Late MEGADETH Drummer NICK MENZA's Mother Named Administrator Of His Estate

According to TMZ, late MEGADETH drummer Nick Menza's mother, Rose, has been named the administrator of his estate. This means that she is now in line to collect any royalties owed to her son, who was in MEGADETH during what many associate as the band's "classic" era.

Last May, Nick collapsed after suffering a heart attack during a concert with the progressive rock/fusion group OHM: at The Baked Potato in Studio City, California and was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.

The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner said Menza died of natural causes. The cause of Menza's death was listed as hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

According to TMZ, Nick's death certificate — which was filed by Rose in probate court — gives the cause of death as heart disease and blood pressure.

Shortly after Nick's passing, Rose expressed her "enormous gratitude for the outpouring of love and condolences from Nick's many friends and fans," adding that she was "so happy and excited" that MEGADETH leader "Dave Mustaine has chosen to help celebrate Nick's life and help the boys."

A special collection of Menza's first — and, sadly, only — series of artwork was unveiled July 23, 2016, on which would have been his 52nd birthday. The collection is available through the art team and publisher SceneFour's dedicated web site, NickMenzaArt.com.

Nick's memoir, "MegaLife: Nick Menza - The Book", will be published in October 2017, having been delayed and drastically rewritten in light of Nick's passing. According to a press release from Menza's manager Robert Bolger, the book will reveal "how poorly Nick was being treated by MEGADETH founder Dave Mustaine and the brutal truth of why there was never a MEGADETH reunion with the most successful lineup of the thrash metal band."

Mustaine told Kerrang! magazine about Menza's passing: "The Nick that I know, at the end, I think that he… he went to heaven doing what he wanted to do: play drums. And I think that instead of us all mourning and shit, we should celebrate his life, celebrate his legacy. He doesn't want people to sit down here and bellyache about that; he wants people to go and buy his pictures. He had some wonderful artwork. He had a lot of music that he's done. He wants his legacy to be remembered, to support his kids. That's the best way to celebrate Nick, I think. And all these people that are saying, 'Oh, bummer. Nick's gone.' Show up."

According to Mustaine, he didn't realize how much he cared about Menza until he paid tribute to the late drummer during MEGADETH's performance at the inaugural Rock'N Derby festival the day after Nick's death.

"The craziest thing was, when we dedicated a song to Nick, I got about halfway through the song and I couldn't sing anymore; I just started crying," he said. "And I turned around and I stood next to the drum riser with my back turned, 'cause I didn't want anybody to see me. But it was heavy."

He added: "With all the stuff that was going on at the end, with Nick talking about me in the press and stuff like that, I had no idea how much I really, really love him. And that was what was evident when I sang about him. And that's the Nick I'll always remember: the guy that made me smile, that made me happy and was a little bit of an annoyance, but somebody that I'll always love."