METAL PULP AND PAPER
METAL PULP AND PAPER INTERVIEW
Maria Ferrero/Adrenaline PR CEO
Metal Pulp And Paper:
In 1983 you began working at MegaForce Records/Crazed Management. How did
you come about meeting Jon and Marsha Zazula, and then eventually working
with them?
Maria Ferrero:
I was a rebellious teen living in Old Bridge NJ. There was a scene of cool
kids we all got into mischief and heavy metal was some of that… Jon and
Marsha were neighbors friend of mine and they owned a record store Rock
And Roll Heaven - I knocked on their door and bought Motorhead on Clear vinyl
I was 15 they were around 28.
MPAP:
Were you involved with music before this?
MF:
I sang in Choir at School - as a little girl age 3 til… I always had my
little portable record player and my 45’s etc. I was really into Andy Gibb ,
KC and The Sunshine Band, Three Dog Night, The Partridge Family and LOVED
ELTON JOHN. The soundtrack to the movie Tommy I was 10, and Black Sabbath's
"Paranoid" I was 11. When I heard these two opuses - that CHANGED my life.
MPAP:
Metallica, Anthrax, and Mercyful Fate were just beginning to take shape in 1983, how did it feel to be a part of it all?
MF:
We were all just cool kids hanging out - no idea that what we were in the midst of a cultural boom that would change history and literally take over the world - I knew it was big in 1997 while honeymooning in remote Bora Bora there was graffiti on the street METALLICA scribbled with some paint - I knew at that moment that it was truly global.
MPAP:
With each band carving their name in history, their style had to be exciting to hear for the first
time?
MF:
It was all fun and exciting for sure GREAT bands and GREAT times and GREAT people.- its similar today just names have changed and some of the players in the biz…
MPAP:
Each of those bands have gone on to have major success, but each of them has had
some sort of tragedy in their careers also. September 26th, 1986 the day
Cliff Burton died. Where were you when you found out about his death?
MF:
I was home in Old Bridge NJ living at my fathers house. Marsha called me and told me
to sit down she had terrible news - we managed Anthrax at the time and
she told me of the horrible accident - she knew Cliff and I were very close friends.
MPAP:
And what did you think?
MF:
Sadness and a reminder that life is precious.
MPAP:
Metallica were on top of the world, what did you think would happen next?
MF:
TESTAMENT.
MPAP:
Then at the end of 1992 Anthrax fired Joey Belladonna. How did this make you feel?
MF:
I understood at the time because I worked with their management for so long – It was something that had to happen - and look - It all worked out for the best - everyone is happily together with a renewed appreciation.
MPAP:
Did you feel that some of the founding fathers were getting old?
MF:
Reality check.
MPAP:
You mentioned that once you sat down and used a typewriter to ask European
magazine editors if they had an interest in speaking with Scott Ian and
Joey Belladonna about the new lineup in Anthrax back in 1983. Today some might not have a clue what a typewriter really is.
Do you think everyone in your line of work has it easy today with cell
phones, internet, and e-mails?
MF:
Easy, lazy… inefficient- I’m old school but … I'd be lost without the
conveniences that technology provides today.
MPAP:
You pride your companies on teamwork. What are some words the whole world
should follow that you think are very important?
MF:
There is no I in team - everyone has an equally important part in the end game.
MPAP:
Is there any competition between PR companies?
MF:
I know my place in the music business after 34 years of doing this - I don’t feel there is competition really.
MPAP:
Are there bands out there that everyone fights over to get?
MF:
Not in my world.
MPAP:
Adrenaline PR was formed in February of 2003. What made you decide to do this?
MF:
I lost my job and didn’t know what to do – I called a friend Debbie
Abono who called our mutual friend Gloria Cavallera - Gloria called me and
hired me for Soulfly – my first client as an indie.
MPAP:
And at any point did you go, "Wow, what did I get myself into?"
MF:
Never its really what I’ve been doing for most of my life so …
MPAP:
What have been some of the struggles of doing PR?
MF:
Knowing tact.
MPAP:
Is there light at the end of the tunnel? What do you do to make sure it's all sunny skies?
MF:
Positive attitude NO MATTER WHAT - something great always comes even after the worst storms.
MPAP:
You work 24/7 365 a year. When do you find time to unwind? And what do you
do to unwind?
MF:
Work to me is unwinding actually - but I take pride in my home, gardening , cooking, my three Shar Peis, I love the beach and people too.
MPAP:
You’ve been in the music industry for a long time. What do you want to say to those that think rock is dead?
MF:
As long as there is a beating heart - there will be rebellion- Rock lives.
MPAP:
Breaking Bands is founded by the powerhouse team of Adrenaline PR CEO
Maria Ferrero, former MegaForce Records and Crazed Management owners Jon
and Marsha Zazula, and Testament vocalist and co-manager Chuck Billy. What
do each of you bring to the table?
MF:
A lot of years of combined experience from people skills to pr to touring , licensing, recording
contracts plus a combined rolodex that connects our artists to many greater situations.
MPAP:
Is there a band out there that you hope someday can be a part of the
Adrenaline PR or Breaking Bands team?
MF:
Anyone who wants honest hard working passionate people to support their mission.
MPAP:
What's on the horizon for Adrenaline Pr and Breaking Bands?
MF:
Surprises are coming.
MPAP:
Anything new coming up that everyone needs to check out?
MF:
Stay tuned.
MPAP:
Soilwork and Shattered Sun. Two great bands you're also a part of. Five words to sum them up?
MF:
Technical prowess raising the bar.
