Monday, February 2, 2026
in memory of Exodus vocalist Paul Baloff (1960-2002)
Paul Nicholas Baloff (April 25, 1960 – February 2, 2002)
A wild screamer if there ever was one, Paul Baloff's thrash metal stage performances inspired many young metal fans in the Bay Area. Ridiculous and intense at the same time, his only album with Exodus remains a fan favorite to this day. If you listen to Exodus' Bonded by Blood and Metallica's Kill 'Em All, you'll notice that they share the same genre, sound, style, and feeling; these two albums represent similar music made by two different bands, both drawing from the same sources of inspiration.
Unfortunately, Paul was too immature and undisciplined to transition into a professional vocalist who could sustain a living from his art. To me, Paul seemed like an immature man-child who had gotten out of control with his behavior and drug addiction, unable to function seriously for Exodus.
Exodus always knew that Paul was the right man for the job if he could ever figure out how to act like an adult and be professional. For this reason, the band kept giving Paul second, third, and fourth chances to grow up. Unfortunately, he could not rise to the occasion, and it always ended with Exodus firing him.
What's worse, it seemed that every time Exodus gave him another chance, they ended up in a worse place than before, having been set back even further due to the time wasted on giving him more opportunities. At least that’s how it feels when you study the trajectory of Exodus.
Of course, there must have been other problems that the band members and record labels have never revealed. For example, why did it take so long for the debut album to come out in 1985? By that time, their West Coast peers Metallica and Slayer were well on their way to commercial success and had moved beyond the local California underground. Why did Exodus not get their album released by Metal Blade Records or Megaforce Records? I wonder if the album, like many metal albums, contained lyrics that were deemed too graphic or stupid, given that some of the lyrics on the album are beyond stupid.
At any rate, on that Exodus debut album, Paul delivered a performance that thrash fans have remembered for decades.
Below you will find the Wikipedia biography on Paul, along with a very interesting Blabbermouth interview that sheds light on the problems that Exodus faced, as well as the issues that Paul ultimately caused for the band.
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From WIKIPEDIA: Paul Nicholas Baloff (April 25, 1960 – February 2, 2002) was an American singer, best known as the original lead vocalist of the thrash metal band Exodus. He was fired from Exodus shortly after the release of the band's 1985 debut album Bonded by Blood, which is considered one of the most influential thrash metal albums of all time. He sang with various other bands before rejoining Exodus in 1997. Baloff died of a stroke in 2002.
Baloff was born in Highland Hospital in Oakland, California. His mother was Dutch, and he was of partial Russian descent. In life, he would spread rumors that he was a Russian immigrant under the birth name Pavel Nikolayevitch Balchishkov, and that his parents were "rocket scientists" who fled the country, creating what bandmates later called his "unofficial folklore."
Formation of Exodus (1981–1983): Exodus guitarist Kirk Hammett and Baloff met at a North Berkeley house party in 1981 and became fast friends due to their shared admiration for punk rock and the new wave of British heavy metal. Baloff joined Exodus in 1982 as lead vocalist to complete the lineup, which included Hammett, guitarist Gary Holt, drummer Tom Hunting and bassist Geoff Andrews.
Bonded by Blood and firing (1984–1997): Exodus recorded their first album Bonded by Blood in the summer of 1984. Audio engineering college student Mark Whitaker, who had attended high school with Baloff, oversaw management and record production for the band at the time. 1984 concert photos from Exodus shows at Aquatic Park's Eastern Front Metal Festival (with Slayer and Suicidal Tendencies) and Ruthie's Inn (with Megadeth and Slayer) were included on the album sleeve inserts. Originally titled "A Lesson in Violence", the album was not released until April 1985 amidst creative and business setbacks.
Shortly after touring for Bonded by Blood, Baloff was fired from the band for "personal and musical differences", although he still had writer credits on their next album, Pleasures of the Flesh. He was replaced by Steve "Zetro" Souza, who had previously been the lead vocalist for Legacy, an early incarnation of Testament. Baloff went on to form the band Piranha. He sang in several bands in the San Francisco Bay area including Piranha, Hirax, and Heathen.
Return to Exodus (1997–2000): After a few dormant years of Exodus' extended hiatus, Baloff briefly reunited with Holt and Hunolt to reform Exodus in 1997. They released a live album titled Another Lesson in Violence. The group disbanded again shortly after, in part due to a falling out with record label Century Media over the way the live album was promoted, and over an aborted attempt at a live concert video that was filmed but never released due to a financial dispute.
Exodus' second reformation and death (2001–2002): In 2001, Exodus reformed once again. There was talk of recording a new studio album and the band continued to play local shows in and around the San Francisco Bay Area. In February 2002, Baloff had a stroke that left him in a coma, and he died after being removed from life support. He was 41 years old.
Former vocalist Steve Souza was recruited back into the band to finish the rest of their concert commitments. Although it appeared to outsiders that with Baloff's death, Exodus would cease to exist, guitarist Gary Holt was determined to release a new studio record. The result was 2004's Tempo of the Damned, which is dedicated to Baloff's memory.
Legacy: In October 2008, Exodus released a re-recording of their 1985 debut album Bonded by Blood entitled Let There Be Blood. Gary Holt released the following statement about the band's decision to revisit their debut album: "After many years in the planning and discussion stage, we have finally completed the re-recording of 'Bonded By Blood'. We have decided to call it 'Let There Be Blood' and it is our way of paying homage to [late singer] Paul Baloff by showing how relevant these songs we had written together still are. We aren't trying to replace the original; that's impossible anyway. We are just giving these songs the benefit of modern production. It's something we talked about before Paul's death and it's always been important to us to do. We were super excited about entering the studio once again to record these classics, and now it's back to writing the next studio record!"
On February 4, 2012, a Paul Baloff Memorial Reunion Concert was held at the Oakland Metro Opera House. Former and current members included Kirk Hammett, Rick Hunolt, Gary Holt, Geoff Andrews, Lee Altus, Rob Dukes, Tom Hunting and Jack Gibson. It was the first time they have all played together since 1983.
