Nicholas Menza was an American musician best known as the drummer for thrash metal band Megadeth from 1989 to 1998.
17 Facts About Nick Menza
2.
Nick Menza recorded drums on four of Megadeth's albums: Rust in Peace, Countdown to Extinction, Youthanasia, and Cryptic Writings.
3.
Nick Menza was born in Munich, Germany, where his father, jazz musician Don Nick Menza, had been stationed with the US Army.
4.
Nick Menza began playing drums at the age of two, at which age he performed at his first public concert when during the intermission someone sat him down on Jack DeJohnette's drums and he proceeded to play.
5.
When Megadeth needed a drummer in 1989, Nick Menza was asked by Dave Mustaine to join the band.
6.
Mustaine noted that Nick Menza previously filled in on drums when Behler was unable to.
7.
Nick Menza first played live with Megadeth on May 12,1988, in Bradford, England.
8.
Nick Menza was informed he had a tumor, which was later found to be benign, and had it removed.
9.
Nick Menza has said in several interviews that, while in the hospital recovering from knee surgery, he received a phone call from Mustaine that simply said "Your services are not needed anymore".
10.
Guest guitarist Christian Nesmith, son of The Monkees' Michael Nesmith, did some leads and Nick Menza hired producer Max Norman.
11.
Days after a reunion was announced, Nick Menza was fired after rehearsals and replaced with Shawn Drover.
12.
Nick Menza nearly suffered the loss of an arm in 2007, after having an accident with a power saw.
13.
Nick Menza required reconstructive surgery and metal plates in his arm and a lengthy rehabilitation, but later recovered.
14.
Nick Menza later auctioned off the blood-stained saw blade and an original copy of an X-ray from the incident.
15.
In March 2011, Nick Menza appeared in a music video for Mindstreem's "We Up Next", a song originally written by SIN 34 guitarist Anthony Gallo featuring Tony Lanza and Daniel Wayne, Jr.
16.
On May 21,2016, Nick Menza was performing with his band OHM at The Baked Potato jazz club in Studio City, Los Angeles.
17.
Nick Menza was rushed to a hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.