The long-awaited Nick Menza documentary “This Was My Life: Nick Menza’s Metal Memories With Megadeth And Beyond” is coming to theatre!
The doc’s red-carpet premiere is set to take place in Los Angeles, with a limited theatrical run in selected U.S. markets. You’ll be able to see it via digital streaming and on physical media too (including Blu-ray disc). The trailer and official release dates should be out in the coming weeks.
“We are thrilled to work with Nick Menza’s estate, and with Dave Ellefson, Jeff Young and other former Megadeth members as well as other legendary metal figures to bring this release to worldwide audiences,” says BayView Entertainment VP of acquisitions Peter Castro. “It is an honor to celebrate Nick’s legacy and help to carry it forward.”
The official trailer for “This Was My Life: The Story Of Nick Menza” premiered on January 27, 2024 at the Ellefson Coffee Co. booth the NAMM show inside the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. David Ellefson and Nick Menza’s sister Donia Menza Ontiveros hosted the premiere.
Ellefson talked to Francisco Zamudio of KNAC.com about his involvement in the doc, “So I got asked to narrate this movie called ‘This Was My Life: The Story Of Nick Menza’. And it’s his life story, from birth until he passed. And obviously, 10 years in there was with Megadeth, which is certainly one of the more public parts of his life as a professional drummer. So getting asked to narrate it, and then, like I always do — look, I’ve lived with Nick on the road; I spent 10 years in the yellow submarine with him, so I know a lot of that. I know a lot of people, obviously, to connect it. So when we did the interviews, reached out to people… (Former Megdeth guitarist) Jeff Young actually really stepped in, too; he helped us get the facility where we filmed a lot of the interview footage. We were able to get with our other fallen brother, Bob Nalbandian, to get him to comment before he passed from cancer last year. Some crew members, tour managers — really, I think, a nice spread. His family, his mom, his dad. Nick’s dad, Don Menza, is a very, very well, highly esteemed woodwind player. I mean, first chair tenor sax for Buddy Rich, Louie Bellson. So when Nick was a kid, I think he was born in Munich, he was at these jazz festivals in Europe with his dad, and guys like Buddy Rich and Louie Bellson were handing him the drumsticks, going, ‘Have at it, kid. Hit the kit.’ So, Nick’s story is super colorful and very cool.”
“Nick’s whole purpose in life and passion of life was behind those drums, man. And as sad as it is that he’s no longer with us, what a great way to just, ‘I’m out.’ You know what I mean?” Ellefson added. “So it’s sad that he’s no longer with us, but it’s like… Look, none of us get out of here alive, so it’s a day we all face. And so I think that with this film, it’s a way to sort of celebrate the greatness that Nick was, and for all of us to be around him. And his life touched so many people.”
The Menza family previously stated: “We are excited for the fans to see the life Nick lived before, during, and after MEGADETH, it was quite the journey. Stay tuned for an epic documentary. As Nick would say, ‘It’s gonna be RAD.”
“This Was My Life” will include interviews with the Menza family and close friends, and former Megadeth members Chris Poland, Jeff Young, former Lamb Of God / Megadeth drummer Chris Adler, former Megadeth tour manager Skip Rickert, Nick’s drum tech Rob Corsie, legendary rock and roll photographer Gene Kirkland, film director, late metal historian, journalist and filmmaker Bob Nalbandian, James Rota and Emily Burton of Fireball Ministry, Terri Evans, Peter Flyn, John “Gumby” Goodwin, Bert Wolf, David Randi, Rob Schaefer, Juan “Nico” Alvarez, Robertino “Pag” Pagliari, Iki Levy of Soultone cymbals, and David Corral of L.A. Calling.
Late in the evening on May 21, 2016, Nick collapsed behind his drum kit after suffering a heart attack during a concert with Chris Poland and Robertino “Pag” Pagliari in their band OHM: at The Baked Potato in Studio City, California and was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital. The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner said Menza died of hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
A truly sad story. And a drummer deserving of a documentary.
What’s your favourite rock doc?
* Web news is powered by the homedwell.ca group! Buying a home? Selling your home? Contact them today!