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Former EXODUS Guitarist RICK HUNOLT On Firing PAUL BALOFF: 'It Could Have Been The Biggest Mistake We Ever Made'
November 10, 2022 (BLABBERMOUTH)
In a new interview with For The Passion Not The Fashion, ex-EXODUS guitarist Rick Hunolt reflected on his former band's decision to fire original singer Paul Baloff in 1986 due to what at the time was described as "personal and musical differences." Paul was replaced by Steve "Zetro" Souza, who had previously been the lead vocalist for LEGACY, an early incarnation of fellow Bay Area thrashers TESTAMENT.
Rick said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH): "Paul was… He wouldn't work. He was gettin' bad on the drugs. We all were, but Paul was probably the worst. And we were at a point in the band… It was so tough. It was the craziest thing, it was the hardest thing I ever did, the hardest thing we ever did. And I don't even know today, at this point… It could have been the biggest mistake we ever made. I don't know. No one will know. But I'll admit that — it could have been the biggest mistake we ever made. Who knows?"
Hunolt continued: "Zetro was great filling in; he was great. He did a good job. But after we let Paul go, he just fell deeper and deeper into his addiction and everything. Basically, he was homeless. He wouldn't get a job and he wouldn't stop doing what he was doing. We had to let him go. It was just to the point where it was getting so bad that he couldn't do anything. He couldn't remember lyrics. It was just bad.
"But I'll be the first to admit… I always try to think of what would have happened to EXODUS if we kept Paul," Rick added. "I don't even know. I don't even know if he would have been able to sing any of the music off of [EXODUS's second album, 1987's] 'Pleasures Of The Flesh'. I don't know.
"Anyway, that was the toughest decision me and Gary [Holt, fellow EXODUS guitarist] ever had to make. It was horrible."
Regarding Souza's addition to EXODUS, Hunolt said: "Not everybody's gonna like him. He's done a great job. He's had his ups and downs. But I think right now he's doing great. I think on [EXODUS's latest album] 'Persona Non Grata' he sounds better than he ever has."
Although Baloff didn't appear on "Pleasures Of The Flesh", he did record a demo in 1986 featuring three songs that made it to the final album: "Seeds Of Hate", "Pleasures Of The Flesh" and "Braindead". You can hear those recordings below.
Hunolt previously touched upon EXODUS's split with Baloff in November 2021 when he spoke with Heavy Culture about why he thinks his former band failed to achieve the same commercial heights as the so-called "Big Four" of 1980s thrash metal, namely METALLICA, SLAYER, MEGADETH and ANTHRAX. He said: "First of all, we were just kids. We couldn't even buy alcohol. We were super young and just crazy, full of crazy energy. We recorded the album, 'Bonded By Blood', and it took forever and ever and ever and ever for it to come out — it took forever. So that really messed us up in the world. SLAYER, METALLICA and EXODUS — we were all there at the same time, we all had albums ready to be released, and, of course, ours was last one [to come out] because of record company craziness. So, the follow-up ['Pleasures Of The Flesh'], losing Paul was super tough.
"I think that when anybody… A good example if 'Van Halen I' — to this day, everybody compares everything that they've done after 'Van Halen I' to 'Van Halen I'. Same thing that we've been dealing with for 30 years — everything that we do after 'Bonded By Blood' is gonna be compared to 'Bonded By Blood'. So there's always gonna be people that say that, 'No, no, no. Nothing will ever be as good as 'Bonded By Blood'.' And then there's gonna be people that say, 'Yeah, their stuff after that is good too.' It's always gonna be that way. We have no control over it.
"Hiring a new singer and putting out 'Pleasures'… And then we had to wait another year for 'Pleasures' to come out; it was, like, another year for 'Pleasures' to come out. So that was like a double… '84, and then we waited till… 'Pleasures' came out, what, '86 or something? Late '85? So, people were just waiting and waiting and waiting. And we're sitting there going, 'G****** it.' It was a lot of pressure. Meanwhile, we got METALLICA and SLAYER and ANTHRAX now on board releasing albums every year. And we're just slowly but surely losing traction. It was tough. But **** happens. We were just kids. We didn't know anything.
"I think losing Paul was a big deal back then," Hunolt added. "I think that maybe we made a mistake by firing Paul. And this is just looking back on everything for me; this is just my personal thought. This is the stuff that I think about sometimes. What would have happened if we didn't fire Paul? I just think that maybe we would have gotten a little bit more traction if we didn't have that lag in between.
"People love Paul. And Paul was… he's a legend. He was going through a bad time in his life, and I guess, at the time, we felt that maybe he was holding us back; I think probably that's what we were thinking. I think that probably we might have thought about getting him better instead of firing him.
"But as far as the 'Big Four' goes… Well, I don't know… Maybe it should just be the 'Big Five.' I will say this: I think that everybody has their place in the old-school thrash. If you wanna give 'em a number or whatever, go ahead. I think it doesn't mean anything. I think that the people that were there and the people that love our genre know where everybody stands. And I know where we stand, for sure. Without EXODUS, I think that thrash metal would be very, very different."
Hunolt makes a guest appearance on "Persona Non Grata", which was released in November 2021 via Nuclear Blast Records.
The San Francisco Bay Area thrashers' latest disc is the follow-up to 2014's "Blood In Blood Out", which was their first release since the departure of the group's lead singer of nine years, Rob Dukes, and the return of Souza, who previously fronted EXODUS from 1986 to 1993 and from 2002 to 2004.
Longtime EXODUS fans will recall that Hunolt — the other half of the famed EXODUS "H-Team" who is on every studio recording from 1985 through 2004 and co-wrote some of the band's best-known songs such as "A Lesson In Violence" and "Deliver Us To Evil" — left EXODUS after the band's highly acclaimed 2004 reunion album, "Tempo Of The Damned". Following his departure, Hunolt was replaced by HEATHEN guitarist Lee Altus.
The original lineup of EXODUS consisted of guitarists Hammett and Tim Agnello, Hunting and vocalist Keith Stewart. Holt joined the band in 1981, while Kirk left two years before EXODUS's debut album, "Bonded By Blood", saw the light of day.
Exodus – Live Combat Tour (1985 Full Concert | 4K/Remastered)
Sunday, February 1, 2026
in memory of Jimmy Iversen (1959-2026)
Frank Jimmy Iversen -(December 19, 1959-January 31st, 2026)
Metal Archives shows that Jimmy worked bands like Bad Habitz, Jimmy the Fox, Blonde On Blonde, Jorn, Perfect Crime, Road, Unit Five, and You.
