Rockumentary on Former Megadeth Drummer Nick Menza Gets a Headbangin’ New Jersey Premiere with Q&A! ​

After a triumphant West Coast screening in California last week, BayView Entertainment in association with Screaming Butterfly Entertainment and Ellefson Films is thrilled to announce the second showing in its bi-coastal theatrical premiere of This Was My Life: Nick Menza’s Metal Memories with Megadeth and Beyond. 

The much-anticipated Nick Menza documentary film is set to thrill music fans in Hawthorne, NJ this Thursday, April 17th at 7PM.

In attendance will be Megadeth co-founder and former member, David Ellefson; and the film’s director, Holly Grayson. The audience will be treated to an introduction and a Q&A session after the screening. Participants are tentatively scheduled to appear and subject to change pending any unforeseen circumstances. 

Speaking on the California premiere, Grayson declared it, “incredible” and thanked everyone involved for making it “such a success.” Ellefson added that he found the sold-out event “absolutely fantastic… and the film very emotional.” 

The film provides an intimate look into a life dedicated to music. Culled from Menza’s

personal and private VHS tape collection, photos, and audio files, it’s a deep dive into

unreleased drum tracks, concert and studio footage, candid glimpses backstage and on

the tour bus, and interviews with family, friends, fans, and colleagues.

“We are thrilled to bring this screening to local music fans. The Tri-State area has always

been metal-friendly,” says BayView Entertainment VP of Acquisitions, Peter Castro. 

Tickets can be purchased now via EventBrite at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/this-was-my-life-east-coast-premiere-hawthorne-theatre-tickets-1255857727269  

Following a limited theatrical run in selected U.S. markets, it will also be available for

digital streaming and on physical media in a special Collector’s Edition Blu-Ray. 

WATCH the trailer:

For more information on the event please visit:

http://www.thiswasmylifefilm.com/

About BayView Entertainment, LLC

BayView Entertainment, LLC is a leading independent distributor of feature films, fitness, and special-interest content. With hit narrative films Skinamarink and Robot Monster, plus legendary documentaries On Any Sunday and The Endless Summerleading the way, BayView is one of the fastest-growing names in the field.

Incorporating catalogs from Monterey Media, Summer Hill, Mutiny Pictures, VIPCO, and others, BayView is positioned to expand even further in years to come. BayView's programs are available on the major streaming sites around the world plus DVD and Blu-ray. 

Official Nick Menza Documentary 'This Was My Life' Announce Second Screening Date in New Jersey! ​

BayView Entertainment, in partnership with Ellefson Films and Screaming Butterfly Entertainment, have announced a second event for the Nick Menza documentary, This Was My Life, Nick Menza's Metal Memories With Megadeth And Beyond. This special event will be held on Thursday, April 17th, at Hawthorne Theatre , located at 300 Lafayette Ave, Hawthorne, NJ 07506. Members of the cast and crew will be in attendance for a Q&A session after the screening of the film. 

Tickets for the event may be purchased at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/this-was-my-life-east-coast-premiere-hawthorne-theatre-tickets-1255857727269

The film is an in-depth exploration of the life of Nick Menza, the former drummer of Megadeth, and one of the greatest thrash metal drummers of all time. It is a collection of stories from his childhood all the way through to the end of his life, recounted by those who knew him best. The documentary, authorized by the Menza family, will be the first to memorialize the drummer's legacy.

WATCH the trailer:

For more information on the event please visit:

http://www.thiswasmylifefilm.com/

Official Nick Menza Documentary 'This Was My Life' Red Carpet Screening Date Announced! ​

Screaming Butterfly Entertainment, in partnership with Ellefson Films and BayView Entertainment, have announced the new date for the red carpet premiere event of the fully authorized Nick Menza documentary, This Was My Life, Nick Menza's Metal Memories With Megadeth And Beyond. The highly-anticipated event will happen on Thursday, April 10th at the Laemmle Royal theater in Los Angeles, CA. Located at 11523 Santa Monica Blvd. West L.A., CA 90025. Members of the cast and crew will be in attendance for a Q&A session after the screening of the film.

Tickets for the event may be purchased at https://www.laemmle.com/film/was-my-life-nick-menzas-metal-memories-megadeth-and-beyond

This Was My Life was originally scheduled to have its premiere in February, but the screening was postponed due to the recent devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. 
BayView Entertainment is handling the global release of the film.

