Philipp Stölzl-directed clip, which was uploaded to YouTube in December of 2009, was filmed in Romania in January 2003. It features singer Amy Lee in a night gown and barefoot, in her room, inside a tall building in the city at night. The rest of the band is playing on a higher floor of the building.

The album version of “Bring Me to Life” — which featured guest vocals from Paul McCoy of 12 STONES — was included on the soundtrack of superhero film “Daredevil”.

Stölzl previously stated about the video: “On the one hand, it brings out the most catchy part of the song, the bridge, the duet with the male and female vocals. On the other hand, it reflects the [‘Daredevil’] soundtrack background of the song. I did not know if I would have to use a stunt double for most of the angles, which would have restricted me a lot, but then it turned out that Amy did everything herself, hanging on Paul’s arm for hours without getting tired. In the end, she is the one who made that shot strong.”

Last year, Amy spoke to Germany’s Sonic Seducer about the lyrical inspiration for “Bring Me To Life”. The song reached No. 5 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and was EVANESCENCE’s first U.K. No. 1 single.

“I remember what I wrote ‘Bring Me To Life’ about, because I wrote it about my current husband before we were married,” she said. “There was this moment — I was in a tough place and in a bad relationship. And my husband now, Josh, at the time was just a friend and a person that I barely knew; it was maybe the third or fourth time we’d ever met. And we went in to go grab a seat at a restaurant while our friends parked the car. And we sat across from each other, and he looked at me and he just said, ‘So, are you happy?’ And it took me so off guard, and I just felt like it pierced my heart, because I felt like I had been pretending really well, and it was, like, somebody could see through me. And then that whole first verse came out of it: ‘How can you see into my eyes, like open doors.’ It really made me feel and recognize the sense of yearning that I had to get to a better place. And it really kind of set me out on a journey. And it’s amazing that that became the song, the first song that broke us on to the scene and made everyone hear of us, because it was about something — I don’t know — something so personal that I was recognizing in my life.”

Last March, Lee told Alternative Press that EVANESCENCE’s original record label Wind Up threatened not to release the group’s debut album, “Fallen”, if she and her bandmates didn’t add a male voice to lead single “Bring Me To Life” to make it more palatable for radio.

“Fallen” sold 17 million copies and won two Grammys, including “Best Rock Performance” for “Bring Me To Life”.

EVANESCENCE joins other hard rock and heavy metal artists who have made it to the Billion Views Club: AC/DC (“”Thunderstruck”), METALLICA (“Nothing Else Matters”), GUNS N’ ROSES (“Sweet Child O’ Mine” and “November Rain”), LINKIN PARK (“Numb”) and QUEEN (“Bohemian Rhapsody”).

EVANESCENCE’s latest album, “The Bitter Truth”, arrived in March 2021 via BMG. It was EVANESCENCE’s first album of original music in ten years.

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Megaforce Records founder Jon “Jonny Z” Zazula has died at the age of 69. He passed away earlier today (Tuesday, February 1) in Florida surrounded by his brother, daughters, granddaughters and friends, according to Variety.

Jon’s wife Marsha, with whom he founded Megaforce, passed away of cancer in January of last year.

The Zazulas’ daughter Rikki wrote on social media: ” The world lost a true legend today… 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. To us he was simply daddy… 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. Although we are devastated he is gone, they are finally reunited. And it feels impossible to imagine a world without him in it. For all of us who knew and loved him … by the way… keep it heavy! RIP daddy you will truly be deeply missed, but, never forgotten…your LegaZ will live on forever, not only in us and your grandchildren, but, in every headbanger on this planet for all of eternity!”

Megaforce is widely credited for launching the career of METALLICA by releasing the band’s first two albums, 1983’s “Kill ‘Em All” and 1984’s “Ride The Lightning”, before METALLICA landed a major label deal with Elektra. Megaforce’s roster has also included such artists as ANTHRAX, TESTAMENT, OVERKILL, Ace Frehley, MINISTRY, KING’S X, STORMTROOPERS OF DEATH and RAVEN.

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.

“It’s all a blessing when you work hard and you stay smart and you go into the game and then eventually something comes your way and you’re ready for it. And you’re able to jump upon it and ride it,” Jonny told Variety. “We were very fortunate, Marsha and I, that we have them to choose as a band that became the biggest band in the world. Not to mention a bunch of other great bands that made history.”

