Megaforce Records
Megaforce Records is an American independent record label founded in 1982 by Jon Zazula and his wife Marsha Zazula to release the first works of Metallica, and devoted primarily to hard rock and heavy metal. It has offices in New York City (where the corporate office is located) and Philadelphia. The label currently is distributed in the United States by The Orchard and Sony Music internationally, having previously been distributed by Atlantic Records while Anthrax's recordings from 1985 to 1991 were marketed by Island Records.
Megaforce Records

Public domain
- Name
- Megaforce Records
- Founded
- Megaforce Records was established or created in 1982.
- Headquarters
- New York City
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Documentary summary
Megaforce Records is an American independent record label founded in 1982 by Jon Zazula and his wife Marsha Zazula to release the first works of Metallica, and devoted primarily to hard rock and heavy metal. It has offices in New York City (where the corporate office is located) and Philadelphia. The label currently is distributed in the United States by The Orchard and Sony Music internationally, having previously been distributed by Atlantic Records while Anthrax's recordings from 1985 to 1991 were marketed by Island Records.
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wikidata · Q477213 · wikipedia · Megaforce Records
In this article
Overview
Overview
Megaforce artists that have appeared on the Billboard Top 200 chart include Metallica, Blue October, Anthrax, Overkill, Testament, Mushroomhead, Ministry, Bad Brains and Meat Puppets. The Black Crowes and Meat Puppets have both received various RIAA certifications in the US. Marsha Zazula, the co-founder of Megaforce Records, died of cancer on January 10, 2021, at the age of 68.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Megaforce Records • Founded — 1982 • Founder — * Jon Zazula • Marsha Zazula • Distributor — * Independent (1982–1985) • Atlantic (1985–1991) • Island (1985–1991) • Discos CBS (1991–1992) • Epic (1992–2000) • RED (2000–2017) • The Orchard (2017–present) • Sony Music (1993–present) • Genre — * Heavy metal • thrash metal • hard rock • hardcore punk • Country — U.S. • Location — New York City • Website — www.megaforcerecords.com
Heavy metal artists
Heavy metal artists
• Anthrax • Blessed Death • Blue Cheer • Brendon Small • Frehley's Comet • Eric Steel • Exciter • Fozzy • Grave Digger • Icon • King's X • Living Colour • Lucy Brown • Manowar • Mercyful Fate • Metallica • Ministry • M.O.D. • Mushroomhead • Overkill • Prophet • Raven • Skatenigs • Skid Row • Stormtroopers of Death (S.O.D) • Sweaty Nipples • Testament • Trust • T.T. Quick • Vio-lence
Other artists
Other artists
• Ace Frehley • Bad Brains • Björk • Blue October • Das Racist • Heems • Disco Biscuits • Hank Williams III • Lostprophets • Meat Puppets • Nudeswirl • They Might Be Giants • Third Eye Blind • Tribe After Tribe • Truth & Salvage Co. • Warren Haynes • Wellwater Conspiracy • Johnny Winter
Institutional history
Dated record
Institutional history
Explore 1982
The full dated record · 3 entries
1982
Megaforce Records established.
1982
Megaforce Records is recorded from 1982.
1982
Megaforce Records was established or created in 1982.
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Megaforce Records is situated in United States.
Country
Megaforce Records is associated with United States.
Country
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Megaforce Records”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q477213: Megaforce Records
General reference · Wikidata
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Marsha Zazula Dies: Cofounder of Influential Megaforce Records Was 68. 10 January 2021.
- 2.Variety. Marsha Zazula, Co-Founder of Metallica's Early Label, Megaforce Records, Dies at 68. January 10, 2021.
- 3.Blabbermouth.net. JON ZAZULA, Co-Founder of Legendary Metal Label MEGAFORCE RECORDS, Dies At 69. February 1, 2022.
- 4.Eat Pray Thug by Heems on Apple Music. iTunes. 10 March 2015.
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General reference
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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