Slayer Guitarist Jeff Hanneman Dies Aged 49

Slayer guitarist and founding member Jeff Hanneman died Thursday morning, American time, of liver failure at the age of 49.

The band confirmed the news earlier this morning, Australian time, with the statement, “Slayer is devastated to inform that their bandmate and brother, Jeff Hanneman, passed away at about 11AM this morning near his Southern California 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 co-wrote lyrics and music for all of the band's albums throughout their 30-year career including Raining Blood (co-write with Kerry King) off their 1986 breakout, the Rick Rubin-produced Reign In Blood. He had a massive impact on heavy music and is recognised for bringing punk-rock energy to metal.

Today AJ Maddah, promoter of the Soundwave festival which the band were a regular fixture of, told theMusic.com.au, "Jeff was what we in Australia call blokey."

He said, "He loved cars and guns. We'd often fight about gun control. But under the gruff exterior was a good man who was generous and respected his fans. All of us here at Soundwave are devastated for his family and for Kerry and Tom."

Hanneman had been on an indefinite hiatus from the band since early 2011 when he contracted the flesh eating necrotizing fasciitis as the result of a spider bite. In an interview earlier this year, in the lead up to Soundwave, King told theMusic.com.au that the band were still hopeful that Hanneman would re-join them on stage in the future.

“If [Hanneman] came in, knocked on my door in five minutes and said, 'Hey dude, I'm ready, let's go practice', I'd say, 'Good, get your gear, let's go practice'. But until that day comes, I've gotta cover Slayer's butt and have his gig filled in. 'Cause I don't want it to be a carousel, where there's, if Gary [Holt] can't do it we get somebody else and if he can't do it we get somebody else again.

“I want to have continuity. We told Gary when our schedule is and said, 'Please keep it open', because we don't know when Jeff's gonna be able to play guitar. Jeff's kind of like a wait-and-see thing.”

Metallica, who are playing at the Golden Gods US metal award ceremony today, recently posted a simple “R.I.P. Jeff Hanneman” with a picture of Hanneman and James Hetfield. Anthrax shared a picture of Hanneman playing live and posted "RIP".

R.I.P. Jeff Hanneman, brother in thrash.

— Testament (@testament) May 2, 2013

Tonight one less star will be shining and sadly, the stage got just a little bit darker. Jeff Hanneman 1964-2013.

— Dave Mustaine (@DaveMustaine) May 3, 2013

Oh Jesus fuck Jeff Hanneman dies :( #Slayer #family #crushed

— AJ (@iamnotshouting) May 2, 2013