Photo credit: Eddie Malluk

? The world lost a true legend today… Our Dad lived a life as fast, hard, heavy, powerful, and, impactful as the music…

Posted by Rikki Zazula on Tuesday, February 1, 2022

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Late PANTERA drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott’s legendary home in Arlington, Texas has just been listed for $750,000. The secluded hilltop 3,784-square-foot home, which was completed in 1995, sits on 1.5 acres and features 40-plus-foot ceilings, four bedrooms, four and a half baths, two game rooms and a secret/safe room. The home has four newer, over-sized Lennox Elite AC units and a gas-operated Generac generator. The backyard features a large pool with waterfall and a spa that spills into the pool. Two fire pits are on each end of the waterfall.

Vinnie passed away on June 22, 2018 at his home in Las Vegas at the age of 54. He died of dilated cardiomyopathy, an enlarged heart, as well as severe coronary artery disease. His death was the result of chronic weakening of the heart muscle — basically meaning his heart couldn’t pump blood as well as a healthy heart.

Vinnie Paul and his brother “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott co-founded PANTERA. When PANTERA broke up in 2003, they formed DAMAGEPLAN. On December 8, 2004, while performing with DAMAGEPLAN at the Alrosa Villa in Columbus, Ohio, Dimebag was shot and killed onstage by a troubled schizophrenic who believed that the members of PANTERA were stealing his thoughts.

According to TMZ, Vinnie Paul left the bulk of his estate to his longtime girlfriend Chelsey Yeager and his best friend; Charles Jones got 38% while Chelsey walked away with 37%. The rest was split between Vinnie’s tour manager (10%), drum tech (5%), producer (5%) and friend (5%). In addition, Vinnie gave his interest in Dimebag’s estate to the guitarist’s longtime girlfriend Rita Haney.

A public memorial for Vinnie Paul was held on July 1, 2018 at Bomb Factory in Dallas, Texas.

Up until his death, Vinnie remained on non-speaking terms with PANTERA singer Philip Anselmo, whom the drummer indirectly blamed for the murder of Dimebag.

Not long before his death, Vinnie laid down the drum tracks for HELLYEAH’s sixth album, “Welcome Home”, which was released in September 2019.

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“Wild In The Streets”, the scorching 1982 sophomore album by the pathfinding Southern California hardcore punk band the CIRCLE JERKS, will receive a remastered, augmented LP reissue on February 18 by Trust Records.

Succeeding Trust’s 2020 re-release of the band’s 1980 debut “Group Sex”, the package will include remastered audio by Pete Lyman and rare April 1982 live performances of material from the band’s first two albums, captured at the Elite Club in San Francisco. A lavish 20-page, full-color 12-by-12-inch booklet created for this release assembles historic photographs, club flyers, and an 8,200-word essay by veteran Los Angeles journalist Chris Morris, including new interviews with founding band members Keith Morris, Greg Heston and Lucky Lehrer.

Today you can preview the remastered version of the album’s title track “Wild In The Streets” with a new music video directed by storied photographer and skateboarder Atiba Jefferson. The video features a live CIRCLE JERKS performance from 1982 and skaters Tony Hawk, Lance Mountain, Christian Hosoi, Eric Koston, Kevin “Spanky” Long, Steve Olson, Victoria Ruesga, Sal Barbier, Rowan Zorilla, Sean Malto, Anaiah Lei, Lizzie Armanto, Dashawn Jordan, Max Perlich and more.

Of the video, Atiba reveals: “I grew up on ‘Wild In The Streets’, so to be asked to direct this video was a huge honor. I wanted to capture and preserve 40 years of history but also celebrate 40 years of punk rock and skateboarding history.”

The release of “Wild In The Streets” coincides with the February kickoff of the CIRCLE JERKS’ 40th-anniversary tour with support from NEGATIVE APPROACH, ADOLESCENTS and 7SECONDS (who will be reuniting for the first time in over five years). CIRCLE JERKS’ current live lineup is vocalist Keith Morris, guitarist Greg Hetson (BAD RELIGION, REDD KROSS), bassist Zander Schloss (THE WEIRDOS, JOE STRUMMER) and drummer Joey Castillo (THE BRONX, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, DANZIG, BL’AST!, WASTED YOUTH).

“Wild In The Streets” deluxe reissue track listing:

Side A

01. Wild In The Streets
02. Leave Me Alone
03. Stars And Stripes
04. 86’d (Good As Gone)
05. Meet The Press
06. Trapped
07. Murder The Disturbed

Side B

01. Letterbomb
02. Question Authority
03. Defamation Innuendo
04. Moral Majority
05. Forced Labor
06. Political Stu
07. Just Like Me
08. Put A Little Love In Your Heart

Bonus tracks:

01. Letter Bomb (Live ’82)
02. Wild In The Streets (Live ’82)
03. Stars And Stripes (Live ’82)

Photo by Atiba Jefferson

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