By the summer of 1998 , while the band was still touring in support of '' Cryptic Writings '' , Menza was having knee problems and sought medical advice . He was informed he had a tumor , which was later found to be benign , and had it removed . Rather than cancel any dates , Megadeth hired Jimmy DeGrasso as a temporary replacement . When the time came to record a follow-up album , Menza was not asked back and DeGrasso became the band 's official drummer . Menza has said in several interviews that , while in the hospital recovering from knee surgery , he received a phone call from Mustaine that simply said " Your services are not needed anymore " . After his departure , he began work on '' Menza : Life After Deth '' with guitarist Anthony Gallo , bassist Jason Levin , and guitarist Ty Longley . The album was initially intended to have a 2002 release date and tour to follow ; however , on the tour in 2003 with the reformed Great White , Longley was among the 100 people killed in The Station nightclub fire in Rhode Island and a year later Jason Levin died of heart failure , Menza and Gallo were devastated and the '' Life After Deth '' tour was never announced . Guest guitarist Christian Nesmith , son of The Monkees ' Michael Nesmith , did some leads and Menza hired producer Max Norman ( Ozzy Osbourne , Megadeth )
The Station nightclub fire
The Station nightclub fire
Nick Menza