The Jon and Marsha Zazula Private Collection Auction 2022

August 27, 2022

Backstage Auctions, Inc. is honored to present The Jon & Marsha Zazula Private Collection memorabilia auction. The Zazulas, who are inducted in the Hall of Heavy Metal History, founded Megaforce Records and cemented their position as the de-facto music label in America for heavy metal. From their humble beginnings at the Indoor Market along Route 18 in East Brunswick, New Jersey to their global recognition, awards and various inductions, the "Z's" were trailblazers in the metal arena.  This auction is a celebration of the life and careers of Jon and Marsha Zazula.

Auction Dates: September 2 - 11, 2022 / A special VIP Preview of the entire auction catalog will begin on August 27th. Register today for your VIP All Access Pass. 

Lauded with accolades, the Zazulas left the world with an indelible imprint of fierce independence and the introduction of genre-defining music. They believed in a little band from San Francisco by the name of Metallica and helped them become the biggest Heavy-Metal band in the world.

They opened the doors for Thrash-Metal and delivered Anthrax, Overkill, Anvil, and Testament. They introduced the American market to the New Wave of British Heavy-Metal by means of Venom and Raven. And if that wasn't monumental enough, they established a flourishing record company – Megaforce Worldwide – and a strong management operation – Crazed Management.

The Zazulas were at the forefront of crossover genres, blending metal with industrial sounds (Ministry), funk (King's X / Mind Funk), punk (M.O.D. / S.O.D.) and grunge (Nudeswirl). They worked with established artists on the next chapter in their careers, such as Ace Frehley and Blue Cheer, ventured out with up-and-coming talent such as Warren Haynes and Bif Naked. Through it all, they remained "The Z's", passionate, dedicated, loyal and above all, approachable.

The Zazula estate has made available a selection of mementos from the private collection of Jon and Marsha. Included are rare photos, concert posters and handbills, promotional items, t-shirts and jackets, record awards, backstage passes and personal mementos from the likes of Metallica, Anthrax, Ace Frehley, Venom, Raven, Ministry, Anvil and more. Further are collectibles from Jon and Marsha’s famous record store "Rockn' Roll Heaven", Megaforce Records and even the Old Bridge Militia. Being kids from the sixties, the auction also features Grateful Dead memorabilia and vintage concert posters, as well as an impressive collection from the animated dark fantasy musical "Nightmare Before Christmas".

Among the many highlights are the following "not to be missed" pieces of music history; the original Anthrax 'Not Man' head, early-day Metallica concert tickets and flyers, the key to Metallica's stolen truck (!), Mercyful Fate's Melissa master reels, Jonny Z's bass used to record Ministry's "Psalm 69" album, original Nudeswirl album cover painting, metal sculptures of Jack Skellington and Sally Seamstress, and a selection of guitars and amps owned and used by Jon Zazula.

CD Review: Anvil – Anvil Is Anvil

CD Review: Anvil – Anvil Is Anvil
Steamhammer/SPV
All Access Rating: B+

Anvil - Anvil Is Anvil 2016

Leave it to Anvil to record a wickedly playful, heavy-metal sea shanty about pirate mythology. Heaving to and fro, like a massive, creaking ship tossed about by stormy seas, "Daggers and Rum" – rife with stereotypes as it is – flies the Jolly Roger with a knife between its rotten teeth and a black heart that lusts for treasure.

It would make a fine drinking song if nothing else, and as Anvil always seems fond of history and a good gimmick – who doesn't get a childish chuckle from seeing Steven "Lips" Kudlow play a guitar with a vibrator? – the steady, relentless march of "Daggers and Rum" could be another "15 Men On a Dead Man's Chest" for a new generation. At the very least, it's an unexpectedly theatrical and fun opening to the Steamhammer/SPV release Anvil Is Anvil, a good, satisfying meal of simple, meat-and-potatoes metal from the resilient underdog trio of Kudlow, Robb Reiner and new bassist Chris Robertson.

Hard to believe it's been eight long years since the rockumentary "Anvil! The Story of Anvil" brought them temporary fame that quickly faded. Anvil Is Anvil does feature moments of inspired performances, creative vitality and focused intensity and drive, as Reiner's impressive drumming again steals the show. Still, despite the high-energy attack of "Up, Down, Sideways," the strong, sure hooks and rugged AC/DC-style riffs of "Ambushed," the thrashing excitement of "Fire on the Highway" and the raw horsepower of "It's Your Move" – a Motorhead-like rave-up that serves as an homage to the late Lemmy Kilmister and his former band – Anvil Is Anvil's flagging, pedestrian midsection and the unwillingness of these shaggy old dogs to learn new tricks make it unlikely legions of new members will flock to join the Metal Pounders' Union.

Nevertheless, Anvil is worth rooting for, the self-deprecating humor of the cover being one reason. Another has to do with their willingness to tackle controversial subjects head on, as they rumble and grind through "Gun Control" like tanks and skewer religious justification for war and hate without mercy on an otherwise flaccid "Die For a Lie." This is Anvil, for better or worse, still as capable of delivering blazing, rip-roaring metal anthems as they are of falling flat on their faces.
– Peter Lindblad