"For the sake of heaviness: The history of Metal Blade Records" Non-Fiction by Brian Slagel

Metal Blade Records and BMG present ‘For the Sake of Heaviness: The History of Metal Blade Records’. It’s written by the label’s founder and CEO Brian Slagel in collaboration with Mark Eglinton and includes a foreword by Metallica’s Lars Ulrich. 'For the Sake of Heaviness’ is an insightful reflection on 35 years of the label’s history, from its beginnings as a one-man endeavour operating out of Slagel’s mother’s garage to becoming one of the leading international heavy metal record labels. This book showcases Metal Blade’s early history and achievements, but it looks toward the label’s future as well. Slagel recalls the advice he gave Motley Crue at the beginning of their career, how he helped Metallica find a new bassist (twice!), his efforts to re-release albums from Thin Lizzy and Alice Cooper and his behind-the-scenes role in the success of bands like Slayer, GWAR, Mother Love Bone, Alice in Chains, Faith No More, Goo Goo Dolls and Lamb of God. He also talks about surprising encounters with fellow metalheads: hockey star Ken Baumgartner, celebrity chef Chris Santos, Richard Christy from ‘The Howard Stern Show’ and comedians like Jim Florentine, Don Jamieson and Jim Breuer.