The music that I know from Jimmy is his work with Jorn from 2009 to 2012. Below you will find a JORN song for which Metal Archives gives songwriting credit to Jimmy.
Wikipedia (Norwegian - translated here): In 1980 he joined the pop group Unit Five as a guitarist. He later became a member of the rock band Road, and later as a guitarist and songwriter in Blonde on Blonde. He was then a guitarist and songwriter in Perfect Crime, which at the time collaborated with Bernie Marsden (Whitesnake). Iversen has always been a member of Unit Five, but always has other projects going on, such as the Thin Lizzy tribute band Bad Habitz, with Ronni Le Tekrø, among others. He participated as a guitarist and songwriter on Spirit Black with Jorn in 2009. In 2011 he released the album The Fox, under the name "Jimmy The Fox". In 2012 he participated on the compilation album by Bente Smaavik, 1979-2011. Iversen became a permanent member of Jorn in the fall of 2011, as a songwriter and guitarist. Iversen worked as a guitar teacher at Bodø Cultural School.
JORN - I Came to Rock
celebrating GIRLSCHOOL - Running Wild
Girlschool
Running Wild
February 1st, 1985
Mercury Records
1. Let Me Go 03:48
2. Running Wild 04:40
3. Do You Love Me? (Kiss cover) 03:19
4. Something for Nothing 03:18
5. Are You Ready? 03:37
6. Nowhere to Run 03:43
7. I Want You Back 04:33
8. Nasty Nasty 02:46
9. Love Is a Lie 03:09
10. Can't You See 04:55
total time 37:48
Jackie Bodimead - vocals (lead)
Kim McAuliffe - guitars, Vocals (backing)
Cris Bonacci - guitars
Gil Weston - bass
Denise Dufort - drums
According to Metal Archives, this album was released on February 1, 1985. This was their fifth album and the first recorded after the departure of original guitarist and singer Kelly Johnson, as the band expanded to a five-piece lineup. Critics apparently don't like this album because the band sounds too American; apparently, some people still wanted them to sound like they did from 1978 to 1981. Girlschool is a pioneering British heavy metal band and was part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. They are often named in conjunction with Motörhead because the two bands toured together and were friends, and were known for a high-energy combination of punk and metal. Personally, I think the punk thing is a bit exaggerated: they were not a punk band at all, but whatever. Some people say that this album is among their worst because it is simply too American, but I don't care. It is anthem, arena-rock heavy metal music. It sounds awesome! I have no idea why some people don't like it. Of course, I'm an American, and I have no problem with a British band sounding too "American," whatever that means. So, were Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath not "American-sounding" with their love of African-American blues and 1950s American rock and roll? Whatever. Come see me and let's argue about it, ha!
Look, Girlschool has big choruses and catchy songs on this album. Is the band trying to get on TV and the radio? Yes, they are! Oh no, what a crime! They are trying to make a living as musicians and came up with catchy, hard-rock heavy metal songs. I like the early Girlschool albums, and I think this album sounds good, too. The melodies are much bigger, and the singing sounds really nice. Frankly, I am surprised how good the album sounds decades later. Apparently, even though they are a British band, the album was originally released only in the United States via Mercury Records. It was a difficult-to-find import for fans in the UK and Europe for decades. It didn't receive an official CD reissue until 2014, and just last year (2025), a special Live CD/DVD set from that era (Live in London 1984) was released to celebrate this period of the band.
Anyway, Girlschool is an awesome band, and this is one of their albums. I like it!
Girlschool - Are You Ready (Running Wild 1985)
Girlschool - Running Wild (Running Wild 1985)
celebrating STEELER (Germany) - Undercover Animal
Steeler
Undercover Animal
February 1st, 1988
Steamhammer
1. (I'll Be) Hunter or Hunted 03:40
2. Undercover Animal 04:50
3. Shadow in the Redlight 04:23
4. Hard Breaks 03:49
5. Criminal 03:56
6. Rely on Rock 04:17
7. Stand Tall 03:28
8. The Deeper the Night 05:10
9. Knock Me Out 03:15
10. Bad to the Bone 02:36
Peter Burtz - vocals
Axel Rudi Pell - guitars
Tom Eder - guitars
Roland Hag - bass
Jan Yildiral - drums
According to Metal Archives, Steeler's fourth album, titled Undercover Animal, was released on February 1, 1988. Do you ever hear an album and you think it sounds good and you like it, and you read nothing but negative reviews and wonder what's happening? I do not know why the reviewers on Metal Archives have such a negative attitude towards this album. Is it that the reviewers were expecting something else? What? German thrash? German garage metal production? Some German band pretending to be a Venom clone? I have no idea.
This album is melodic, hard-rock heavy metal from the late 1980s, very much like the hard-rock heavy metal bands in the United States and Germany were making. Big rockers. Arena rock. Huge choruses. Guitar! Guitar solos. Singing. Ear-friendly songs that would sound good on TV and on the radio. It's a catchy, melodic album that emphasizes hook-oriented choruses and mid-tempo grooves. This is not speed metal. Look, I know that in the early '80s the music was faster and grittier, but this is 1988. They're not trying to be a speed band anymore, if they ever were, which I doubt. Is this commercially-viable heavy metal? It could be, with the right team around the band, in the right place, and all the other things needed for big success. Unfortunately, not everything was going right for them, and this was their last album.
It's got good singing, good songs, good melodies, and the mighty, legendary guitarist Axel Rudi Pell. If you like hard-rock heavy metal from the 1980s, give it a listen and make up your own mind. After this album, Axel Rudi Pell began releasing music under his own name, building a prolific discography that now spans more than 20 albums, according to Metal Archives.
(If this first link doesn't work, please try the second one.)
Steeler (Axel Rudi Pell) - Undercover Animal (Video) (1988) HQ Audio
Steeler (Axel Rudi Pell) - Undercover Animal
Doro - Force Majeure (released February 1, 1989)
Jon Zazula(Megaforce Records) 1952-2022
in memory of Jonathan David Zazula - March 16, 1952-February 1, 2022
Jon Zazula, and his wife Marsha Zazula, founded the metal music record label Megaforce Records. The Zazulas and Megaforce are important in the history of thrash metal because they released debut albums by Metallica, Overkill, Anthrax, and Testament, released many, many other albums that are loved by fans today. Below you will find two articles from Blabbermouth in memory of Jon Z.
