2016 has been absolutely brutal with the amount of talented musician deaths and we sadly have another to report as former Megadeth drummer Nick Menza has passed away at the age of 51.

According to reports, Menza was performing with the band OHM at the Baked Potato in Studio City, Calif. Saturday night (May 21) when he reportedly collapsed. Two patrons attempted to perform CPR until emergency personnel arrived and attempted to revive him.

The Baked Potato Facebook page simply posted, "RIP Nick Menza," while Menza's own Facebook page shared a comment from friend Allen Hall who offered the following confirmation:

We lost an amazing talent and fantastic person yesterday. Nick Menza was the nicest and most sincere guy you should ever hope to meet. He would take the shirt off his back to help you if you needed it. He had a passion for artwork, not just metal music. His tastes were far wider than that genre. He was a painter, a sculptor, a wood carver, a digital artist, a musician, a handicraftsman of metal and wood. He had an amazing creative talent, a flare for the fringes and a great imagination. I enjoyed the many projects we had where he needed advice on how to manufacture something, or glue it, or plate it. We made a good team, his artful talents and my practical knowledge on making things. Last week we had decided to start full production of 40 cajone drums per week, his talents here were extraordinary and we had discussed that this might be his true calling, a marriage of music, wood and hand carved art. I am sure it would have been a success. He liked to spin me up over conspiracy theories and aliens on purpose, just so he could get a rise out of me arguing that it was nonsense. He was someone who made hanging out quality time all the time. He used to get pissed at me when i would bring loud or shocking toys over for his kids when they visited, though he shared an equal enthusiasm with his kids for the Tesla coils I brought over. We used to sit around and think of crazy things to film and put on youtube. Things like alien conspiracy and such just for laughs. We made a fake UFO video once using after effects for fun and were shocked that it had such an enthusiastic following. So we let the story fly and were planning a follow on video of him being abducted. I wish we had found the time to do that, It would have been hilarious. Nick, you were taken too soon, it must have been a mistake, the world was a better place with you in it. I will miss you dearly my friend. Nicholas and Dante will miss you far worse. My heart goes out to your family.

After learning the news, Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine tweeted the following:

Menza began his career at the age of 18 drumming in the band Rhoads that featured Randy Rhoads brother Kelle on vocals. After working as a session musician for a bit, Menza answered the call in 1989 when Megadeth needed a new drummer. He remained with the band through 1998 and returned briefly in 2004. During his tenure with Megadeth, he appeared on the albums Rust in Peace, Countdown to Extinction, Youthanasia, Nativity in Black, Hidden Treasures and Cryptic Writings. There had been discussion of Menza returning to Megadeth prior to the release of the band's Dystopia album, but ultimately Megadeth went another direction. He also recorded on albums with fellow former Megadeth member Marty Friedman, issued a self-titled disc and performed with Memorain.

Our condolences to Menza's family and to his extended musical family.

See the Rockers We've Lost in 2016