Belated RIP Nick Menza: 1964-201
Today's post is from our friend HIM.
This is old news that needs a hearing. Nick Menza, best known for his work during the most commercially popular period in Megadeth’s history, passed away this past Saturday (May 21). He died doing that thing that rockers—the Lemmys of the music world—claim they want to do: playing.
That he was playing in OHM, alongside another former member of Megadeth, Chris Poland, matters only in terms of connective dots. But it points to a truth: Menza had been part of a band that featured a lot of incredible musicians.
It might seem off-putting to say this, but I will: I always enjoyed Gary “Gar” Samuelson’s drumming more. Not being a musician myself, I can attribute that to the fact that Gar was the drummer on the albums that signaled Mustaine’s phoenix-like rise from the ash-heap of a situation he created in Metallica. Or the fact that he reminded me of, in some odd way, Bill Ward.
But what had I been listening to in recent weeks? Hidden Treasures. And what song always caught my attention? “99 Ways to Die”:
From the Beavis & Butthead movie no less. And what keeps me listening to that song? Those damn drums. So what I am saying is this: I love Gar, but I can’t stop listening to Menza. And the list of Megadeth songs that I consistently listen to these days trace more to him than to his predecessor. So perhaps I am a sucker for origins even if I have always been a Megadeth fan. While I resisted Megadeth’s rise, feeling like they were leaving Vic Rattlehead behind for a more ‘Tallica-like polish, I still can’t get the Menza (not Friedman, because it was Mustaine that mattered to me) out of my head.
And you want to see a man in his element, some 26 years ago, with the other components of Megadeth a distant sound in the background? Try this:
Again, I am no musician. But at approx. 1:50, Menza is amazing. And, throughout it all, you see something else: a smile. Slightly mischievous. But a smile that signals an artist who loves what he does. And, sadly or happily, died doing that very same thing not more than a week ago.
People on other sites can question Mustaine’s reactions to his death. I don’t. They can also bag on Megadeth itself, making that the story. I won’t. They can even question the actions that led him to being dropped and also led him to not being a part of Megadeth today. Not my place. What we can’t question is this: Nick Menza died of a heart attack, while playing music, in front of fans. We also can’t question the fact—not opinion, mind you—that Menza added something to music that will last long past his sad death.
Rest in Peace, Menza. Fans of metal, no less fans of music, mourn your passing.