R.I.P. Jeff Hanneman (of Slayer)

(Jeff Hanneman, pictured second from the left)

Jeff Hanneman, founding member and guitarist of  Slayer, has died at the age of 49.

 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 founded Slayer alongside Kerry King, Dave Lombardo, and Tom Araya in 1981, and remained a member of the band up until his death. He contributed music and lyrics to all 10 of the band’s studio albums, writing such fan favorites as “Raining Blood”, “War Ensemble”, “Angel of Death”, and “Seasons in the Abyss”.

In early 2011, Hanneman nearly died from Necrotizing fasciitis, which he contracted from a spider bite. He had been on hiatus ever since, only joining the band on stage once for their performance at the Big 4 in May 2011.