What do you think?
Rate this book
Megalife: The Autobiography of Nick Menza
The uncensored story of one of rock’s greatest drummers who died doing what he loved best.
With Nick Menza behind the kit, Megadeth transitioned from celebrated cult band to international superstars. Rust in Peace , the first album to feature Menza and Marty Friedman, was instantly considered a classic, sold over a million copies, got nominated for a Grammy Award, and established what many consider to be the definitive Megadeth lineup. It was the beginning of a remarkable run in which the band would release three career-defining albums and tour the world many times over.
Success was a rollercoaster ride of highs and sobriety and addiction, peace and tension, laughter and anger. Until one day it all came crashing down. Despite his contributions to the band’s most iconic and enduring work, when Menza was forced to seek treatment for a debilitating tumor in his knee, he awoke from surgery to learn he was being fired from the band by the man he considered a brother and mentor, the ever-enigmatic Dave Mustaine. The devastating news sent him into a spiral of anger and frustration, followed by a dark period of self-medication that nearly killed him.
The Autobiography of Nick Menza is an unflinching look at life inside of one of metal’s most successful bands, from the back of the stage to the bunks on the bus, as well as a blow-by-blow account of the tumultuous, complicated relationship between Menza and Mustaine. It is also the singular story of a self-taught musician who achieved his dreams through sheer will and determination, watched it all disintegrate, and then rebuilt himself from scratch.
With Nick Menza behind the kit, Megadeth transitioned from celebrated cult band to international superstars. Rust in Peace , the first album to feature Menza and Marty Friedman, was instantly considered a classic, sold over a million copies, got nominated for a Grammy Award, and established what many consider to be the definitive Megadeth lineup. It was the beginning of a remarkable run in which the band would release three career-defining albums and tour the world many times over.
Success was a rollercoaster ride of highs and sobriety and addiction, peace and tension, laughter and anger. Until one day it all came crashing down. Despite his contributions to the band’s most iconic and enduring work, when Menza was forced to seek treatment for a debilitating tumor in his knee, he awoke from surgery to learn he was being fired from the band by the man he considered a brother and mentor, the ever-enigmatic Dave Mustaine. The devastating news sent him into a spiral of anger and frustration, followed by a dark period of self-medication that nearly killed him.
The Autobiography of Nick Menza is an unflinching look at life inside of one of metal’s most successful bands, from the back of the stage to the bunks on the bus, as well as a blow-by-blow account of the tumultuous, complicated relationship between Menza and Mustaine. It is also the singular story of a self-taught musician who achieved his dreams through sheer will and determination, watched it all disintegrate, and then rebuilt himself from scratch.
- GenresMusic
240 pages, Paperback
Published December 11, 2018
5 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 20, 2019
Good read in about a talented guy
A really good read. Different the way the stories jumped around, but didn't phase me. The part about pissing off Dave mustaine with having plectrums to throw out instead of drumsticks is great. I was lucky enough to meet Nick in 94 and I have one of his drummers picks. Fantastic guy sadly not with us any longer. If you like music autobiographies, you will like this
A really good read. Different the way the stories jumped around, but didn't phase me. The part about pissing off Dave mustaine with having plectrums to throw out instead of drumsticks is great. I was lucky enough to meet Nick in 94 and I have one of his drummers picks. Fantastic guy sadly not with us any longer. If you like music autobiographies, you will like this
March 2, 2019
Buku ini memberikan gambaran mengenai sifat dan bagaimana perilaku Nick Menza sebelum, saat, dan setelah Megadeth. Dalam 200+ halaman ini serasa banyak informasi yang bisa digali tentang Nick —namun di lain sisi serasa masih hanya menggaruk permukaan saja.
Nick merupakan pribadi yang ekstrovert, outgoing dan hidup sebagian besar untuk drumming —dan sebagian besar hidupnya adalah bersama Megadeth. Namun pada akhirnya dia harus/perlu memahami bahwa Megadeth adalah milik Mustaine. “It’s his band”, begitu kata ayah Nick kepada sang putra. Apapun yang terjadi adalah sesuai sabda sang mandor.
Buku ini dirilis saat Nick sudah meninggal dan tersimak “potongan” cukup lebar antara penuturan versi Nick dengan loncatan langsung ke situasi di malam terakhir dia dan setelahnya.
Membaca buku ini serasa mendengarkan cerita panjang lebar yang tidak terstruktur sehingga kita tidak tahu kapan ini akan berhenti. Alur cerita yang maju mundur ke samping seperti mendengarkan Nick bicara tergantung mood dia mau cerita tentang apa and you don’t know how long it would last until subject was changed.
Namun tetap buku ini saya menikmati cerita-cerita yang ada di dalamnya.
Nick merupakan pribadi yang ekstrovert, outgoing dan hidup sebagian besar untuk drumming —dan sebagian besar hidupnya adalah bersama Megadeth. Namun pada akhirnya dia harus/perlu memahami bahwa Megadeth adalah milik Mustaine. “It’s his band”, begitu kata ayah Nick kepada sang putra. Apapun yang terjadi adalah sesuai sabda sang mandor.
Buku ini dirilis saat Nick sudah meninggal dan tersimak “potongan” cukup lebar antara penuturan versi Nick dengan loncatan langsung ke situasi di malam terakhir dia dan setelahnya.
Membaca buku ini serasa mendengarkan cerita panjang lebar yang tidak terstruktur sehingga kita tidak tahu kapan ini akan berhenti. Alur cerita yang maju mundur ke samping seperti mendengarkan Nick bicara tergantung mood dia mau cerita tentang apa and you don’t know how long it would last until subject was changed.
Namun tetap buku ini saya menikmati cerita-cerita yang ada di dalamnya.
March 1, 2020
Insightful Book
Not many books written by big metal drummers, But Buck's book gives you an insight in the world of professional drumming and an even more truthful insight in the workings of one of the world's biggest metal bands. Great read a true megalife. R.I.P Nick Menza
Not many books written by big metal drummers, But Buck's book gives you an insight in the world of professional drumming and an even more truthful insight in the workings of one of the world's biggest metal bands. Great read a true megalife. R.I.P Nick Menza
September 16, 2019
Could have used one more read-through to check that all names of bands (Fear Factors) and people (Tony, the bass player of Slayer) are correct.
December 30, 2024
Good easy read.I had no idea Nick got hardcore into meth at one point.Excellent drummer.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews