MARTY FRIEDMAN: NICK MENZA's Drumming Was 'A Big Reason Why MEGADETH Became As Popular In The Mainstream As We Did'

In a new interview with Tomás Leiva of Chile's La Pajarera podcast, former MEGADETH guitarist Marty Friedman was asked if there is something about late MEGADETH drummer Nick Menza as a musician that he wishes people knew more. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Yes. I think a lot of people might not realize that a big reason why MEGADETH became as popular in the mainstream as we did was because of Nick. Nick's playing is not a typical thrash metal drummer style. It's very mainstream. If you take the drums on its own, it's very musical, and there's not a lot of heavy metal clichés. So that combination with the rest of us in the band, and, of course, [MEGADETH guitarist/vocalist] Dave Mustaine's riffs and all that stuff, Nick's way of providing the beat is a huge reason why we weren't just kind of an underground thrash metal band. His playing elevated us to stadium level. So I think people should know that about Nick."

Late in the evening on May 21, 2016, Nick collapsed behind his drum kit after suffering a heart attack during a concert with Chris Poland and Robertino "Pag" Pagliari in their band 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 hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Back in 2020, Mustaine said that he really wanted Menza and Friedman to return to MEGADETH twelve years ago. The opportunity for MEGADETH's most celebrated lineup to regroup arose following the departures of guitarist Chris Broderick and drummer Shawn Drover in 2014.

Menza was approached by Mustaine and MEGADETH's then-bassist David Ellefson to replace Drover at the end of that year, and he started working out new tracks with the band. But the plan collapsed after he was offered a contract he described as "very unfair." A year and a half later, in May 2016, Nick died.

In a video interview with Loudwire, Dave said: "The chemistry of Nick and Marty, don't get me wrong — that was amazing. And my heart aches when I think about that. And, in fact, that's why I wrote at the back of [my 'Rust In Peace: The Inside Story Of The Megadeth Masterpiece'] book 'In Loving Memory' and not 'In Memory Of'.

"Nick said some shitty things about me at the end, especially to you guys and to Blabbermouth, where he would just wail on me," Dave continued. "And I would think, 'Nick, why are you doing this? I never did anything to you. I'm always fighting for you."

Back in 2015, Menza explained to the "The Sick Room" podcast why his return to MEGADETH failed to materialize. He said: "I went out there [to Mustaine's studio] and jammed with [Mustaine and Ellefson]. We played for, like, a weekend — like, three days — and on the third day, we were working on new songs. And everything was cool. They were telling me, 'You're back in the band. We'll do a press release.' And I'm, like, 'I don't wanna say anything until I have an agreement, a contract in writing of what's gonna happen.' And then they send me this ridiculous proposal stating that, 'You're not gonna paid anything until the touring starts.' So, basically, I was gonna work for nothing, doing the record. Which I was still kind of ready to bend in that direction anyway. But I'm, like, 'You know what?! I'm not gonna break or sell myself short with something that's gonna be huge. They've gotta realize the longevity of it.' And then they were kind of coming back at me the same way. So the whole thing was silly. I didn't even get a chance to negotiate with them about anything. They just put it off and said, 'That's it.' And I couldn't get hold of anybody."

Menza's official autobiography, "Megalife: The Autobiography Of Nick Menza" by J. Marshall Craig, was released in December 2018 via Post Hill Press.