Members of Metallica, Anthrax and other figures in metal took to social media to pay their respects to Megaforce Records Co-Founder Jon Zazula, who passed away yesterday (February 1) at the age of 69.
Zazula, along with his late wife Marsha who passed away in January 2021 from cancer at age 68, founded Megaforce Records in 1982 and notably released Metallica’s Kill ‘Em All and Ride the Lightning and Anthrax’s Fistful of Metal before both bands signed to major record labels.
Jon’s cause of death was from “complications of the rare neuropathic disorder chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and osteopenia,” according to a statement.
Jon’s daughter, Rikki, shared via Facebook, “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…RIP daddy you will truly be deeply missed, but, never forgotten.”
Tributes to Jon from Metallica, Anthrax and more can be read below.