Marsha Zazula, publisher of early Metallica, Anthrax, Bad Brains, dies aged 68

Marsha Zazula, who founded Megaforce Records with her husband Jon Zazula in 1982 to release early thrash metal albums, has passed away at age 68, Lambgoat reports. Soon after launching, Megaforce became a seminal heavy metal/thrash label after releasing the first two Metallica albums - 'Kill 'Em All' in 1983 and 'Ride the Lightning' in 1984. They also released classic metal albums by Mercyful Fate, Anthrax, Overkill, Testament, Vio-lence, and more, as well as some outside metal like Bad Brains and Meat Puppets. Megaforce went on to release hundreds of records. UPDATE: Metallica's James Hetfield said “Marsha Z is the Metal Matriarch of the East Coast. She was our mother when I had none. She made great sacrifices for Metallica to grow", Blabberbouth reports.