Dave Mustaine woke up to the shocking news this morning that his former Megadeth bandmate Nick Menza had collapsed and died at a gig on Saturday night (May 21). Megadeth played their scheduled gig at the Rock N’ Derby in Schaghticoke, N.Y., on Sunday, where Mustaine spoke with local Albany rock station Q103 (a Loudwire Nights affiliate) about the tragedy and the band’s plans to honor their onetime drummer.

“Tonight we are hoping to do a moment of silence,” Mustaine said before Megadeth’s set, “and the band has already agreed [to] do a benefit in California. … We’re working out the details. … We’re hoping to leave an open stage for all of the alumni for Megadeth to come there and play with us, so that we can help leave behind something for Nick’s children, which I think had been kind of left in a bad way. We wanted to get all that stuff set up and right now the wheels are all turning in our camp.”

Menza was part of the band’s lineup for their legendary album Rust in Peace in 1990, and also played on 1992’s Countdown to Extinction, 1994’s Youthanasia and 1997’s Cryptic Writings. There were discussions with Menza about him rejoining Megadeth prior to the band’s most recent album, Dystopia, but it didn’t work out. Mustaine adds, “People think we had this failed reunion attempt\. There were several times that we tried to reconcile stuff, and it just didn’t happen for whatever reason. I don’t know why, but it didn’t. Now, I think it’s the time to remember Nick and his legacy of just great performances.”

In addition to the interview with Q103 (watch above), Mustaine also released the following statement via Megadeth’s Facebook page: