Slayer’s Jeff Hanneman dies aged 49

Guitarist and founding member of US thrash metal band Slayer Jeff Hanneman has died of liver failure, his record label have announced.

Of Hanneman’s passing, the band’s publicist said:

Slayer is devastated to inform that their bandmate and brother, Jeff Hanneman, passed away at about 11AM this morning near his Southern California home. He was 49. 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.

Spanning a career of over 25 years, Slayer’s unique style and original compositions earned them high credibility within the industry, and were often known as one of the ‘big 4’ thrash metal bands, alongside Metallica, Megadeth and Anthrax.