SPV founder Manfred Schütz passed away on January 3, 2025, at 74, after a long and serious illness.

Manfred launched the rock and metal heavy SPV in 1984, once the largest indie distro in Europe.

SPV sub-label Steamhammer released essential metal albums from Sodom and Destruction and licensed records by Metal Church and Trouble. In the nineties, SPV was home to legendary bands like Motörhead, Dio, Judas Priest, Saxon, and Lynyrd Skynyrd. In the 2000s, Steamhammer signed Whitesnake, Alice Cooper, Helloween, Kreator, and Gamma Ray.  

After leaving SPV, he started MIG Music, which will continue under the management of Tanja Michaelis and Volker Pape.

Photo credit: Martin Huch (courtesy of MIG Music via Blabbermouth)