JON ZAZULA, Co-Founder of Legendary Metal Label MEGAFORCE RECORDS, Dies At 69
February 1, 2022 (BLABBERMOUTH)
Megaforce Records founder Jon "Jonny Z" Zazula has died at the age of 69. He passed away earlier today (Tuesday, February 1) in Florida surrounded by his family. Jonny died of complications of the rare neuropathic disorder chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP),chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and osteopenia, the family said.
Jon's wife Marsha, with whom he founded Megaforce, passed away of cancer in January of last year.
The Zazulas' daughter Rikki wrote on social media: " The world lost a true legend today… Our Dad lived a life as fast, hard, heavy, powerful, and, impactful as the music he brought to the world. His passion and persistence fueled the careers of arguably the most influential metal bands, and, industry greats of a generation. To us he was simply daddy… Our father and mother were a powerhouse partnership in love, life, and business. Together they believed in the unbelievable, their passion, rebel perspective, and persistence built an empire from a box of vinyl in a flea market – into a multi platinum selling record label, management company, and publishing house. Although we are devastated he is gone, they are finally reunited. And it feels impossible to imagine a world without him in it. For all of us who knew and loved him … by the way… keep it heavy! RIP daddy you will truly be deeply missed, but, never forgotten…your LegaZ will live on forever, not only in us and your grandchildren, but, in every headbanger on this planet for all of eternity!"
Megaforce is widely credited for launching the career of METALLICA by releasing the band's first two albums, 1983's "Kill 'Em All" and 1984's "Ride The Lightning", before METALLICA landed a major label deal with Elektra. Megaforce's roster has also included such artists as ANTHRAX, TESTAMENT, OVERKILL, Ace Frehley, MINISTRY, KING'S X, STORMTROOPERS OF DEATH and RAVEN.
Born in 1952, Jonny 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 METALLICA, ANTHRAX and others.
After Wall Street, Jonny Z began selling records at a flea market store in 1981 to put food on the table for his family. Dubbed Rock N' Roll Heaven, the store eventually blossomed into a major record store that influenced the heavy metal movement as we know it today. In the winter of 1982, Jonny Z received an unexpected demo tape from unsigned underground band called METALLICA. Eager and determined to have the music heard by the entire world, Jonny and Marsha founded Megaforce the following year and released "Kill 'Em All". Through this release, Megaforce cemented its position as the de-facto music label in America for heavy metal.
Jon's acclaimed autobiography, "Heavy Tales: The Metal. The Music. The Madness. As Lived By Jon Zazula", was released in October 2019. The book tells the story of how the Zazulas ended up signing a band that shaped the sound of heavy metal for decades to come.
"It's all a blessing when you work hard and you stay smart and you go into the game and then eventually something comes your way and you're ready for it. And you're able to jump upon it and ride it," Jonny told Variety. "We were very fortunate, Marsha and I, that we have them to choose as a band that became the biggest band in the world. Not to mention a bunch of other great bands that made history."
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METALLICA Pays Tribute To JON And MARSHA ZAZULA: 'We Felt We Were Cared For By Them'
November 14, 2024 (BLABBERMOUTH)
In a recent episode of "The Metallica Report", the podcast offering weekly insider updates on all things METALLICA, METALLICA frontman James Hetfield, drummer Lars Ulrich and guitarist Kirk Hammett remembered Megaforce Records founder Jon "Jonny Z" Zazula and his wife Marsha Zazula. Megaforce is widely credited for launching the career of METALLICA by releasing the band's first two albums, 1983's "Kill 'Em All" and 1984's "Ride The Lightning", before METALLICA landed a major label deal with Elektra. Megaforce's roster has also included such artists as ANTHRAX, TESTAMENT, OVERKILL, Ace Frehley, MINISTRY, KING'S X, STORMTROOPERS OF DEATH and RAVEN.
Lars said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It was the spring of 1983, and we had just moved up to San Francisco. We got a call, an invitation from a very enthusiastic Jonny Zazula, who was in New Jersey."
Hetfield added: "I remember going out at the El Cerrito house, the METALLI-mansion, going around to a phone booth with Lars and him talking to Jonny over the phone. And he's, like, 'Yeah, I just connected with this guy who got our tape.' And back then tape trading was the thing. That's how you got your music around. I just remember talking on the phone with him and Lars just saying, 'Hey, this guy in New Jersey really likes us and he's passionate about us and it feels great. It feels right.'"
Ulrich continued: "We were ready for whatever at that time. We threw all our **** in a U-Haul truck. We spent about a week going across the country and ended up in Old Bridge, New Jersey."
Hetfield added: "We'd never met [Jonny], never seen him — nothing. And we hop in this U-Haul and go out. And I remember when we pulled up to his house eventually, one of the first things we had to tell him was, 'Hey, we're here and we're getting rid of our lead guitar player [Dave Mustaine].' He's, like, 'Okay. Well, let's keep going.' We shared the same vision. So it felt absolutely right at the time."
Kirk said: "Well, when I first arrived to the music building [in Jamaica, Queens], I remember meeting those guys, the rest of the guys in the band, and we started rehearsing right away. We rehearsed, like, two or three days. And someone was saying, 'Yeah, Jonny, he's the guy who's starting the record label, who's signing us.' And so we were gonna go out to [Jonny's record] store for the first time out in New Jersey, Rock N' Roll Heaven. So we all piled in the car. And then the very first picture I took with the band was out that day out in the parking lot after seeing Jonny and Marsha at Rock N' Roll Heaven. And at some point it just became intolerable to stay at the music building. There was no hot water, no heat, it was wintertime, there was snow. It was just horrible. So, we all moved in to Jonny's house, into the basement. And then that was something."
Lars said: "Ground zero for everything that was METALLICA and the Zazulas was in Old Bridge, New Jersey, was their house. I believe it was 60 York Street. Most of us didn't quite have the highest degree of social skills, but we managed to get through it without anybody getting too pissed off. And underneath it, obviously, was a sense of love and a sense of connection and a sense of appreciation for the doors that were opened."