The film is an in-depth exploration of the life of Nick Menza, the former drummer of Megadeth, and one of the greatest thrash metal drummers of all time. It is a collection of stories from his childhood all the way through to the end of his life, recounted by those who knew him best. The documentary, authorized by the Menza family, will be the first to memorialize the drummer's legacy.

The trailer and official release dates will be announced in the coming weeks.  

For more information on the event please visit:

http://www.thiswasmylifefilm.com/

DOCUMENTARY TRAILER ON LATE MEGADETH DRUMMER NICK MENZA TO PREMIERE AT THE ELLEFSON COFFEE CO. BOOTH DURING THE 2024 NAMM SHOW

The Ellefson Coffee Co.® booth number 5030 located inside Hall D will feature the VIP Rock & Roll Lounge Experience, and will premiere the official trailer for the documentary film This Was My Life: The Story of Nick Menzaon Saturday January 27, 2024 at 12pm PST. 

The premier will be hosted by David Ellefson & Nick Menza’s sister Donia Menza Ontiveros, and will be open to any NAMM attendees and media at the show. A Q&A will follow the premier joined by OHM/Kings of Thrash guitarist Chris Poland and close friend Dr. Randall Kertz, who was Ellefson’s bass tech from 1989-90, both of whom are featured in the film.

Says Ellefson, "After several years in the making, it's a real honor to be able to give a sneak preview of what this film will ultimately look like. Nick had a storied career and an even more incredible life. I'm proud to be part of this documentary and very honored that we can utilize our booth during the NAMM show as the initial theater for fans to see this beautiful story unfold.”

Donia adds, “The Menza family is super excited to finally see this film come to fruition, and even more excited to have David narrating the exciting and unique life that Nick lived. I am honored to be a part of this film and to be able to share stories of my wonderful and loving brother."

Says Director Holly Mollohan Grayson, “This special project is one that is very close to my heart. I’m a part of the generation that spent the entirety of their teenage years in the 1990s.  The soundtrack of our lives played every day on MTV and Headbangers Ball. That was the period of time when Nick was making his mark as a metal legend in Megadeth, so of course I was very familiar with his work.  I am honored to be able to explore who he was beyond his amazing talent for the drums."

Nick Menza is best-known as the drummer for thrash metal titans Megadethfrom 1989-1998, playing on some of the band’s most commercially successful albums to date, including Rust In Peace, Countdown to Extinction, Youthanasia & Cryptic Writings. Following his time in Megadeth, Menza wrote his memoir “MEGA LIFE” and in 2016, while performing at The Baked Potato jazz club in Studio City, CA suffered a massive heart attack and died.

The documentary film is directed by Holly Mollohan Grayson for Screaming Butterfly Entertainment, in association with Ellefson Films, and narrated by David Ellefson. The film highlights Nick’s life growing up in a musical household in Southern California and continues through his legendary career with Megadeth and beyond.

More information on the documentary can be found at www.thiswasmylifefilm.com

Ellefson Coffee Co. At NAMM 2024

The VIP Rock & Roll Lounge Experience has a café, Media Lounge, live acoustic performances by Jeff Young (Kings of Thrash), autograph meet & greets from celebrated musical artists such as Metal Allegiance, Kings of Thrash, DIETH, QUOR and more.

Says Ellefson, “The NAMM show is the music industry’s annual music summit and I’m super excited that Ellefson Coffee Co.® is an exhibitor at this years’ event. We will be rolling out new coffee roasts & opening up my own personal MEGA Vault of memorabilia from major concert tours for the fans to peruse. We look forward to seeing you there!”

Sponsors and partners inside the booth include Scorpion Percussion, The Focusrite Room, HEAVYS Headphones, Mainstage Music Group, Danny Gordo Art and Sam Welty Art.

Ellefson Coffee Co.® launched in 2017 and quickly established itself as a true rock & roll coffee brand with its flagship Roast In Peace medium roast coffee that year followed by a light roast Rock N’ Rose and a dark roast Napalm In The Morning. The company then opened its first retail outlet in Ellefson’s home town of Jackson, MN in 2018, and continues to sell its coffee worldwide.

For more information on Ellefson Coffee Co. please visit ellefsoncoffeeroasters.com