David Ellefson Will Co-Produce a Documentary About Fellow ex-Megadeth Member Nick Menza
David Ellefson, who was ousted from Megadeth earlier this year, has joined his former bandmate, the late Nick Menza, in a post-mortem partnership of Megadeth castoffs.
Menza, who passed away in 2016 at the age of just 51, died from heart disease in the most rock and roll way possible: while performing on stage with his band, Ohm. He played drums in Megadeth from 1989 through 1998 and recorded on four albums — Rust In Peace, Countdown To Extinction, Youthanasia, and Cryptic Writings — and was considered by most fans to be a crucial part of the classic and best ‘Deth lineup along with Mustaine, Marty Friedman and Ellefson.
Now Ellefson has signed on as a co-producer of a documentary about Menza’s life, This Was My Life: The Story Of Nick Menza, through his Ellefson Films company in a partnership with Screaming Butterfly Entertainment.
It’s nearly certain Ellefson would not be participating in the project if he were still in ‘Deth; Menza’s family was not fond of Mustaine in recent years, his manager recently called Mustaine’s book — which was less than kind to Menza — “fabricated bullshit,” and Mustaine is a notorious control freak with respect to what his employees can and cannot do. We’re just speculating, though.
Ellefson commented on his participation in the documentary:
“I am proud to announce I will narrate/co-produce the upcoming documentary film ‘This Was My Life: The Story Of Nick Menza’ and I look forward to sharing together with you the life story of one of music’s most celebrated rock star drummers of all time, Nick Menza.”
An Indiegogo campaign has been launched to raise funding for the completion of the film, the perks of which include the opportunity to own personal items that belonged to Menza. The campaign launched yesterday and currently sits at around $2,600 raised of its $65,000 goal.
A press release describes the film as “an unflinching exploration into the life of one of the most successful thrash-metal drummers of all time, authorized 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 [reunion] attempts of the classic ‘Rust In Peace’ lineup.”
Ellefson was publicly let go from Megadeth on May 24 of this year after videos recorded without his consent showed him masturbating during a video chat with a woman other than his wife. Initial accusations that the woman was underage, that Ellefson “groomed” her and the relationship was not consensual were rebuffed both by Ellefson and the woman herself. In his statement dismissing Ellefson from the group, Megadeth mainman Dave Mustaine indicated that there were also unrelated factors involved in his dismissal, citing “an already strained relationship.”
