Old Bridge Militia helped launch Metallica's career
In 1983, Metallica was based in Old Bridge, and a group of fans dubbed the Militia launched the band's career by feeding members, giving them a place to live and party, and selling concert tickets
It’s not often that millionaire rock stars give back, but Metallica seems not to have forgotten what was given to them at the start of their career by a band of head-banging misfits they dubbed Old Bridge Militia.
Having lost many friends to various perils, those misfits grew up and formed Old Bridge Militia Foundation, a charity that supports needy children with music equipment and lessons.
“Metallica’s been a great help with the Old Bridge Militia Foundation,” said “Rockin’’ Ray Dill, one of the Militia’s leaders. “They see their friends from back in the day giving back, and they’re giving back themselves.”
From April 1983 to February 1984, Metallica lived at first with Dill on Englishtown Road, then with his Old Bridge buddy, “Metal” Joe Chimienti, while the band’s manager-executive producer Jon Zazula formed Megaforce Records and Crazed Management to unleash the pioneering thrash band onto the world.
As co-owner with wife Marsha of Rock ‘n’ Roll Heaven, a popular heavy metal record store in East Brunswick’s Route 18 Flea Market, Zazula test-marketed records with loyal customers Dill and Chimienti, who subsequently spun them at Old Bridge’s Club 516 and at parties. Both were filled with their many friends who helped Jonny Z promote concerts.
One of the recordings Zazula played for them was Metallica’s demo, the originality and aggressiveness of which convinced him to promote the band at a dozen of his upcoming concerts. He then convinced the band to come to New Jersey so he could work with them directly, initially out of his Old Bridge home. But when the late-night antics of the teenage Metallica didn’t bode well for his young family, Jonny Z turned to “Metal” Joe and “Rockin’” Ray for help.
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Joe’s Funhouse
At “Metal” Joe’s Funhouse, a remote 29-acre spread the Old Bridge native rented in Farmingdale, Metallica often partied with and performed for a legion of immediate fans. Such pockets of supporters the band called militias, inspired by their song “Metal Militia,” which closed their Megaforce debut, “Kill ’Em All.” There also were “militias” in their native California, as well as in other parts of Jersey, such as Bayonne.
But it was the Old Bridge Militia that had the greatest impact on the band’s early career, Zazula said.
“I tried to sell them to every label, but no one got it,” he said. “That’s why I did it myself with Megaforce, but it was a startup operation with no money. OId Bridge Militia made it possible for Megaforce to function by giving a place to our bands and other metal bands on the scene to live. They had concerts down in Joe’s basement. They fed the bands and entertained the bands. They were an incredible help to our organization.”
While living in Jersey, Metallica played several legendary shows at the Showplace, Dover; Union Jack, South River; the Fountain Casino, Aberdeen; L’Amours, Brooklyn, N.Y.; Willy’s (now Starland Ballroom), Sayreville; and Skateway 9, now New York Sports Club, in the Morganville section of Marlboro.
One of the youngest members of the Militia who followed Metallica to those shows, “Metal” Maria Ferrero said she remembers stealing food from her parents’ refrigerator to give to the band.
Now a metal publicist whose Adrenaline PR clients include the Alternative Press Music Awards and the Virginia band Lamb of God, Ferrero described the union of Metallica and Old Bridge Militia as “the perfect storm.”
“Metallica knows they’d be nowhere without their fans,” she said. “Old Bridge Militia was their first fan club, unofficially. But they also fed them. They housed them. They took care of them. Anything the bands needed, they took care of. Metallica hasn’t forgotten.”
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‘Fade to Black’
Nor did James Hetfield forget writing “Fade to Black” and other songs on Chimienti’s couch, which the Metallica vocalist-guitarist explained years later during a radio interview with Howard Stern, as well as in Guitar World magazine.
Often confused as a suicide song, “Fade to Black” actually was inspired by the theft of the band’s equipment, while at a gig in Boston.
“With the whole ‘Fade to Black’ thing, when their stuff got stolen, they were leaving the house to go on their first European tour, and me and Ray scraped together $100 each and gave it to Metallica, and that’s what they left with,” Chimienti said. “Three guitars and $200 to go on their first European tour.”
