This weekend the metal world sadly lost longtime Megadeth drummer Nick Menza, who died suddenly Saturday (May 21) after an onstage collapse during an L.A. concert. Over the weekend, 51-year-old Menza's exact cause of death was unclear; however, officials have now confirmed it was indeed due to a massive heart attack.
As TMZ reports, autopsy results have revealed that the drummer died due to a heart attack and his death was in no way drug-related, according to law enforcement officials. It's added that officials at the scene interviewed several people close to Menza, who passed away while playing with his new band OHM, also concluding that there was no evidence of recent drug use.
As previously reported, tributes have been flowing in for the fallen musician, who joined Megadeth in 1989 and played on classic albums such as Rust in Peace, Countdown to Extinction and Youthanasia. Earlier this week, Megadeth leader Dave Mustaine shared the touching tribute to Menza.
You can read it in full below:
I woke up this morning to a text message from my son, with the news of Nick Menza's passing. Shocked, devastated, and saddened don't begin to describe my feelings.
Originally a tech for the band, Nick soon displayed such talent and personality, it didn't take long for us to realize he belonged onstage with us behind the kit. We asked Nick to join Megadeth as our drummer in 1989. At the time, the band already had its first [gold] album, which only served to stoke the fire. We all wanted world domination, with so much of our lives and dreams ahead of us. As we navigated through the pitfalls of life and the music business, our first album with Nick, Rust in Peace, and subsequent albums Countdown to Extinction and Youthanasia, kept up the momentum. We parted ways after Cryptic Writings. We, like all brothers, would disagree at times, but our bond was strong throughout.
As a player, Nick had a very powerful jazzy flair, unpredictable and always entertaining. And, as great a drummer as he was, the time spent with him as a person, a bandmate and a friend was even more fun. There were several times we discussed him coming back to the band, but for various reasons it never came together. We've been in touch all along, he had come out to our shows recently and he had remained a great friend, a true professional and a larger than life personality.
The Megadeth family take care of each other, and expect to hear soon about an initiative to help Nick's children. All of us in this community are connected, take care of yourself and your loved ones.
My deepest condolences go out to Nick's family.
You can also watch an onstage tribute to Menza by Mustaine and Megadeth below.
As TMZ reports, autopsy results have revealed that the drummer died due to a heart attack and his death was in no way drug-related, according to law enforcement officials. It's added that officials at the scene interviewed several people close to Menza, who passed away while playing with his new band OHM, also concluding that there was no evidence of recent drug use.
As previously reported, tributes have been flowing in for the fallen musician, who joined Megadeth in 1989 and played on classic albums such as Rust in Peace, Countdown to Extinction and Youthanasia. Earlier this week, Megadeth leader Dave Mustaine shared the touching tribute to Menza.
You can read it in full below:
I woke up this morning to a text message from my son, with the news of Nick Menza's passing. Shocked, devastated, and saddened don't begin to describe my feelings.
Originally a tech for the band, Nick soon displayed such talent and personality, it didn't take long for us to realize he belonged onstage with us behind the kit. We asked Nick to join Megadeth as our drummer in 1989. At the time, the band already had its first [gold] album, which only served to stoke the fire. We all wanted world domination, with so much of our lives and dreams ahead of us. As we navigated through the pitfalls of life and the music business, our first album with Nick, Rust in Peace, and subsequent albums Countdown to Extinction and Youthanasia, kept up the momentum. We parted ways after Cryptic Writings. We, like all brothers, would disagree at times, but our bond was strong throughout.
As a player, Nick had a very powerful jazzy flair, unpredictable and always entertaining. And, as great a drummer as he was, the time spent with him as a person, a bandmate and a friend was even more fun. There were several times we discussed him coming back to the band, but for various reasons it never came together. We've been in touch all along, he had come out to our shows recently and he had remained a great friend, a true professional and a larger than life personality.
The Megadeth family take care of each other, and expect to hear soon about an initiative to help Nick's children. All of us in this community are connected, take care of yourself and your loved ones.
My deepest condolences go out to Nick's family.
You can also watch an onstage tribute to Menza by Mustaine and Megadeth below.
