MARTY FRIEDMAN: NICK MENZA’s Drumming Was ‘A Big Reason Why MEGADETH Became As Popular In The Mainstream As We Did’
Marty Friedman says Nick Menza’s distinctive drumming helped Megadeth reach a mainstream and stadium-sized audience. He described Menza’s style as musical and less reliant on typical thrash metal conventions, complementing the band’s heavier sound and Dave Mustaine’s riffs.
Menza died in 2016 after suffering a heart attack during a performance with OHM: in California; medical examiners cited hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. He was approached in 2014 about returning to Megadeth, but the reunion fell through over a contract he considered unfair, including a proposal that would have left him unpaid until touring began. Friedman and Menza were part of the band’s celebrated Rust in Peace-era line-up.
In short
- Friedman credits Menza’s drumming with helping Megadeth reach a wider audience.
- Menza’s musical style complemented the band’s thrash metal sound.
- A planned reunion fell through over contract terms.
Explained simply
Megadeth are an American heavy metal band formed in 1983 by guitarist and singer Dave Mustaine. They became known for fast, complex songs, and their 1990 album Rust in Peace is widely associated with the group’s classic line-up, which included guitarist Marty Friedman and drummer Nick Menza.
Menza played with Megadeth from 1989 to 1998, a period when the band reached a wider audience. Friedman joined in 1990, and both musicians were part of the Rust in Peace-era line-up.
Menza died in 2016, aged 51, after suffering a heart attack while performing with another band in California. His place in Megadeth’s history is often discussed in connection with the band’s sound and rise in popularity.