Photo: Gary Schwartz

Jon Zazula to Discuss New “Heavy Tales” Book with Journalist Brad Tolinski

BackStory Events and Guitar World will present a special evening with Jon Zazula, founder of Megaforce Records and authors of the book Heavy Tales. The Metal. The Music. The Madness., on October 24 at The Cutting Room in New York City.

 

The presentation will include an in-depth interview with Zazula conducted by famed journalist Brad Tolinski, as well as live set by Motörhead tribute band Headmotör and music spun by iconic metal DJs Rockn Ray and Metal Joe of the Old Bridge Militia Foundation.

 

Jon Zazula says, “I have the utmost respect for Brad Tolinski. He has put so many bands on the map with all of the media coverage he has spearheaded throughout the years. I’m really excited and looking forward to being on the receiving end of his questions.”

 

Tickets for the event are available via the Cutting Room website athttps://tickets.thecuttingroomnyc.com/event/1885596/. The cost is $19.50. The Cutting Room is located at 44 E. 32nd St., New York, NY 10010. Doors open at 6 p.m. and presentation begins at 7 p.m. Zazula will sign copies of Heavy Tales, which will be available at the event, following the interview.

 

Fans outside of the New York City region can also watch on Guitar World’s site and socialsregional can view the event via live stream.

 

Heavy Tales, available Tuesday, October 29, is the detailed, never-before-told story of how Jonny Z founded legendary New Jersey-based label Megaforce Records with his wife, Marsha, and built a dynasty unmatched by others – forever changing the scope of heavy metal. 

 

In the winter of 1982, Jonny Z received an unexpected demo tape from underground, unsigned band Metallica. Eager and determined to have the music heard by the entire world, Jonny and Marsha founded Megaforce Records in 1983, and soon after, released Metallica’s debut album, Kill ‘Em All. Current Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett even made his debut with the band at a show in Dover, NJ. Through the release of Kill ‘Em All, Megaforcecemented its position as the de-facto music label in America for heavy metal – but that’s just the start. The bands they would go on to work with released some of the most prolific and important albums in heavy metal history, giving it its Golden Era.

 

Heavy Talesdetails the stories of how visionary Jonny Z worked miracles by releasing the first records by Metallica and also by managing and launching the careers of metal and rock giants Anthrax, Testament, Mercyful Fate, Raven, Overkill, Exciter, Stormtroopers of Death, Method of Destruction, Ace Frehley, King’s X, Ministry, Mindfunk, Nudeswirl, Warren Haynes, Disco Biscuits and others, and how one night in 1984, he embarrassingly created the persona of rap metal guru The Lone Rager and penned a classic rap metal mashup.

 

Pre-orders for the book are available now via www.jonzazula.com.

 

For more information on Heavy Tales: The Metal. The Music. The Madness. As Lived by Jon Zazula, please visit www.jonzazula.com, www.facebook.com/heavytales andwww.instagram.com/thejonzazula, and stay tuned for more information coming soon.

 

About Jon Zazula:

 

Jon Zazula, is the visionary known the world over as Jonny Z, has lived an intense life. Born in 1952, he 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 metal music’s royalty, including Metallica, Anthrax, Testament, Overkill, Exciter, Stormtroopers of Death, Method of Destruction, Ace Frehley (solo career), King’s X, Ministry, Mindfunk, Nudeswirl, Warren Haynes, Disco Biscuits and many others.

 

From humble beginnings with a record shop called Rock N’ Roll Heaven in Clark and then East Brunswick, NJ, Zazula went on to establish the iconic Megaforce Records and Crazed Management in 1981. The offices were originally based out of the Zazulas’ home at 60 York Street in Old Bridge, NJ, before moving to suburban East Brunswick, Manalapan and eventually Morganville, NJ.
 
 
About Backstory Events:

 

Featuring live interviews with musicians of all genres, Backstory Events hosts interview events that are live streamed from New York City. Launched in 2015, the series is now distributed through multiple media partners, including Parade and Guitar World, each perfectly matched for the most receptive audience.

 

Founded by music industry veterans and journalists, Brad Tolinski and Laura B. Whitmore, the BackStory Events series has included Jon Anderson (Yes), Shinedown, Halestorm, Chris Daughtry, Paula Cole, Andy Grammer, Roger Waters, Tom Jones, Zakk Wylde, Nile Rodgers, Warren Haynes, Joe Satriani, Anthrax, Ace Frehley and many more.

 

BackStory Events continues to produce new live streamed experiences that showcase new products, new projects and great music, combining live events with online interaction. Visit www.BackStoryEvents.com for more information.