Read the revealed excerpt
The book recounting the biography of the late Megadeth drummer Nick Menza, written by J. Marshall Craig, will be released later this year.
The book, "Megalife: Nick Menza – The Book," recounts various moments in the musician's career, who said that playing at Rock In Rio was the high point of his career and that being fired from Megadeth was the low point.
An excerpt from the book, which recounts the days of his dismissal, was published today by the website Blabbermouth . The translation can be read below:
Nick Menza was still groggy from the anesthesia, but he was happy when doctors said the growth on his knee was benign and that he could get back to work soon – as the magnificent drummer for one of the world's greatest thrash metal bands, Megadeth.
“I was so relieved,” he says, “I thought all my worries had gone away.”
So when band leader Dave Mustaine called two days later, Nick was hoping for good news about returning to the tour at Ozzfest 98.
Instead, Mustaine said, "We're leaving you.".
Nick thought it was a joke. "Where? At Disney? Stop messing around, Dave. Now's not the time.".
Mustaine wasn't kidding. "I don't think you're listening to me properly.".
A decade and a half later, Nick sits in his chair at Menzanation Studios in Los Angeles and reflects: “That was it,” he said, shrugging. “My career with one of the biggest heavy metal bands at its peak was over. It hit me like a bomb, and it was bad. Very bad.”
Only a few gray hairs show the passage of time: Nick is in better shape than ever – not just from playing drums but from his obsession with cycling. “Yeah, I admit, I fell into a very deep and dark hole. I survived and came back with purpose and spirituality, and I want to play more than ever now. I’ve fallen in love with music again.”
“Fans ask me all the time if I’d still like to be in Megadeth. It took me a long time to be able to answer that question, but the answer is…” [End of revealed excerpt]
