Former MEGADETH Drummer NICK MENZA's Death Reportedly Not Drug-Related

May 25, 2016

According to TMZ, investigators have ruled out drugs as a factor in the death of former MEGADETH drummer Nick Menza.

"Law enforcement sources" have told the site that autopsy results indicated that the 51-year-old drummer did not succumb to a "stereotypical drug-related death." They reached the conclusion that Menza had no recent history of drug use after conducting a search and interviewing people close to him.

Sources close to Nick told TMZ that the drummer had dabbled with drugs in the earlier part of his career but that he had been completely sober for eight years.

Nick collapsed after suffering a heart attack during the third song of OHM:'s set on May 21 at The Baked Potato in Studio City, California.

One person who was present at The Baked Potato Saturday night told BLABBERMOUTH.NET: "It appeared to be a seizure but [Nick] stopped breathing. Two patrons took over and began CPR until EMS arrived. EMS worked on him for 25-plus minutes, including adrenaline shots, three shocks and non-stop compressions."

Menza joined MEGADETH for the 1989 recording "Rust In Peace" and for the next nine years became associated with the band's "classic" and most profitable era.

In addition to Menza, OHM: featured another ex-MEGADETH member, guitarist Chris Poland.

Menza joined OHM: last year after the passing of the band's previous drummer, David Eagle, who suffered a heart attack and had open-heart surgery in May 2015.

Last week, it was announced that Nick would unveil an art collection crafted from the new medium of "rhythm-on-canvas" on June 16. That unveiling has now been postponed to an as-yet-undetermined date.

Menza had been working with art team and publisher SceneFour on the collection titled "Rhythm Hits The Wall".

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