Nick Menza
| Nick Menza | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Nicholas Menza |
| Born |
July 23, 1964 Munich, West Germany |
| Died | May 21, 2016 (aged 51) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Heavy metal, hard rock, thrash metal, jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
| Instruments | Drums, vocals, percussion, guitar, bass, keyboard |
| Years active | 1981–2016 |
| Labels | Capital, Combat, Shrapnel, EMI Music Greece |
| Associated acts | Megadeth, Marty Friedman, Memorain, Anthony Gallo, Don Menza, Christian Nesmith, SIN 34, Cold Fire, The Green, Sweet Eve, Von Skeletor, Orphaned to Hatred, Chris Poland, OHM |
Nicholas "Nick" Menza (July 23, 1964 – May 21, 2016) was an American musician best known as the former drummer for American thrash metal band Megadeth from 1989-1998 and again in 2004 as well as one final return in 2014. He recorded drums on four of Megadeth's albums: Rust in Peace (1990), Countdown to Extinction (1992), Youthanasia (1994) and Cryptic Writings (1997).
Menza was born in Munich as his father, jazz musician Don Menza, was stationed with the U.S. Army in Germany at the time. Nick 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. His influences stem from being nurtured around the tutelage of such notables as Buddy Rich, Steve Gadd, Nick Ceroli, Jeff Porcaro and Louie Bellson.
Beginning his professional musical career at the age of 18 drumming in the band Rhoads featuring singer Kelle Rhoads, brother of the late Randy Rhoads, Nick released his first record with Rhoads, titled Into the Future, in Europe in 1986.
Following Rhoads, Menza was part of a succession of L.A. metal bands, including The Green (with Rhoads band mates John Goodwin on guitar and Darwin Ballard on bass, respectively), Von Skeletor (another collaboration with Goodwin; with Menza handling lead vocals on the band's demo and self-released album, Injection of Death), and Cold Fire (also featuring Warrior guitarist Joe Floyd) before joining Megadeth.
Moving on to session playing including styles ranging from R&B to gospel, funk and heavy metal, recording with the likes of John Fogerty, Nick caught the attention of then Megadeth drummer Chuck Behler and became his tech. He had also been chosen to play in Slayer on South of Heaven, but original drummer Dave Lombardo came back and beat Menza in the audition. When Megadeth needed a drummer in 1989, Nick Menza was asked by Dave Mustaine to join the band. Mustaine noted that Menza previously filled in on drums when Behler was unable to. Menza first played live with Megadeth on May 12, 1988 in Bradford, England. This prior experience and personal relationship led to the invitation to join Megadeth for the 1990 recording Rust in Peace.
...
Wikipedia