James added: "Yeah, we were taken in by Jonny and Marsha and they were sustaining us with food and place to sleep, shelter, kind of parent-like, which was cool, which was needed at the time. We were just wild and kind of unruly, and we knew what we wanted to do, but we didn't know how to get there. And he helped us get there. Yeah, very, very, very kind and loving. Him and his family were there, and we're like extended family now. METALLICA is in the house. [Laughs]"
Kirk: "We liked it because it was like an actual roof over our heads and that we weren't staying in an office building. I mean, it felt like we were in a house even though it was just the basement. It was great."
Lars said: "We, basically, would sleep down in the basement. We would eat meals with them, the family, the kids. And there was definitely a very communal energy about all of it. Jonny and Marsha, obviously, were sort of the parents to not just their own kids, but to all of us, and they were very patient and gracious to let us sleep and kind of sort of inhabit their whole world."
James said: "In our late teens, early 20s, [we were] kind of drinking a lot and going a little crazy, dirty, destroying stuff and raiding their liquor cabinet. I remember we — yeah, there was no liquor left and we popped open some bottle of champagne, and he was pissed. He's, like, 'Dude, I was saving that. That was the champagne from our wedding.' And it's, like, 'Oh.' So they put up with a lot of **** from us. He found us a place to live after that, at Metal Joe's house out in more of a farm area, where we could just kind of be wild animals and not destroy his house."
Kirk said: "We didn't have anyone else. There was no one else to help us out at that point on the East Coast. And we didn't have any money. We didn't have any allies on the East Coast. [We couldn't] call [anyone] up and go, 'Hey, can I stay on your couch?' None of us had any of that. So, Jonny and Marsha opening up their house to us was an amazing thing."
James said: "What set the Zazulas apart was that they were extremely passionate. They were metalheads. They loved metal. They had worked with ANVIL. They had done a few things with VENOM and RAVEN. Yeah, they had other bands they were working with, but we felt we were cared for by them. They were representing METALLICA well. Most other management companies, they had a whole roster of bands and you kind of had to [go], 'Hello, can we get some tour support?' or 'Help us.' It was one-on-one with us."
Lars said: "But they were just a great team, Jon and Marsha. And Marsha was the backbone and really kept all these lunatic guys in line. Underneath all that was also a love for the music, a love for her husband, love for family, love for the bands. But she had to wear many, many hats and did it very, very well. But she could definitely keep everybody in line when they had to, but underneath it, obviously, we knew that she was part of the gang, so to speak."
On November 6, 2022, METALLICA played a special concert at the 7,000-seat Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. The show, which celebrated the life, legacy and achievements of Jon Zazula and his wife, saw the Bay Area metal legends play songs exclusively from their first two albums, "Kill 'Em All" and "Ride The Lightning". Support at the gig came from British/American metallers RAVEN, who were also originally signed to Megaforce.
When the concert was first announced in September 2022, METALLICA said in a statement: "Jonny gave us our first break in New York, released our first albums on his Megaforce Records label, and put us out on the road for our first real tour. With Marsha by his side, Jonny was a mentor, a manager, a label head, and a father figure to us all.... we would not be where we are today without the two of them. Sadly, we recently lost both Jonny and Marsha, just a little more than a year apart.
"We'll be cooking up a special setlist for you full of songs from our days with Jonny and Marsha at Megaforce. Our main touring partner from that time, RAVEN, will be joining us to add to the celebration and bring back the memories."
A portion of the proceeds from this show were donated in Jonny and Marsha's name to MusiCares, a safety net supporting the health and welfare of the music community offering preventive, emergency, and recovery programs to musicians and industry professionals. Additionally, All Within My Hands once again supported Feeding South Florida with a donation following the show.
Jonny Z died in February 2022 at the age of 69. Jonny died of complications of the rare neuropathic disorder chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP),chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and osteopenia, his family said. Marsha passed away of cancer in January of 2021.
Born in 1952, Jonny 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 METALLICA, ANTHRAX and others.
After Wall Street, Jonny Z began selling records at a flea market store in 1981 to put food on the table for his family. Dubbed Rock N' Roll Heaven, the store eventually blossomed into a major record store that influenced the heavy metal movement as we know it today. In the winter of 1982, Jonny Z received an unexpected demo tape from unsigned underground band called METALLICA. Eager and determined to have the music heard by the entire world, Jonny and Marsha founded Megaforce the following year and released "Kill 'Em All". Through this release, Megaforce cemented its position as the de-facto music label in America for heavy metal.
Jon's acclaimed autobiography, "Heavy Tales: The Metal. The Music. The Madness. As Lived By Jon Zazula", was released in October 2019. The book tells the story of how the Zazulas ended up signing a band that shaped the sound of heavy metal for decades to come.
"It's all a blessing when you work hard and you stay smart and you go into the game and then eventually something comes your way and you're ready for it. And you're able to jump upon it and ride it," Jonny told Variety. "We were very fortunate, Marsha and I, that we have them to choose as a band that became the biggest band in the world. Not to mention a bunch of other great bands that made history."
Friday, January 30, 2026
Greyhawk returns with their third album of classic heavy metal
Greyhawk
Warriors of Greyhawk
Cruz Del Sur Music
13 February 2026
I have been enjoying the new album by Seattle heavy metal gladiators Greyhawk. It delivers 11 songs in 50 minutes of high-octane, stadium-sized heavy metal anthems and rockers. Hurry up and come get you some Greyhawk heavy metal pronto! Friend, Greyhawk has one mission clearly marked all over their music: they value making quality, catchy, headbanging heavy metal with awesome guitar solos, riffs, and melodies that fans of both great singing and shredding will remember.
My wish is for the heavy metal fans of the world to hear the quality music we have right here in Washington State. I am sure they will like it. Put this album in a boxing ring against any negative reviewer, and it will deliver a body shot and a devastating right hook to the ribs. Without even resetting its feet, this album will immediately sneak in a right uppercut under the chin. It’s over. Greyhawk wins!
