He had been slowly recovering from what was believed to be a spider bite that nearly cost him his arm after he failed to seek immediate treatment.
Jeff Hanneman Jeff Hanneman, a founding member of the heavy metal band Slayer, died Thursday of liver failure in Southern California. He was 49
"Slayer is devastated to inform that their bandmate and brother, Jeff Hanneman, passed away at about 11 a.m. this morning near his Southern California home. Hanneman was in an area hospital when he suffered liver failure," the band said in a statement posted on its website.
He had been slowly recovering from what was believed to be a spider bite that nearly cost him his arm after he failed to seek immediate treatment.
Hanneman, a founding member of Slayer, withdrew from active touring in early 2011 after he contracted necrotizing fasciitis, a debilitating skin disorder.
In a 2004 interview, Hanneman talked about kicking a pill and cocaine addiction.
He is survived by his wife, Kathy.