Former Megadeth drummer Nick Menza died on Saturday after collapsing on stage during a concert in California. He was 51.

Menza's management confirmed the news and revealed that the musician suffered a heart attack during a show with his band OHM at a Los Angeles jazz club called the Baked Potato.

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"Nick collapsed during the third song into a set with his band OHM. Earliest reports indicate he suffered a massive heart attack and was pronounced dead upon arrival at hospital," Menza's management said in a statement.

Menza joined the thrash metal band in 1989 and was the group's longest-serving drummers. He performed on five records with the band, including Rust in Peace,Countdown to Extinction, Youthanasia and Cryptic Writings before leaving in 1998.

Megadeth frontman and founder Dave Mustaine took to Twitter to express his shock and disbelief over the death of his former Megadeth member.

"Tell me this isn't true," Mustaine tweeted on Sunday. "I woke at 4 AM to hear Nick Menza passed away on 5/21 playing his drums w/Ohm at the Baked Potato."

Former Megadeth guitarist, Marty Friedman, who left the band two years after Menza, also took to Facebook to pay tribute to the late musician.

"We all know the great and unique drummer that Nick Menza was, but he was also a trustworthy friend, a hilarious bandmate, as well as a very loving dad, he wrote. "I'm beyond sad, did not see this coming at all. RIP Brother."

Megadeth also paid tribute to Menza on their website with a photo of Menza captioned, "In Remembrance of Nick Menza 1964 - 2016."

Mustaine later shared a lengthy, touching rememberance post on Faceook in the wake of Menza's death. Read the full post below.

TagsMegadeth, Nick Menza, Nick Menza dead, Nick Menza death, Dave Mustaine, Marty Friedman