Nick Menza

Nick Menza
Born	July 23, 1964 (1964-07-23) (age 47), Munich, Germany
Genres	Heavy metal, hard rock, thrash metal
Occupations	Musician, songwriter
Instruments	Drums
Years active	1982–present
Labels	Capital, Combat, Shrapnel, EMI Music Greece
Associated acts	Megadeth, Marty Friedman, Memorain, Anthony Gallo, Orphaned to Hatred

Nick Menza (born July 23, 1964 in Munich, Germany) is an American drummer best known for his work in Megadeth^[1] from 1989 to 1998, appearing on four of the band's studio albums.

Early life

As the son of jazz musician Don Menza, 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.^[2]

Beginning his professional musical career at the age of 18 drumming in the band Rhoads featuring singer Kelly Rhoads, brother of the late Randy Rhoads, Nick released his first record with Rhoads called Into The Future in Europe.

Musical career

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. 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.

For the next ten years, Nick became associated with Megadeth's "classic" period and also his Greg Voelker Rack System. This included a double-bass drum kit with the tom-toms mounted on a lower chrome rack and all cymbal crashes mounted on a higher rack, which was supported by two chrome bars behind the drummer. This was later adopted by Megadeth on 2004's Blackmail the Universe tour, which featured a similar rack system.

Clash of the Titans tour poster

Menza guitarist Anthony Gallo

By 1998, while the band was still touring in support of Cryptic Writings, Menza was having knee problems and sought medical advice. He was informed he had a tumor, which was later found to be benign, and had it removed. As a result, Megadeth hired a temporary replacement by Jimmy DeGrasso rather than cancel any dates. When the time came to record a follow-up album, Menza was not asked back and DeGrasso became the band's official drummer. 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". After his departure, he began work on Menza: Life After Deth^[3] with former Suicidal Tendencies/ Los Cycos guitarist Anthony Gallo,^[4] bassist Jason Levin,^[4] and guitarist Ty Longley.^[4] The album was initially intended to have a 2002 release date and tour to follow, however, on the tour in 2003 with the reformed Great White, Longley was among the 100 people killed in The Station nightclub fire in Rhode Island^[5] and a year later Jason Levin died of heart failure, Menza and Gallo were devastated and the Life After Deth tour was never announced.^[6]

Following the reissue of the entire Megadeth catalog, Menza was invited to reunite with Megadeth in 2004. Days after a reunion was announced Menza was fired after rehearsals and replaced with Shawn Drover. Dave Mustaine said that this was because Nick "just wasn't prepared".^[7]

In April 2006, Menza joined the Los Angeles-based metal band Orphaned to Hatred.^[8] The group describe their sound as "a continuation of the heavy style of '90s Pantera". He left the band in late 2010.

In March 2011, Menza appeared in a music video for Mindstreem's "We Up Next" a song originally written by guitarist Anthony Gallo featuring Tony Lanza and Daniel Wayne Jr. on Vocals. The actual recording is Nick Menza (drums), Anthony Gallo (guitars), Gregg Babuccio (bass), and Tony Lanza and Daniel Wayne jr. (vocals).

Also in March 2011, Menza's band Deltanaut posted up a video for their song "Sacrifice".^[9]

Nick Menza has been using Soultone Cymbals exclusively since 2005.

Bands

• Megadeth (1989–1998; 2004)
• Marty Friedman (1992–1997)
• Menza (1997–present)
• Chodle's Trunk (2000–2001)
• Fear Assembly (Mindstreem) (2002–2003)
• Memorain (2005–2008)
• Orphaned to Hatred (2006–2010)
• Deltanaut (2006–present)

Discography

• 1990 - Megadeth - Rust in Peace
• 1992 - Megadeth - Countdown to Extinction
• 1992 - Marty Friedman - Scenes
• 1994 - Megadeth - Youthanasia
• 1994 - Marty Friedman - Introduction
• 1994 - Nativity in Black - Tribute to Black Sabbath
• 1995 - Megadeth - Hidden Treasures
• 1996 - Marty Friedman - True Obsession
• 1997 - Megadeth - Cryptic Writings
• 2000 - Megadeth - Capitol Punishment
• 2002 - Menza - Life After Deth
• 2006 - Memorain - "Reduced To Ashes"
• 2006 - Megadeth - Arsenal of Megadeth
• 2007 - Megadeth - Warchest
• 2008 - Megadeth - Anthology: Set the World Afire

References

1. ^ "Nick Menza". MEGADETH.com. 1964-07-23. http://www.megadeth.com/whois/bio/nick.html. Retrieved 2011-10-22. 
2. ^ Nick Menza (1964-07-23). "Nick Menza Biography of {Nick Menza} Bio, Biography - began playing drums public performance age, Father famed". Dvd-copy.com. http://dvd-copy.com/people/Nick-Menza/1269458/bio.htm. Retrieved 2011-10-22. 
3. ^ New Wave of American Heavy Metal - Google Books. http://books.google.com/books?id=uIIf03bGyAAC&pg=PA298&lpg=PA298&dq=Anthony+Gallo+Suicidal+Tendencies#v=onepage&q=Anthony%20Gallo%20Suicidal%20Tendencies&f=false. Retrieved 2011-08-09. 
4. ^ ^{a b c} "MusicMight :: Artists :: NICK MENZA". Rockdetector.com. http://www.rockdetector.com/artist/united+states/nick+menza. Retrieved 2011-08-09. 
5. ^ "Celebrity Deaths and Mishaps Archives 5". Newprophecy.net. http://www.newprophecy.net/more6.htm. Retrieved 2011-08-09. 
6. ^ "MusicMight :: Artists :: NICK MENZA". Rockdetector.com. http://www.rockdetector.com/artist/united+states/nick+menza. Retrieved 2011-10-22. 
7. ^ "MEGADETH's MUSTAINE Says NICK MENZA Wasn't Prepared To Tour With The Band". Roadrunnerrecords.com. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=29219. Retrieved 2011-08-09. 
8. ^ "Former MEGADETH Drummer MENZA Resurfaces In ORPHANED TO HATRED". Roadrunnerrecords.com. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=51017. Retrieved 2011-08-09. 
9. ^ "Niet compatibele browser". Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Deltanaut/326249672823. Retrieved 2011-08-09. 

External links

• Orphaned to Hatred current band
• Deltanaut current band

Preceded by Chuck Behler Jimmy DeGrasso

Megadeth Drummer (two stints) 1989-1998 2004

Succeeded by Jimmy DeGrasso Shawn Drover

Persondata
Name	Menza, Nick
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	July 23, 1964
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death