# Ex-Megadeth drummer Nick Menza dies onstage
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-megadeth-drummer-nick-menza-dies-onstage/755386
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [May 22, 2016, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-megadeth-drummer-nick-menza-dies-onstage/755386 "2016-05-22T18:52:48Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)
#### Post date: [May 22, 2016, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-megadeth-drummer-nick-menza-dies-onstage/755386/1 "2016-05-22T18:52:48Z")
:eek:
As traumatic this is for his friends, family, and audience, what a way to go - doing what you love.
Never heard of him until today, but RIP anyway. The cause of death has not yet been determined.
> **[Ex-Megadeth drummer Nick Menza dies after collapsing on stage | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2016/05/22/living/nick-menza-ex-megadeth-drummer-death-trnd/)**
>
> Drummer Nick Menza, who played on many of Megadeth's most successful albums, died after he collapsed on stage during a show. He was 51.
(I was going to say something about Spinal Tap, but I won’t.)
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### Author:  [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)
#### Post date: [May 22, 2016, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-megadeth-drummer-nick-menza-dies-onstage/755386/2 "2016-05-22T19:01:04Z")
2016 reaching its icy fingers onto the stage and wreaking its havoc in view of a full audience.
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### Author:  [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)
#### Post date: [May 22, 2016, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-megadeth-drummer-nick-menza-dies-onstage/755386/3 "2016-05-22T19:08:25Z")
Heard that he had died. Didn’t hear that he had died while performing. :eek:
Four albums with Megadeth is practically a lifetime when you consider the whims of Dave Mustaine’s ego.
> [@nearwildheaven](#):
>
> (I was going to say something about Spinal Tap, but I won’t.)
The CNN article says he replaced another drummer who had also died. Maybe they really should dust for vomit…
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### Author:  [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)
#### Post date: [May 22, 2016, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-megadeth-drummer-nick-menza-dies-onstage/755386/4 "2016-05-22T19:21:20Z")
Scotland Yard still doesn’t have the facilities to dust for vomit. You can’t get DNA from stomach contents.
On a more serious note, another musician also died onstage earlier this week. She played the double bass in the Atlanta Symphony for 71 years.
> **[Jane Little, Atlanta's Dainty Double-Bass Player For 71 Years, Dies Onstage](https://www.npr.org/sections/deceptivecadence/2016/05/17/478337126/jane-little-longtime-orchestra-musician-collapses-on-stage-and-dies?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20160517)**
>
> The bassist joined the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in 1945, when she was just 16 years old. She died over the weekend while performing.
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### Author:  [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)
#### Post date: [May 22, 2016, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-megadeth-drummer-nick-menza-dies-onstage/755386/5 "2016-05-22T20:55:59Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#):
>
> …(I was going to say something about Spinal Tap, but I won’t.)
You do realize that you did, right?
mmm
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### Author:  [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)
#### Post date: [May 22, 2016, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-megadeth-drummer-nick-menza-dies-onstage/755386/6 "2016-05-22T22:20:03Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#):
>
> (I was going to say something about Spinal Tap, but I won’t.)
I was going to mention them too.
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### Author:  [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)
#### Post date: [May 22, 2016, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-megadeth-drummer-nick-menza-dies-onstage/755386/7 "2016-05-22T23:19:02Z")
I get the jokes, but damn- that guy played Tornado of Souls.
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### Author:  [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)
#### Post date: [May 22, 2016, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-megadeth-drummer-nick-menza-dies-onstage/755386/8 "2016-05-22T23:23:24Z")
He died doing what he loved.
The club he was playing at (The Baked Potato) is very close to where I live. It is TINY. Like max occupancy of less than 100. I would have totally been at that show had I heard about it. (kinda glad I missed it though, now)
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### Author:  [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2016, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ex-megadeth-drummer-nick-menza-dies-onstage/755386/9 "2016-05-27T01:00:53Z")
The article says he played on Countdown To Extinction and Youthanasia, my fave Megadeth albums (particularly the latter).