Jeff Hanneman, guitarist and founding member of US metal band Slayer, has passed away of liver failure aged 49. Hannenman was the author and performer of some of the most recognisable and iconic guitar riffs in rock history and his impact on the metal scene was genre-defining.
A statement from the band read: "Slayer is devastated to inform that their bandmate and brother, Jeff Hanneman, passed away at about 11am (PT) this morning near his Southern Californian home. Hanneman was in an area hospital when he suffered liver failure. He is survived by his wife Kathy, his sister Kathy and his brothers Michael and Larry, and will be sorely missed."
Hanneman formed Slayer in 1981 with lead guitarist Kerry King and they were considered among the 'Big Four' thrash metal bands of the 80's, alongside Metallica, Megadeth and Anthrax, going on to sell over 3.5 million albums in the US alone and being nominated for 5 Grammys, winning two of them.
Hanneman had been in poor health since being bitten by a spider, contracting a flesh-eating disease which attacked the tissue in his arm. A note posted on the official Slayer website earlier this week updated fans on Hanneman's condition, saying that he had been in a medically induced coma and had several operations to remove dead and dying tissue from his arm over the course of the last year.
Hanneman had recently been attending Slayer rehearsals with a view to participating in upcoming shows before his downturn in health.
