Yes, friends, it couldn't be more surprising! A shock for every fan! Jeff Hanneman, founding member, guitarist and songwriter of Slayer, died of liver failure yesterday on May 2nd in a hospital near his home in the Southern California Inland Empire. The band released the news on Thursday afternoon, calling Hannemann, who was only 49 years old, their bandmate and brother and that the band is "devastated".
Hannemann had had problems on stage since the beginning of 2011 after being bitten by a spider necrotizing fasciitis suffered, a rapidly progressing disease that literally gnaws at the sufferer's flesh from deep layers of skin and tissue. It is currently unknown what role the disease played in Hanneman's liver failure.
In February 2011 he was for Slayer Exodus' Gary Holt represented shows until he returned to his main band and Pat O'Brien had to fill Hanneman's place. Throughout Hanneman's ordeal, his bandmates were always optimistic that one day he would return to the band to complete the band again and make it whole. Bassist and singer Tom Araya said in an interview during last year's Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival Tour that Hannemann is “free of diseases” and “is working on his playing strength ... In other words, he is building and strengthening his arm and his ability to play guitar.” Araya predicted that Slayer would “likely get together soon to write new songs and work on a new album”, the follow-up to 2009's World Painted Blood.
Born in Oakland, California, Hanneman was a devoted fan of the Raiders. Growing up mostly in Long Beach, he was always fascinated by wars and campaigns, through his father, a WWII veteran, and his brothers who served in Vietnam - themes that brought Jeff to Slayer's music. He met Kerry King in 1981 and the two decided to form their own band, blending heavy metal with punk influences and signing with Metal Blade Records for the first two albums, “Show No Mercy” (1983) and “ Hell Awaits ”(1985). Slayer have sold a total of over 5 million albums, including classics such as “Reign in Blood” (1986), “South of Heaven” (1988) and “Seasons of the Abyss” (1990).
Hannemann was a passionate collector of World War II memorabilia and was at the center of the controversy over the band's supposed Nazi sympathies, which resulted from the similarity of the eagle logo to images from the Third Reich, the shape of the S in the band name and songs like " Reign in Blood ”or“ Angel of Death ”, which dealt with the German doctor Josef Mengele and his terrible“ experiments ”in the Auschwitz extermination camp. Hanneman often had to explain that this song was in no way intended to glorify Mengele. Hanneman songs have been played by bands like Hatebreed, Children of Bodom, Hellsongs, Cradle of Filth and others.
Hanneman was accompanied on his last journey by his wife, Kathy, with whom he had been with for 16 years, his sister Kathy and two brothers, Michael and Larry. The band published the following 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.
Rest In Peace, Jeff! Titan of Metal! And now, in Jeff's honor and for the following song, turn the system up to the max and let hell shake! Volume Max !!!