Former Megadeth drummer Nick Menza collapses and dies on stage aged 51 during a show in Los Angeles
- Nick Menza collapsed while into the third song with his band OHM as they performed during a show in Los Angeles on Saturday night
- Paramedics were unable to revive him, according to manager Steve Bauer, and he was pronounced dead upon arrival at hospital
- Early reports indicate Menza suffered a heart attack but officials have not yet released a cause of death
Former Megadeth drummer Nick Menza has died after collapsing on stage during a show in Los Angeles.
The thrash metal drummer, who was 51, rocked out until his last moments on Saturday night when he collapsed as he performed the third song with his new band, OHM, the band's manager told CNN.
Paramedics were unable to revive him, according to manager Steve Bauer, and he was pronounced dead upon arrival at hospital.
Early reports indicate Menza suffered a heart attack but officials have not yet released a cause of death.
Former Megadeth drummer Nick Menza (pictured) has died after collapsing on stage during a show in Los Angeles. He was 51
Former Megadeth guitarist Marty Friedman remembered Menza as a 'great and unique drummer' in a tribute on Facebook on Sunday (shown above)
At the time of his death, the band was playing at The Baked Potato, a jazz club in Studio City, California.
'The group's bassist texted me last night after it happened,' Bauer told CNN. 'We are all still in shock.'
A statement released early Sunday by Menza's biographer and friend, J Marshall Craig, asked fans to keep Menza's family in their thoughts.
'We ask for prayers for Nick’s family, his family, and especially his two sons and their mother, Teri,' Craig said in the statement.
'He just spend nearly two weeks with the boys in the Pacific Northwest and was absolutely glowing.
'He was scheduled to fly to my home in Cape Cod tomorrow so that we could finish the comic-book version of the book we wrote on his life, "MenzaLife," both of which were slated for release late next month.
'This morning we are all too numb to think about anything but Nick's family.'
The thrash metal drummer rocked out until his last moments on Saturday night when he collapsed as he performed the third song with his new band, OHM, according to the band's manager
Megadeath band members pictured above from left to right: Marty Friedman, Dave Mustaine, Nick Menza and David Ellefson
Menza collapsed on stage while playing with OHM at The Baked Potato (pictured), a jazz club in Studio City
Nick's Manager Robert Bolger added: 'Along with your prayers and wonderful thoughts and memories of this incredible man and musician, we ask that fans respect his family's need for privacy at this absolutely tragic time.'
A fan who was at The Baked Potato on Saturday night wrote on Facebook that paramedics said it appeared Menza suffered a heart attack, according to The New York Daily News.
'Thoughts and prayers going out to drummer Nick Menza. I was watching his band OHM at the Baked Potato tonight and he collapsed on stage,' Mike Simpson wrote.
'Paramedics were saying it looked like a heart attack. Positive thoughts.'
Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine he had woken up at 4am on Sunday and learned of Menza's death.
In this photo, Menza is pictured at the mixing console in a studio on April 9
'TELL ME THIS ISN'T TRUE!' he tweeted and included the hashtag, 'nickmenzarip.'
Former Megadeth guitarist Marty Friedman remembered Menza as a 'great and unique drummer' in a tribute on Facebook.
'We all know the great and unique drummer that Nick Menza was, but he was also a trustworthy friend, a hilarious bandmate, as well as a very loving dad,' he wrote.
'I'm beyond sad, did not see this coming at all. RIP Brother.'
The Baked Potato wrote 'RIP Nick Menza' on its Facebook page.
Between 1989 and 1998, Menza played drums for Megadeth, playing on several of the band's most acclaimed albums including Countdown to Extinction, Youthanasia and Rust in Peace.
He left the band after needing knee surgery during a tour for the 1997 album Cryptic Writings before briefly rejoining the band in 2004 for rehearsals but left before a tour.
Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine he had woken up at 4am on Sunday and learned of Menza's death.
OHM wrote that in the band's brief time with him it was a pleasure knowing him and that they will miss him
The Baked Potato wrote 'RIP Nick Menza' on its Facebook page (shown above)
Last year he joined OHM - founded in 2002 by former Megadeth guitarist Chris Poland - after it lost its former drummer David Eagle to heart complications.
He had been playing regular sessions with them at the Baked Potato Club prior to his death.
In a Facebook post on Sunday, Craig noted that Menza died doing what he loved on Saturday.
He also said news of a service, remembrance and celebration of Menza's life and music will be announced in the coming days.
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