I'm loving the work of the rhythm section, the bass lines are bouncing, and the guitar work is awesome. Let me tell you something about Greyhawk’s guitars: shredding, neoclassical flair, melody, speed, agility, power, and vibe; it’s all on deck. These two guitarists are seriously skilled, experienced, and knowledgeable players. Greyhawk is starting to feel like a well-kept secret: a veritable supergroup flying under the radar. Plus, fans who want real singing —powerful and elegant!— should be pleased. You get low-register vocals, and a strong midrange, and air-raid-siren segments, and glass-shattering high notes. This album also sounds pretty nice in the car.
1. Ascension 04:16
2. Land of Ashes 03:27
3. Take a Stand 03:34
4. Endless Race 04:08
5. Warriors of Greyhawk 06:15
6. Words of Power 03:44
7. Chosen 04:18
8. Hyperspace 04:03
9. Embers Rise 03:36
10. Rise Above 06:12
11. Eternal Quest 06:04
total time 49:37
Darin Wall - bass (2016-present)
[88 Mile Trip, Entropia, Glyph, Vantera (Pantera tribute), ex-Aggression, ex-Skelator, ex-Mecha Messiah, ex-Stiff Valentine, ex-Saints in Hell (Judas Priest tribute) (live)]
Jesse Berlin - guitars (2016-present)
[Archmage]
Nate Butler - drums (2017-present)
Rob Steinway - guitars (2023-present)
[Glyph, Hjelvik, ex-Inquinok, ex-Shaded Enmity, ex-Skelator, ex-Somnae (live), ex-Funeral Age, ex-Evangelist, ex-Fallen Angels, ex-In Memorium]
Anthony Corso - vocals (2024-present)
Warriors Of Greyhawk
by Greyhawk
back to the future in 2004 - DEMON HUNTER - "Not Ready to Die"
"This is a song I've heard 2600 times. Im STILL not tired of it. It rocks!"
-YouTube commenter zneely1113
After their tremendous 2002 self-titled debut album, Demon Hunter stepped up to the plate with a new sound on 2004's Summer of Darkness. To me, the debut captured a young, hungry band playing heavy, intense, and brutal sounds in which various American and European currents converged. Raw, loud, and unhinged, the album featured a harsh, "charging-rhino" energy that connected with fans.
"Not Ready to Die" is the first song on Summer of Darkness.
In my opinion, Summer of Darkness represents a new turn, a new adventure, if you will. There is a cliché that all bands have a lifetime to work on their debut album. What about this second album and the feared sophomore slump? Right away, I notice a certain sharpness and melodicism that catches my attention. Speaking for myself, I certainly don't hear a reduction in quality, but I don't know what the consensus was among critics back in 2004 regarding the album.
It is surprising how much more pronounced the melodic side of the songwriting has become. What accounts for this increased melodicism? Touring must have given them more experience and skills; working and sweating in front of an audience can do wonders for a band's abilities!
Right from the get-go, my ears tell me the sound is clearer. Wasting no time, they flex their skills on "Not Ready to Die." The intensity and high energy remain intact, but the melodic side, with singing, is loud and upfront: confident, full, and vibrant. The track features mid-range growls and heavy, chugging riffs paired with a catchy, melodic chorus. It feels big, direct, and anthemic. I find that the song continues playing in my mind long after it ends.
Years later, fans still love the track. Around the year 2020, a person on YouTube observed about this particular song: "When I was curled up in the back of my Explorer, detoxing myself off opiates, I had this song on repeat in my CD player. Now, with 7 years clean on July 30th, I was listening to it again. I will always give credit to this song for helping me get through that time.."
If metal bands love to glorify death (and you know they do!) because apparently nothing says "metal" like obsessively writing about death and the devil, then Demon Hunter is throwing a monkey wrench into the gears by affirming life and rejecting nihilism: "The weight of the world is a burden I've carried / The ashes of hope in a life that is buried / I'm looking for light in the heart of the shadow / A reason to fight in the heat of the battle ....I'm not ready to leave it all behind / I'm holding on to the life that I've known/ I'm standing my ground, and I'm not alone / I'm not ready to die."
By the way, how about that quiet segment of the song? The song transitions into a nice quiet segment, a really good contrast, beginning at 3:12 and just when you think you are already enjoying the quiet part of the song, there is an even quieter moment at 3:54-4:01. Whoah. So good; another surprise. They took the quiet right to the edge of silence.
"Not Ready to Die" is such a great start to the album. As they say in basketball: fantastic.
Demon Hunter
Summer of Darkness
Solid State
May 4, 2004
1. "Not Ready to Die" 5:03
2. "The Awakening" 4:11
3. "Beheaded" (featuring Mike Williams) 3:14
4. "My Heartstrings Come Undone[a][b]" 4:37
5. "Our Faces Fall Apart" (featuring Howard Jones) 4:51
6. "Less Than Nothing" 2:57
7. "Summer of Darkness" 3:10
8. "Beauty Through the Eyes of a Predator" (featuring Brock Lindow) 5:32
9. "Annihilate the Corrupt" 4:08
10. "I Play Dead" 5:20
11. "Everything Was White" 3:54
12. "Coffin Builder" (featuring Trevor McNevan) 4:01
13. "The Latest and the Last" 3:44
Demon Hunter "Not Ready To Die" (Official Music Video)
https://www.facebook.com/demonhunter
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Pete Hurley (RIP 2014) - Extreme Noise Terror
Pete Hurley - guitarist for Extreme Noise Terror
(? - January 29, 2014)
Pete Hurley’s time with Extreme Noise Terror (1985-present) is one of my favorite eras of the band, specifically for that classic crust-grindcore sound. He was with them from 1985-1995. He played guitar on the seminal 1989 album A Holocaust in Your Head, a recording defined by lo-fi, raw production and a relentless D-beat focus. Pete’s playing style centered on massive, memorable riffs that complemented the dual-vocal bark of Dean Jones and Phil Vane. I also like his work on the John Peel Sessions recorded between 1987 and 1990, which captured a high-energy, "live-in-studio" feel. In the 1990s, Pete transitioned toward a heavier and more structured sound, notably on the 1995 album Retro-bution, which featured tighter technicality and more polished production values. Despite this shift into a more metallic sound, Pete maintained the dirty distortion of the guitar sound.
