New Version - Megadeth's Birth Of "The Rust In Peace Lineup"

The introduction of Nick Menza and Marty Friedman". Featuring various rare archived video interviews with the band and some of the best video clips taking from the Megadeth vault series. "The Holy Grail" for every Megadeth fan!

Nick Menza and Marty Friedman both joined Megadeth for the 1990 recording Rust in Peace and for the next ten years Marty and Nick became associated with Megadeth’s “classic” period 1992’s Countdown to Extinction, 1994’s Youthanasia, and 1997’s Cryptic Writings.

Released worldwide on September 24, 1990, Rust in Peace was a hit with fans and critics alike, debuting at No. 23 in the US and No. 8 in the UK The album featured the singles “Holy Wars”,”The Punishment Due” and “Hangar 18”, both of which had music videos made of them and remain live staples. Rust in Peace went on to sell more than a million copies in the US and received Grammy nominations in 1991 and 1992 for Best Metal Performance.

What would become Megadeth’s most commercially successful effort, Countdown to Extinction. The album was the first to feature writing contributions from each band member, and was named by drummer Nick Menza. Released on July 14, 1992, Countdown to Extinction was an instant hit, debuting at No. 2 on the Billboard Top 200 album charts in the US, and No. 5 in the UK.

Anchored by the Mainstream Rock hits “Symphony of Destruction” “Foreclosure of a Dream” and “Sweating Bullets” The album quickly went double platinum in the US, and received a Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance in 1993.

More success was followed from Youthanasia, released on November 1, 1994 debuting at No. 4 on the Billboard Top 200 album chart in the US, Certified gold in Canada after thirty minutes and was certified platinum in the US. Later in November, the band was invited twice to perform at David Letterman’s Late Show: the first time they performed “Train of Consequences”and “À Tout le Monde” on the second occasion.

On June 17, 1997, Capitol Records released Cryptic Writings. The album debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard Top 200, and was Megadeth’s sixth consecutive studio album to be certified platinum in the United States. “Trust”, a single from Cryptic Writings, became Megadeth’s highest charting single to date. The No. 5 Mainstream Rock Track was also nominated for a Best Metal Performance Grammy in 1998.

Megadeth joined Ozzfest 98 but, halfway through the tour, drummer Nick Menza discovered a tumor on his knee and was forced to leave to undergo surgery. Megadeth then hired a temporary replacement, Jimmy DeGrasso rather than cancel any dates. Friedman departed the group in 2000, and according to Mustaine, the straw that broke the camel's back for Friedman was the guitar solo to "Breadline" from Megadeth's divisive 1999 album, Risk.

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.

Menza rightfully earned his place as heavy metal's fiercest drummer during MEGADETH's 10-year peak at the top. The highlight of his career, Nick said, was playing Rock In Rio before more than 100,000 people.