Shortly after Metallica toured Europe, they left Megaforce for current label Elektra Records and Crazed for current management Q Prime, which also represents Red Hot Chili Peppers. But for many years, Old Bridge Militia stayed in touch with Metallica, who often invited them to East Coast shows.
By 1996’s “Load” tour, however, much of the relationship had dried up. Chimienti said he did not speak to the band again until 2009, when Metallica invited him, Dill and other surviving members of Old Bridge Militia to their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in Cleveland.
“When we got to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,” Dill said, “Lars came over, and I said, ‘Remember when you guys left, we gave you that money?’ He goes, ‘Yeah, man.’ And he reaches into his pocket for his wallet. I said, ‘Get out of here with that ... Don’t even bother.’ And he pulls his hands up.”
Management told Dill and Chimienti that they were the first two people Metallica invited to the induction.
When the foundation formed in 2014, Metallica allowed the charity to adopt the design of its lightning bolts-shaped logo. The band also donated several memorabilia items to raffle, as well as a drum head from James Hetfield that’s signed, “Forever Grateful, Forever Brothers, Forever Connected.” The foundation had the drum head framed and display it at their events (a fundraiser is scheduled on May 14 at Old Bridge Elks Lodge). In honor of fallen Militia man and Metallica roadie Bob Szuminsky, the “Bulldozer” Bash again will raise money to bring music to children in need.
Chimienti and Dill said they realize the foundation wouldn’t be possible without Metallica. They recently reciprocated by helping the band’s management with photos and stories for the forthcoming repackaging of Metallica’s “Kill ’Em All” album. The box set will be released on April 15.
What you can do
Support the Old Bridge Militia Foundation’s efforts to provide needy children with music instruments and lessons at the “Bulldozer” Bash, 1 p.m. May 14, Old Bridge Elks Lodge, 67 Old Amboy Road, with Baelfire, Rocker, Frankenstein 3000, Mercury Rising, Black Reign, and DJ Alex Kayne. Admission is $20, which includes food and beer. Metallica and other metal memorabilia will be raffled, and foundation apparel will be sold. The foundation is looking for vendors and sponsors for the event. Visit www.oldbridgemilitia.com.
Old Bridge Militia timeline
1981: Rock ‘n’ Roll Heaven — Deadheads Jon and Marsha Zazula of Old Bridge open their Rock ‘n’ Roll Heaven record store in East Brunswick’s Route 18 Flea Market just as a new wave of British heavy metal led by Iron Maiden came stateside
1982: “Rockin’” Ray & “Metal” Joe — The Zazulas begin to test market their records, including hard-to-find imports, with a couple of Old Bridge headbangers, “Rockin’” Ray Dill and “Metal” Joe Chimienti. They then DJ at Club 516, hold parties and basement shows, and help the Zazulas promote concerts with their many friends.
1983: Metallica arrives in Old Bridge — Stunned by the originality of Metallica’s demo, Jonny Z brings the band to Old Bridge to promote and eventually manage and record them. As Zazula develops Megaforce Records to launch their “Kill ’Em All” debut, they live with Chimienti and Dill for nearly a year, dubbing their head-banging crew Old Bridge Militia.
1984: Ride the lightning to Europe — After being fed, housed and promoted by Old Bridge Militia for nearly a year, Metallica departs New Jersey for their first European tour. They also leave Megaforce for Elektra Records and Zazula’s Crazed Management for Q Prime.
1986: “Master of Puppets” — Metallica’s masterpiece changes the course of rock ‘n’ roll. Old Bridge Militia members enjoy the ride as the band’s close friends and, in some cases, roadies.
2009: Rock Hall — Metallica invites Dill, Chimienti and other Militia members to their 2009 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction
2014: The Foundation — Dill and Chimienti launch the Old Bridge Militia Foundation, a fund to help needy and children with music equipment and lessons. Metallica allows the foundation to adopt its logo and donates many fund-raising memorabilia items, as do other metal bands the Militia supported, such as Slayer, Anvil, Raven and Anthrax.
Staff Writer Bob Makin: 732-565-7319; bmakin@MyCentralJersey.com