MPAP:
Thank you Maria for taking the time to answer these questions.
In 1983 you began working at MegaForce Records/Crazed Management. How did
you come about meeting Jon and Marsha Zazula, and then eventually working
with them?
Maria Ferrero:
I was a rebellious teen living in Old Bridge NJ. There was a scene of cool
kids we all got into mischief and heavy metal was some of that… Jon and
Marsha were neighbors friend of mine and they owned a record store Rock
And Roll Heaven - I knocked on their door and bought Motorhead on Clear vinyl
I was 15 they were around 28.
MPAP:
Were you involved with music before this?
MF:
I sang in Choir at School - as a little girl age 3 til… I always had my
little portable record player and my 45’s etc. I was really into Andy Gibb ,
KC and The Sunshine Band, Three Dog Night, The Partridge Family and LOVED
ELTON JOHN. The soundtrack to the movie Tommy I was 10, and Black Sabbath's
"Paranoid" I was 11. When I heard these two opuses - that CHANGED my life.
MPAP:
Metallica, Anthrax, and Mercyful Fate were just beginning to take shape in 1983, how did it feel to be a part of it all?
MF:
We were all just cool kids hanging out - no idea that what we were in the midst of a cultural boom that would change history and literally take over the world - I knew it was big in 1997 while honeymooning in remote Bora Bora there was graffiti on the street METALLICA scribbled with some paint - I knew at that moment that it was truly global.
MPAP:
With each band carving their name in history, their style had to be exciting to hear for the first
time?
MF:
It was all fun and exciting for sure GREAT bands and GREAT times and GREAT people.- its similar today just names have changed and some of the players in the biz…
MPAP:
Each of those bands have gone on to have major success, but each of them has had
some sort of tragedy in their careers also. September 26th, 1986 the day
Cliff Burton died. Where were you when you found out about his death?
MF:
I was home in Old Bridge NJ living at my fathers house. Marsha called me and told me
to sit down she had terrible news - we managed Anthrax at the time and
she told me of the horrible accident - she knew Cliff and I were very close friends.
MPAP:
And what did you think?
MF:
Sadness and a reminder that life is precious.
MPAP:
Metallica were on top of the world, what did you think would happen next?
MF:
TESTAMENT.
MPAP:
Then at the end of 1992 Anthrax fired Joey Belladonna. How did this make you feel?
MF:
I understood at the time because I worked with their management for so long – It was something that had to happen - and look - It all worked out for the best - everyone is happily together with a renewed appreciation.
MPAP:
Did you feel that some of the founding fathers were getting old?
MF:
Reality check.
MPAP:
You mentioned that once you sat down and used a typewriter to ask European
magazine editors if they had an interest in speaking with Scott Ian and
Joey Belladonna about the new lineup in Anthrax back in 1983. Today some might not have a clue what a typewriter really is.
Do you think everyone in your line of work has it easy today with cell
phones, internet, and e-mails?
MF:
Easy, lazy… inefficient- I’m old school but … I'd be lost without the
conveniences that technology provides today.
MPAP:
You pride your companies on teamwork. What are some words the whole world
should follow that you think are very important?
MF:
There is no I in team - everyone has an equally important part in the end game.
MPAP:
Is there any competition between PR companies?
MF:
I know my place in the music business after 34 years of doing this - I don’t feel there is competition really.
MPAP:
Are there bands out there that everyone fights over to get?
MF:
Not in my world.
MPAP:
Adrenaline PR was formed in February of 2003. What made you decide to do this?
MF:
I lost my job and didn’t know what to do – I called a friend Debbie
Abono who called our mutual friend Gloria Cavallera - Gloria called me and
hired me for Soulfly – my first client as an indie.
MPAP:
And at any point did you go, "Wow, what did I get myself into?"
MF:
Never its really what I’ve been doing for most of my life so …
MPAP:
What have been some of the struggles of doing PR?
MF:
Knowing tact.
MPAP:
Is there light at the end of the tunnel? What do you do to make sure it's all sunny skies?
MF:
Positive attitude NO MATTER WHAT - something great always comes even after the worst storms.
MPAP:
You work 24/7 365 a year. When do you find time to unwind? And what do you
do to unwind?
MF:
Work to me is unwinding actually - but I take pride in my home, gardening , cooking, my three Shar Peis, I love the beach and people too.
MPAP:
You’ve been in the music industry for a long time. What do you want to say to those that think rock is dead?
MF:
As long as there is a beating heart - there will be rebellion- Rock lives.
MPAP:
Breaking Bands is founded by the powerhouse team of Adrenaline PR CEO
Maria Ferrero, former MegaForce Records and Crazed Management owners Jon
and Marsha Zazula, and Testament vocalist and co-manager Chuck Billy. What
do each of you bring to the table?
MF:
A lot of years of combined experience from people skills to pr to touring , licensing, recording
contracts plus a combined rolodex that connects our artists to many greater situations.
MPAP:
Is there a band out there that you hope someday can be a part of the
Adrenaline PR or Breaking Bands team?
MF:
Anyone who wants honest hard working passionate people to support their mission.
MPAP:
What's on the horizon for Adrenaline Pr and Breaking Bands?
MF:
Surprises are coming.
MPAP:
Anything new coming up that everyone needs to check out?
MF:
Stay tuned.
MPAP:
Soilwork and Shattered Sun. Two great bands you're also a part of. Five words to sum them up?
MF:
Technical prowess raising the bar.
MPAP:
Thank you Maria for taking the time to answer these questions.
24/7 365
©metalpulpandpaper