Official Review: Megalife by J. Marshall Craig

[Renu G]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Megalife" by J. Marshall Craig.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Celebrities have a life behind the stage that is unknown to their fans. Rumors about their personal lives are known to spread through multimedia channels. What happens when someone writes an autobiography to dispel myths and offers a fresh new perspective to their personality? In Megalife, J. Marshall Craig presents The Autobiography of Nick Menza. I had never before heard about him and wondered why the author does not call it a “biography.” So, I decided to read this book.

“I set out with Nick Menza to help him write the wildly exciting story of his life both on and off the stage,” notes Craig. Nick has signed the introduction. He was an astounding drummer in the history of rock and roll but met a premature death in 2016 during a musical performance. He was fifty-one.

With a joyful and comical spirit, the musician brought laughter into people’s lives. Nick loved conspiracy theories and things related to aliens and UFOs. The autobiography provides details of his childhood when his mother placed pots on the floor and gave him two spoons to bang away. One day, his father Don Menza, a well-known jazz saxophonist made him play the drum on stage when the boy was almost four years old.

This story comes alive because of photographs of these and other memorable moments. Some of the people in Nick’s life have also given an account of these incidents thus enhancing readability. His fans will enjoy these details. I like the part where the drummer asks, “What if you were a piano player, and every night the keys were in a different place? That’s what I was facing every night before I got the Rack.” He seemed to be a perfectionist. “Whatever the song is, whatever genre, it’s got to have a vibe that carries you to some place you’ve never been before, or some place where you’re comfortable, safe, and feel loved,” he states in the book. The celebrity was ever grateful to his fans for their attention, their ears, and their love.

Megalife is a beautiful autobiography giving details of the ups and downs in the drummer’s life. He had his moments of success, failure, frustration, anger, and happiness. I’m sure Nick’s fans will be interested in his real-life story. The author has devoted several years to compile this account with Nick and has done a marvelous job. There is nothing I disliked in the book. It is professionally edited, and I did not come across any errors. Taking all this into consideration, I am pleased to award it 4 out of 4 stars. I recommend it for his friends as well as competitors. It is a must-read for Nick’s fans. Anyone with a good ear for music will enjoy reading this book.

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Megalife
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[kandscreeley]

Interesting. I've never heard of Nick Menza. I'm glad the author includes pictures; it seems like the drummer had a very full life, but he still died too early. Since I've never really heard of him, though, I'm just not sure I would enjoy this book. Thanks for the review.