- Brian Slagel
Brian Slagel (born Feb 14th, 1961) is the owner and founder of
Metal Blade Records . Slagel is known for givingMetallica their first break in 1982, with an appearance on "Metal Massacre", a compilation album on Metal Blade, and has since released seminal albums bySlayer ,Mercyful Fate ,Cannibal Corpse ,Fates Warning , and Amon Amarth, among others.Biography
Slagel grew up in
Woodland Hills, California , and with an early love of heavy music, began working at a rock record store, Oz Records, as a teenager.German, Eric. "Behind the Screams Part 2: Interview with Brian Slagel", at [http://www.metalupdate.com/interviewmetalblade.html Metal Update.com] ; last accessedDecember 5 ,2006 .] With theNew Wave of British Heavy Metal sweeping the underground metal scene, bands such asIron Maiden ,Def Leppard and Diamond Head were virtually unknown in the US, outside of the tape trading underground. Slagel began importing NWOBHM records, and noticing a public interest in European metal, organized one of the first metalfanzine s, "The New Heavy Metal Revue".German, Eric. "Behind the Screams Part 2: Interview with Brian Slagel", at [http://www.metalupdate.com/interviewmetalblade.html Metal Update.com] ; last accessedDecember 5 ,2006 .] As the fanzine started to pick up steam, Slagel began working as a columnist for "Kerrang! ", "Sounds Magazine", and other music publications.German, Eric. "Behind the Screams Part 2: Interview with Brian Slagel", at [http://www.metalupdate.com/interviewmetalblade.html Metal Update.com] ; last accessedDecember 5 ,2006 .]In 1982 Slagel organized the release of a
compilation album , featuring all local Los Angeles metal bands, called "The New Heavy Metal Revue Presents Metal Massacre". The album featured the first recordings ofRatt ,Steeler ,Malice ,Avatar , Cirith Ungol,Bitch andMetallica . The album quickly sold all 5,000 copies that were printed, and led to a distribution deal withEnigma Records in 1983. Slagel foundedMetal Blade Records in 1983, and released albums by Warlord,Bitch ,Armored Saint andSlayer 's "Show No Mercy ", which sold 40,000 copies worldwide.German, Eric. "Behind the Screams Part 2: Interview with Brian Slagel", at [http://www.metalupdate.com/interviewmetalblade.html Metal Update.com] ; last accessedDecember 5 ,2006 .]Metal Blade quickly expanded, signing bands such as Flotsam and Jetsam,
GWAR ,Sacred Reich , andCorrosion of Conformity , and although the label's roster expanded, Slagel ran the company alone until 1988.German, Eric. "Behind the Screams Part 2: Interview with Brian Slagel", at [http://www.metalupdate.com/interviewmetalblade.html Metal Update.com] ; last accessedDecember 5 ,2006 .]With heavy metal's popularity exploding in the late 1980s, many Metal Blade artists began moving to
major label s. After the expiration of their distribution deal with Enigma Records, Metal Blade entered a partnership withWarner Bros. Records , who would distribute and market some of the independent label's releases, but Warner was soon bought by Time, Inc, and incorporated into WEA.German, Eric. "Behind the Screams Part 2: Interview with Brian Slagel", at [http://www.metalupdate.com/interviewmetalblade.html Metal Update.com] ; last accessedDecember 5 ,2006 .] At the same time,Body Count 's "Cop Killer", also released on WEA, was causing controversy, and after publich backlash, the band was dropped from WEA. Following Body Count's troubles, WEA introduced new policies regarding controversial lryics, and attempted to censorGWAR 's "America Must Be Destroyed ". Not wanting to compromise the artistic integrity of any Metal Blade acts, WEA and Slagel parted ways in 1992, with Metal Blade giving WEA theGoo Goo Dolls , and receiving a distribution deal withRED Distribution .German, Eric. "Behind the Screams Part 2: Interview with Brian Slagel", at [http://www.metalupdate.com/interviewmetalblade.html Metal Update.com] ; last accessedDecember 5 ,2006 .]Today, Metal Blade remains one of the top independent heavy metal record labels, with a current roster of over 30 bands.
ee also
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Metal Blade Records Notes
reflist|1External links
* [http://www.metalblade.com Metal Blade Records official site]
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