Slayer have confirmed that guitarist Jeff Hanneman died yesterday (Thursday) at the age of 49.
He suffered liver failure while in a hospital near his California home. He’d been struggling with health issues since a near-fatal spider bite in 2011, which had kept him out of the band ever since.
A statement says: “Slayer is devastated to inform that their bandmate and brother, Jeff Hanneman, passed away at about 11am this morning. He was in an area hospital.
“He is survived by his wife Kathy, his sister Kathy and his brothers Michael and Larry, and will be sorely missed. May he rest in peace.”
He co-founded the band with fellow guitarist Kerry King in 1981 and alongside frontman Tom Araya and drummer Dave Lombardo they rose to become one of the Big 4 of thrash metal following their 1986 breakthrough album “Reign In Blood.”
In 2011 Hanneman told Classic Rock magazine how he was bitten by a spider in his hot tub. “I didn’t even feel it – but an hour later I knew I was ill. I could see the flesh corrupting. I got to the emergency room and thank God the nurse knew straight away what it was.
“At that point I was an hour away from death. Unbelievably the doctor was a Slayer fan. He said: ‘First I am going to save your life. Then I am going to save your arm. Then I am going to save your career.’”
He underwent a series of skin grafts and had continued to receive physiotherapy. Exodus guitarist Gary Holt had been his temporary replacement in Slayer.
Last month, responding to questions about Hanneman’s continued absence, Araya said: “Jeff isn’t in the picture but he’s part of the picture. It’s taking him a lot longer than he even thought, I think. He can play, he can work out material, but it’s surprising him that it’s taking as long as it is to get back. Even though no one’s seen him, Jeff’s still part of the band.”
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