NICK MENZA'S FAREWELL: Official statement by Dave Mustaine
Dave Mustaine confirms Nick Menza's departure and his replacement by Jimmy DeGrasso. He clarifies the rumors about Menza's illness, stating that Nick believed he had cancer and that the decision to replace him was made because the relationship with the band was no longer working, not for health reasons. Mustaine emphasizes that the band sought happiness and wanted to provide the best possible music, comparing the situation to his own dismissal from Metallica.
Date
January 1, 1998
Media
Comunicado de prensa (escrito de puño y letra) ()
Interviewer
Dave Mustaine
Interviewees
Finally, the rumors about Nick Menza's departure from Megadeth were confirmed. In an official press release written by Dave Mustaine himself, he announced that Menza had left to give his position to Jimmy DeGrasso.
"On 7/7 I called Nick to tell him we were letting him go. In my previous statement I said Nick had told us he had cancer. Not that he might have it, but that he did. I said 'let's pray for him', because I was terrified when I heard him say 'cancer'. When people asked me what was going on with Nick and his surgery, I replied that Jimmy was going to substitute for him. Small minds, shitty rumors and gossip were flying around saying Nick had been fired. I said he was still our drummer, because I still remember how Metallica kicked me out. (...)
David Ellefson and I saw that things were finished. When Jimmy came in, I had already told Marty that I would let Nick retire at the end of the tour. Things worked so well with Jimmy that we decided to tell Nick as soon as we knew he didn't have cancer. There are many reasons why we all decided this. But the most important was that we were not happy. (...)
We told the whole world in our statements that we received great contributions from Nick and we wish him the best. My question is, why would any of you want us to be unhappy, including Nick, when all we want to do is provide you with the best music we can?".