Megadeath lead guitarist Marty Friedman, left, and lead singer/guitarist Dave Mustaine, center, field questions while bassist David Ellefson, right, high-fives drummer Nick Menza, back left, in 1997. (Ethan Miller/AP)

Nick Menza, former drummer for the influential metal band Megadeth, died May 21 after collapsing on stage during a performance of his progressive jazz trio in Studio City, Calif. He was 51.

Mr. Menza’s latest band, OHM, was three songs into a semi-regular set at the Baked Potato club when the drummer collapsed, family spokesman J. Marshall Craig told the Associated Press. The suspected cause was a heart attack, Craig said.

Mr. Menza was Megadeth’s longest-serving drummer, performing on five records over nine years, including 1990’s thrash metal landmark, “Rust in Peace.”

Dave Mustaine, singer, guitarist and co-founder of Megadeth, said in a statement: “As a player, Nick had a very powerful jazzy flair, unpredictable and always entertaining.”

After leaving Megadeth in 1998 — Mr. Menza said he was pushed out — he pursued an interest in jazz and became an accomplished woodworker.

Mr. Menza’s autobiography, co-written by Craig, will detail the drummer’s life in and out of music and is set for a July release.

Mr. Menza was born in Munich on July 23, 1964, and grew up in California. Survivors include his mother and father, the jazz saxophonist Don Menza, and two sons.