Extreme Noise Terror (ENT) are a British extreme metal band formed in Ipswich, England in 1985 and one of the earliest and most influential crust bands. Noted for one of the earliest uses of dual vocalists in hardcore and for recording a number of sessions for BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel, the band started as crust punks and helped characterise the early, archetypal grindcore sound with highly political lyrics, fast guitars and tempos, and often very short songs.
Extreme Noise Terror were formed in early 1985 in Ipswich, England, originally consisting of dual vocalists Dean Jones and Phil Vane, guitarist Pete Hurley, bassist Jerry Clay and drummer Pig Killer. Prior to ENT, Vane and Hurley had played with Discharge-influenced acts Freestate and Victims of War, whilst Jones had been singing with Raw Noise. Hurley claims that the band name came from an insert for an album by the Dutch band Lärm. Aside from Discharge, the band cite as early influences Anti Cimex, Rattus and Antisect.
Their first release was a split LP with Chaos UK in 1986, entitled Radioactive Earslaughter. Although there were still musical similarities between the two bands, ENT were already beginning to twist hardcore into what would later become known as "grindcore." In 1987, ENT came to the attention of John Peel. After seeing them live in Ipswich, Peel offered them their first of four Peel Sessions for BBC Radio 1.
During this period, the line-up changed as former Napalm Death drummer Mick Harris joined briefly before being replaced by Tony "Stick" Dickens. This line-up recorded ENT's debut album, A Holocaust in Your Head, which was later voted one of the essential European grindcore albums by Terrorizer magazine.
The band signed to Earache in 1994 and recorded Retro-bution, a compilation of re-recorded material that saw ENT take a slightly more metal direction. Founder member Phil Vane left to join Napalm Death in late 1996, and in a unique trade, Napalm Death frontman Mark "Barney" Greenway joined ENT for the recording of the album Damage 381. Vane eventually returned to the band in 1997.
In 2001, the band released Being and Nothing and continued to tour Europe, including a slot at Wacken Open Air in 2003.
In early 2009, ENT released Law of Retaliation, described as a return to explosive, hyper-speed hardcore punk insanity. While remaining fiercely political, the band became more open-minded regarding their beliefs over the years, with Dean Jones commenting on the progression away from the restrictive nature of the early crust scene.
On 17 February 2011, Phil Vane died in his sleep at the age of 46. The band has continued to tour and release music with frontman Ben McCrow, dedicating their 2015 self-titled album to Vane's memory.
Extreme Noise Terror - Conned Through Life (Peel Sessions) [Official Audio]
Extreme Noise Terror - I Am a Bloody Fool (Peel Sessions) [Official Audio]
Extreme Noise Terror - Carry On Screaming
Blue Cheer - Parchment Farm
Blue Cheer – Demo/sessions – KSAN-FM 1967
Geoff Nicholls (Black Sabbath) - (1948–2017)
Geoff Nicholls (February 28, 1948 – January 28, 2017)
When heavy metal music fans think of Black Sabbath, they may not think of Geoff Nicholls, but they know Geoff without perhaps being aware that they do. For instance, fans that have copies of Black Sabbath's Heaven and Hell and Mob Rules know that Geoff is not in the band pictures; however, when you turn your attention to the album sleeve or CD sleeve to read the personnel information, you will definitely notice the line:
"All keyboards played by Geoff Nicholls."
Later on in the history of Black Sabbath, in the 1980s after Ronnie James Dio left, Geoff's contributions to Black Sabbath were showcased more prominently. During that period, Geoff's work gave those wonderful albums a smooth richness and an extra melodic atmosphere that the more attentive fans have appreciated throughout the years.
Below you will find the Wikipedia and Blabbermouth articles about Geoff, and an article by a friend of Geoff.
Geoffrey James Nicholls (February 28, 1948 – January 28, 2017) was an English guitarist and keyboardist, and longtime member of Black Sabbath until 2004. Nicholls also played in the NWOBHM band Quartz before joining Black Sabbath. In the 1960s/early 1970s, Geoff played lead guitar/Keyboards for the Birmingham bands The Boll Weevils, The Seed, Johnny Neal and the Starliners, Bandy Legs, Jimmy Helms, Willie Basse and played keyboards for World of Oz (an English psychedelic pop band from the 1960s).
Nicholls was originally brought in as a second guitarist when Black Sabbath doubted whether they would even continue under that name. Nicholls then switched to bass when Geezer Butler left briefly, and then became the band's keyboardist upon Butler's return and the decision to keep the Sabbath name. Nicholls' first appearance on a Black Sabbath album was on Heaven and Hell (1980), and he was credited as keyboardist on every Sabbath release from that time until Forbidden (1995), although he was not an official member until 1986. He remained an official member until 1991, then regained member status from 1993 to 1996. He was an unofficial member once again since the reunion with Ozzy Osbourne in 1997. Although his main role with Sabbath was on the keyboard, Nicholls also played some rhythm guitar on the reunion tours, e.g., during Iommi's solo in "Snowblind" and a few tracks during the Headless Cross (1989) and Forbidden (1995) tours.
Nicholls' touring involvement with the band ended when Adam Wakeman (a member of Ozzy Osbourne's solo band) was chosen to play keyboards during Sabbath's 2004 and 2005 tours as part of Ozzfest, and Scott Warren (Dio) handled keyboard duties on the 2007 Heaven & Hell tour.
Until his death, Nicholls played keyboards with former Black Sabbath singer Tony Martin, in his band Tony Martin's Headless Cross. Nicholls had performed on Martin's first two solo albums Back Where I Belong and Scream, and their support tours.
Nicholls died from lung cancer on 28 January 2017, aged 68, surrounded by his family. "Geoff was a real true friend and supported me all the way for nearly forty years," said Tony Iommi. "I will miss him dearly and he will live in my heart until we meet again."
-
Former BLACK SABBATH Keyboardist GEOFF NICHOLLS Dies After Battle With Lung Cancer
January 28, 2017
Former BLACK SABBATH keyboardist Geoff Nicholls died this morning after a long battle with lung cancer. He was 68 years old.
Nicholls's passing was confirmed by SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi, who wrote about his former bandmate: "I'm so saddened to hear the loss of one of my dearest and closest friends Geoff Nicholls. He's been suffering for a while now with lung cancer and he lost his battle this morning. Geoff and I have always been very close and he has been a real true friend to me and supported me all the way for nearly 40 years. I will miss him dearly and he will live in my heart until we meet again. Rest in peace, my dear friend."
