Los Angeles – Nick Menza, former drummer for the rock band, Megadeth died at age 51 after collapsing on stage at a Los Angeles Club, a family Spokesman said on Sunday.
Menza collapsed on Saturday night while performing with his current band, “OHM’’ at the Baked Potato Club in Studio City, California where he lived, said J. Marshall Craig who is also Menza’s biographer.
The band had been performing its third song of the first set, late on Saturday when Menza collapsed, Craig said.
Audience, members of the band and friends tried to resuscitate him until medics arrived, but Menza died in an ambulance en route to a local hospital after 25 minutes of resuscitation attempts.
“In spite of his excellent health and extremely active sober lifestyle, a heart attack is his suspected cause of death, however, an autopsy would be conducted.
“Menza was the longest-serving drummer for Megadeth from 1989 to 1998, a period when the band was considered at its height.
“He recorded drums and toured on the albums; “Rust in Peace’’, “Countdown to Extinction’’, “Youthanasia’’ and “Cryptic Writings’’,” Craig said
A post on Menza’s website said he was asked by Megadeth co-founder, Dave Mustaine to join the band in 1989, after first playing live with the group in 1988 in Bradford, England.
Halfway through a 1998 tour, Menza discovered a tumour on his knee and was forced to leave for surgery.
Megadeth hired a replacement and Menza was not asked back.
Craig, in an upcoming memoir stated that , Menza had nothing but praise for his former band mates, including Mustaine, and considered himself fortunate to have been a part of a legendary band.
He had been playing in OHM, which included fellow Megadeth alumnus, Chris Poland, for more than one year after various solo stints.
Menza was also an accomplished artist and woodworker who was set to unveil an art series in Houston in June before his death. (NAN)
