Ex-Megadeth Drummer Nick Menza Collapses On Stage, Dies

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com/AP) — Nick Menza, former drummer for the influential metal band Megadeth, died after collapsing on stage during a performance of his progressive jazz trio in Southern California, a family spokesman said Sunday.

Menza's latest band OHM was three songs into a semi-regular set at The Baked Potato in Studio City Saturday night when the drummer collapsed, friend and Menza biographer J. Marshall Craig told The Associated Press. Friends and audience members rendered aid while paramedics were called, around midnight.

In a statement Sunday, Craig said, "despite 25 minutes of resuscitation attempts, he died in an ambulance en route to the hospital."

The Baked Potato  took to Facebook Sunday, writing "RIP Nick Menza."

A cause of death has not been released for the 51-year-old drummer.

Menza was Megadeth's longest-serving drummer, performing on five records over nine years, including 1990's thrash metal landmark, "Rust In Peace."

Dave Mustaine, co-founder of Megadeth, said on Twitter that he awoke at 4 a.m. to the news.

"Tell me this isn't true," Mustaine wrote.

"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," said Marty Friedman, the band's guitarist from
1990 to 2000, also in a Facebook post. "I`m beyond sad, did not see this coming at all. RIP Brother."

After leaving Megadeth in 1998, Menza pursued an interest in jazz and became an accomplished woodworker.

Menza's autobiography, co-written by Craig, will detail the drummer's life in and out of music and is set for a July release.

Menza is survived by his mother Rose, and father Don Men, the well-known jazz saxophonist, and twopre-teen  sons, Nicholas and Donte.

Craig said the family is asking for privacy and prayers and will release futher statements as soon as possible.

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