Music fans will rejoice at new audiobook memoir chronicling metal legend Jonny Z’s successes and struggles

Posted on | by Marissa DeCuir

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Clermont, FL — “Heavy Tales: The Metal. The Music. The Madness. As lived by Jon Zazula” is the detailed, never-before-told story as lived by Jonny Zazula. A riveting tumultuous journey from renegade youth to Metal music mogul, with detailed accounts of the struggles and successes along the way. How he created Megaforce Records, CraZed Management out of a flea market in New Jersey with his wife, Marsha to discover Metallica and launch a musical genre that forever changed the scope of music history. The hundreds of artists they worked with would go on to release some of the most prolific and important albums in heavy metal history, giving it it’s Golden Era. Penned by Jonny Zazula and co-written by Harold Claros-Maldonado, Heavy Tales details the stories of how Jonny Z worked miracles by managing and releasing albums by Metallica, Anthrax, Testament, Mercyful Fate, Raven, Overkill, Exciter, Stormtroopers of Death, Method of Destruction, Ace Frehley’s Comet, King’s X, Ministry, Mindfunk, Nudeswirl, Warren Haynes, Disco Biscuits, and many more, and how one night in 1984, he jokingly created Rap Metal before anyone else conceived the idea. With a foreword written by Chuck Billy, plus a bonus feature gallery with over one hundred rare photographs unearthed from the MegaVault, Heavy Tales is the definitive American story of a family man with a dream, determined to prove to the world that heavy metal belonged on the stage, on the radio, and in your living room.

Exclusive only to the Heavy Tales audiobook is a collection of Q+A’s taken from 10 live broadcasts from the Brothers Grimm radio show on Cranium Radio.com, where Jonny answers 89 unfiltered questions from listeners giving an even deeper look into his life.

“Heavy Tales”
Jon Zazula | October 29, 2020 | CraZed Management LLC/Blackstone
Audiobook | B085WB1L96 | $18.35
Nonfiction Autobiography

JONATHAN ZAZULA is the owner of New Jersey’s Rock n’ Roll Heaven record store and founder of Megaforce Records. Zazula’s record store in East Brunswick, New Jersey made him a central figure of the East Coast metal scene, regularly playing demo tapes sent to him through his underground tape-trading network. His central role in the East Coast metal scene would later be an essential factor in launching the career of Metallica. Zazula offered the band their first opportunity to play in the New York area, coordinated a touring schedule, and later released their debut album Kill ‘Em All. Zazula went on to sign and work with other artists including: Warren Haynes, Testament, Tad, Overkill, Frehley’s Comet, King’s X, Ministry, and Anthrax. He lives in Furlong, Pennsylvania, with his wife Marsha and daughter Blaire.

In an interview, Jon Zazula can discuss:

  • His many roles in the music industry and how he got started
  • Why he wanted to tell this story in his own words
  • The legendary bands he’s been associated with
  • His massive record collection
  • The personal challenges he faced in his career

An Interview with Jon Zazula

1. What are some of the most impactful moments in your career?

Looking back, I realize some of the most impactful moments were the ones where I was able to see our bands live and feel the energy that surrounded them.

The first time, I ever had any major awakening in this business was right in the beginning at the Route 18 Indoor Flea Market. This was our first concert as promoters, it was the Friday the 13th Anvil Rock Show, and, I remember the feeling in the place was magical. It was a magical moment and a truly powerful evening

The second was when Marsha and I saw Metallica headline the Rio in Long Island, we had been watching them making mistakes and what have you, but this night it had all come together. It was incredible to see the band really get it and find their way on stage, it all seemed to have come together at that show.
The third was seeing Anthrax play Madison Square Garden. Headlining in their hometown of New York coming up from bars and reaching this height, it felt like an unbelievable accomplishment.

2. What about metal do you think appeals to music fans?

Right off the cuff, it is the unadulterated aggressive nature of metal music that allows people to release their tension and stress. Metal is not background music, it is foreground music, it is thinking man’s music. It requires your full attention as the listener and as the musician. It is no secret that some of the greatest musicians in the world play metal.

3. How do you think the music industry has shifted over the years?

Let me tell you, I am happy I am not in the music industry today, I was way better at the game back in the 80s. There used to be something organic about the discovery of music, and being a part of a scene, or for Metal, a movement.

Today, especially with the world shut down, industry heads have to be extremely creative about how they get their music into the hands of the fans. There used to be places people would go to find music, record stores, magazines, fan zines, tape traders. Today, it’s about song placement, influencer endorsement, and fitting into the algorithm of the internet user, it is very different. I give props to those out there today making it happen.

4. You faced a lot of personal challenges in your career. How did you overcome those to lead to such storied success?

Divine intervention

5. Do you have any advice for someone looking to break into the music industry?

The more involved you can be with the music the better. Today you truly need to wear many hats in order to be successful. Always be looking for new ways to get your music out there, new platforms, new media trends. Stay ahead of the curve, stay humble, and stay diligent.