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Nick Menza / 2014 Rehearsal recording with Chris Poland and James LoMenzo emerges

A previously unreleased rehearsal recording featuring former Megadeth members Nick Menza, Chris Poland and James LoMenzo has emerged on YouTube. Edited by Menza, the track is a fusion jam and features the trio in an all-out original, free-for-all fusion jam session.

Menza and LoMenzo had started work on a new project in 2014 releasing two demo covers of the Metallica classics ‘Creeping Death’ and ‘Motorbreath’ where they were joined by guitarist/vocalist Davor Garasic from the Croatian Thrash Metal band Sufosia.

Later in 2014, Menza and LoMenzo were joined by Chris Poland, with their first jam session held at Menza’s Disintegrator Studios in Studio City, California on 1 November 2014. Here they played some old Megadeth songs along with their Metallica and Led Zeppelin favourites.

The direction of this new project was described as Led Zeppelin meets Metallica.

At the time Nick Menza said: “It has got some elements of that, but I would say we are just so far beyond everything that has been heard already.

“It is gonna be a conglomerate of styles. It is gonna be what we like to do best. Have fun and play.

“Our material is gonna be really out there. It is gonna be different. It is gonna be pumped, it is gonna be heavy, but it is gonna be us.”

Hella Rock Festival

The trio rehearsed a number of times, before disbanding due to other musical commitments.

Nick Menza joined Chris Poland’s band OHM and was playing with the band live on stage in 2016 at The Baked Potato in Studio City, California, when he suffered a heart attack. He was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital, with The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner Coroner saying Menza died of hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

This Was My Life

This unnamed project will be a highlight in the recently announced official Menza documentary ‘This Was My Life – The Story of Nick Menza’, with more audio recordings and video footage of Menza discussing the project and their future recording and touring plans included.

The documentary has been described as “an unflinching exploration into the life of one of the most successful Thrash Metal drummers of all time, authorised by the Menza family.

“From his childhood all the way through to the end of his life, including a true blow-by-blow account of the repeated failed attempts of the classic ‘Rust In Peace’ lineup.”

‘This Was My Life’ will feature never before seen photos, as well as video footage from Nick’s archived VHS tape collection, personally filmed by Menza himself from 1988 through 1991. We can also see Nick working at the studio, his personal home movies and casual time and party time with his fellow band members, as well as other well-known artists of the era that Nick toured with.

Robert Bolger

Menza’s longtime personal manger Robert Bolger told MetalTalk: “I am very excited to be working with Screaming Butterfly Entertainment on Nick’s official documentary.

“There is a lot of published misinformation out there about Nick that is not true and I am very happy to bring the truth forth.

“Nick loved his fans and always said without the fans none this would be possible.

“I really think Nick’s fans will enjoy this journey through his life.”

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

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