Jeff Hanneman — lead guitarist for the thrash metal band Slayer — has passed away from liver failure at the age of 49.
The band’s publicist released a statement following Hanneman’s death: “Slayer is devastated to inform that their bandmate and brother, Jeff Hanneman, passed away at about 11AM this morning near his Southern California home. He was 49. Hanneman was in an area hospital when he suffered liver failure… and will be sorely missed.”
Back in 2011, the guitarist ended up in the hospital after he was bitten by a spider and nearly lost his arm from the bite. Hanneman fell seriously ill and was placed in a medically induced coma and underwent several operations to remove the dead and dying tissue from his arm. As a result, Hanneman was pulled out of Slayer’s 2012 tour dates.
Hanneman co-founded Slayer with Kerry King back in 1981 and their first breakthrough came five years later in 1986 with the release of landmark album Reign in Blood.
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