Brian Slagel

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Brian Slagel (* 1961 ) is an American music manager , founder and head of the record label Metal Blade Records . Slagel became known, among other things, for helping Metallica achieve a breakthrough in 1982 by releasing Hit the Lights on the sampler Metal Massacre . Metal Blade is still one of the leading metal labels that discovered and brought out bands such as Slayer , Mercyful Fate , Fates Warning or Cannibal Corpse .

Career

Slagel grew up in Woodland Hills , California , was interested in heavy metal and soon worked in a record store. Slagel devoted himself to tape trading and imported the music of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal , which at that time was still largely unknown in the USA. He also published one of the first metal fanzines , The New Heavy Metal Revue . Later, Slagel also worked as a columnist for the Kerrang! the Sounds Magazine and other publications.

In 1982 Slagel released the first episode of the sampler Metal Massacre with bands from the Los Angeles area, which was quickly followed by more. A distribution contract with Enigma Records followed in 1983 . Slayer's debut show No Mercy also sold well. Slagel had Slayer on the third episode of Metal Massacre with Aggressive Perfector announced. Metal Blade expanded and Slagel, who worked alone until 1988, was able to sign bands such as Trouble , Flotsam and Jetsam , GWAR , Sacred Reich and Corrosion of Conformity . Slagel entered into a cooperation with Warner Bros. Records in the late 1980s . Due to artistic restrictions in the course of the integration into the WEA , however, the paths parted again in 1992. Instead, Slagel signed a distribution agreement with RED Distribution .

After the death of Cliff Burton was Slagel of Metallica the former bassist of Flotsam and Jetsam , Jason Newsted , suggested that then was Burton's successor.

In 2012 Metal Blade is one of the leading metal independent labels in the USA. Slagel is considered a scene connoisseur who is also interviewed in the documentary Metal - A Headbanger's Journey .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d Eric German: Behind the Screams Part 2: Interview with Brian Slagel , metalupdate.com
  2. ↑ Detlef Dengler: Brian Slagel . Right in the middle instead of just being there . In: Metal Hammer , No. 3, 2008, p. 36.
  3. ↑ Michael Rensen: Thrash, Grief & Triumphs . In: Rock Hard , April 2007 edition.

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Slagel, Brian
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American music manager
DATE OF BIRTH 1961