Late MEGADETH Drummer Nick Menza Drum Cam Footage Unearthed After 30 Years

Late MEGADETH Drummer Nick Menza Drum Cam Footage Unearthed After 30 Years

Rare live never before seen drum cam footage of late MEGADETH drummer Nick Menza performing the bands controversy speed metal version of Nancy Sinatra’s 1966 classic hit song “These Boots Are Made for Walkin'” can be seen below. 

The clip was taken from one of Menza’s many private VHS tapes and was filmed by an unknown MEGADETH road crew member with Nick’s personal video camera on February 25th, 1991 during the bands live concert in Tokyo, Japan at Nakano Sunplaza. 

“These Boots Are Made for Walkin'” with lyrics altered by Mustaine was originally released June 12, 1985 on MEGADETH’S debut studio album “Killing Is My Business… and Business Is Good!” via Combat Records. 

The song sparked controversy in later years when the song’s original author, Lee Hazlewood, deemed Mustaine’s changes to be “vile and offensive” and demanded that the song be removed from the album. Under threat of legal action, the song was removed from all pressings released after 1995. In 2002, the album was re-released with a modified version of the song; the altered lyrics were censored because Hazlewood has not given permission to the band to release the cover in its original version. In the liner notes of the album’s reissue, Mustaine was strongly critical of Hazlewood, noting that he received royalties for almost 10 years before objecting to the altered version.

Menza’s personal and private VHS tape collection will see the light of day for the first time in the upcoming official uncensored Nick Menza documentary film “This Was My Life: The Story Of Nick Menza” The film is being produced and directed by the Holly Mollohan of Screaming Butterfly Entertainment and expected to be released in 2022. 

Ellefson has signed on as a co-producer of the film, and also will provide narration to guide the viewer through the exploration of the late MEGADETH drummer’s life.

“This Was My Life” will be the first-ever film to memorialize Menza’s legacy and celebrate his life exactly how it was. It is described in a press release 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 attempts of the classic ‘Rust In Peace’ lineup.”

“This Was My Life” will feature rare and never-before-seen photos and video footage from Nick’s archived VHS tape collection, personally filmed by Menza himself from 1988 through 1991. Included will be exclusive content showcasing Nick working at the studio, personal home movies, casual time and party time with his fellow bandmembers, as well as other well-known artists of the era that Nick toured with. A screenshot from the film was recently released that featured an interview with former LAMB OF GOD/MEGADETH drummer Chris Adler.

Late in the evening on May 21, 2016, Nick collapsed 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.

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