Menza was playing with OHM, when he suddenly collapsed – paramedics could not revive the drummer
May 23, 2016
One more great loss in the metal community: former Megadeth drummer Nick Menza passed away May 21 at the age of 51. That night he was playing with his band OHM in Studio City, California, at the venue The Baked Potato.
Menza collapsed on stage right during the performance, when he was into the third song on the set list. Blabbermouth interviewed a fan who was at the concert, and were told that “it appeared to be a seizure but [Nick] stopped breathing. Two patrons took over and began CPR until EMS arrived. EMS worked on him for 25-plus minutes, including adrenaline shots, three shocks and non-stop compressions”, the witness said.
First, friends and audience members rendered aid while paramedics were on their way to the club. The 51-year-old musician died of a suspected massive heart attack. Officials haven’t released a cause of death yet.
Megadeth musicians immediately reacted to the news. The band’s former Guitarist Marty Freidman posted the following statement on Facebook:
“We all know the great and unique drummer that Nick Menza was, but he was also a trustworthy friend, a hilarious bandmate, as well as a very loving dad. I`m beyond sad, did not see this coming at all. RIP Brother.”
Megadeth co-founder Dave Mustaine heard the news at 4 a.m. and expressed his state of shock in the following Twitter post:
TELL ME THIS ISN’T TRUE! I woke at 4 AM to hear Nick Menza passed away on 5/21 playing his drums w/Ohm at the Baked Potato. #nickmenzarip
— Dave Mustaine (@DaveMustaine) May 22, 2016
The drummer was part of Megadeth on their biggest releases in the ’90s: he contributed to albums Rust In Peace, Countdown To Extinction and Youthinasia. Megadeth, Metallica, Slayer and Anthrax are titled metal’s “Big Four” in metal documentaries.
Menza decided to exit the band in 1998 after a knee surgery. He later joined OHM, which includes former Megadeth guitarist Chris Poland. Menza replaced the group’s longtime drummer David Eagle, who passed away last August. Eagle died of heart complications, following a heart attack, an open-heart surgery and three months of suffering in the hospital.
Alterock wishes strength to Nick’s parents, Rose and Don, and his two sons, as well as to Chris Poland, who, in less than one year’s time, has lost two great outstanding drummers.