Added SABBATH bassist Geezer Butler: "Very sad to hear of old friend and SABBATH keyboard player Geoff Nicholls passing. RIP Geoff."
Said SABBATH singer Ozzy Osbourne: "Geoff Nicholls was a great friend of mine for a long time. He will be greatly missed. I'm very saddened at the news."
Nicholls, who played keyboards on all of SABBATH's albums between 1980 and 1995 and toured with them, was reportedly in remission from cancer at the time of his death but succumbed to the side effects of chemotherapy.
Nicholls's first appearance on a SABBATH album was on 1980's "Heaven And Hell". Although his main role with SABBATH was on the keyboard, Nicholls also played some rhythm guitar at concerts. In addition to not always being credited as a full member of the band, Nicholls rarely appeared on stage during SABBATH shows and would instead play on the side of the stage or backstage.
Nicholls's involvement with the band ended when Adam Wakeman (a member of Ozzy Osbourne's solo band) was chosen to play keyboards during SABBATH's 2004 and 2005 tours as part of Ozzfest.
Nicholls also played keyboards with former BLACK SABBATH singer Tony Martin in his band TONY MARTIN'S HEADLESS CROSS and performed on both of Martin's solo albums.
Martin said: "Saddened to hear of the passing of Geoff Nicholls... keyboard player and friend from SABBATH. Safe journey, mate."
Before joining BLACK SABBATH, Nicholls was member of the NWOBHM (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal) band QUARTZ, whose 1977 debut album was produced by Iommi. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Geoff played lead guitar for the Birmingham band JOHNNY NEAL AND THE STARLINERS.
"I'm so saddened to hear the loss of one of my dearest and closest friends Geoff Nicholls. He's been suffering for a while now with lung cancer and he lost his battle this morning. Geoff and I have always been very close and he has been a real true friend to me and supported me all the way for nearly 40 years. I will miss him dearly and he will live in my heart until we meet again.
Rest In Peace my dear friend."
Tony
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Reflections on Geoff Nicholls
JANUARY 28, 2017 BY JOE
Today has been an odd day for me. I woke up to an email from Tony Iommi’s management telling me that Geoff Nicholls had died. After I got the word out there, I started contacting others. Former Black Sabbath band mates, and other people I knew that knew Geoff. One of which was Jamie Mallender. Jamie played with Geoff in Tony Martin’s solo band some years back. The last time time Tony Martin put out a solo album (Scream), Jamie played bass on the tour and live shows around that time. So Jamie knew Geoff well.
Tonight after a gig that Jamie played, he shared a very awesome reflection on Geoff and his time with him. This is an great story, take some time to read it, it was most kind of Jamie to share. All the pictures come from Jamie as well.
Geoff Nicholls. 28.02.1948. – 28.01.2017.
Musician, Funny Man and Friend.
When I was a teenager and suddenly all I was interested in was music, Ozzy Osbourne was a solo artist and Black Sabbath had Tony Martin on vocals and of course, Geoff Nicholls was the invaluable offstage extra band member. So to me, that was what Black Sabbath sounded like. Tracks like The Shining and Headless Cross, resplendent with the gloss Geoff’s musicianship brought to the band were always on my stereo at that time. I discovered the other Sabbath stuff later. So for me, to suddenly get to be in a band with Tony Martin and Geoff Nicholls and be up there, playing those songs on tour on stages all over the world was like a dream come true. Now, they say you should never meet your heroes, and I’ve met many of mine, even worked with some of them. But I can tell you truthfully that knowing and working with a Geoff was nothing but a pleasure. Geoff was a big hearted, kind guy – a big softy. He loved music and he loved to make people laugh. The jokes never seemed to stop coming, he could really be the life and soul and if he wasn’t joking around he was telling us one of his many many road stories. Sometimes I really wanted him to shut up because my sides were hurting.
People tend to think of Geoff as a keyboard player, but essentially, he was musician. He could turn his hand to a lot of different instruments, he could sing, he had an amazing ear, he was a great writer – and he did it all with and endearing humility. It didn’t matter who he’d worked with, he was just Geoff.
Danny Needham and I once spent a day at Geoff’s where he fed us and showed us some music he’d been working on for a TV show, beautifully constructed instrumental stuff. He showed us some of his old instruments, platinum disks and tour shirts from old tours. He also told us about some of the pitfalls of the industry and gave us some advice of how to survive when the nasty stuff happens. And when Danny and I headed off into the city at night to sample a few beers, he gave us directions and a key, and told us to be careful like a loving parent.
When the band ceased to be, Geoff and I kept in touch with the occasional e-mail or phone call. He sent me funny stuff and always asked after my family. He used to remind me that Birmingham wasn’t actually that far from Sheffield and that if I was playing out that way I should call for a cuppa and a catch up. I always said I would and of course, I intended to. But I’m sad to say that I never got on with it. When you’re in about 15 bands and you’ve got kids and responsibilities it’s always next time I’m out this way…. Next time I’ll make sure I make time. There’s a lesson to be learned there.
When you’re on the road with a band, there are always experiences you share that result in certain catchphrases, band sayings and maybe in-jokes. When we were in a restaurant with Geoff, he would always ask (no matter what the meal was) for some chips (fries) with it, orange Fanta and ketchup. I think he had ketchup on just about everything. Whenever Danny and I speak of Geoff we always say, “can I have some fries with that,” or simply shout, “ketchup!” I dunno, maybe that’s not even mildly amusing to read, but if you’d ever been on the road with Geoff it would be.
So anyway, another stellar musician has left us. I wish I’d known him longer, I wish I’d worked with him more, I wish I’d called for a cuppa. My life was very much enriched for having known him. I thought of Geoff onstage tonight with The John Verity Band. We were playing, “The Devils Music,” from the “My Religion” album. I remember when I recorded the bass, thinking Geoff would have really liked that line. Anyway, goodbye Captain Ketchup, you’ll be sadly missed. So raise a glass to Geoff people, stick Headless Cross on and pay your respects.
Jamie Mallender 28.01.2017.
Black Sabbath - Die Young
Black Sabbath - The Shining (Official Audio)
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